Music / andy hague
The week in Jazz January 8 – 14
As the last of the wrapping paper gets recycled and the resolutions start to be broken the jazz scene emerges from the seasonal wreckage and begins to put things back to rights. It’s a busy start to 2018 for pianist Jim Blomfield who has a couple of ear-catching gigs this week, notably as part of Andy Hague’s Double Standards band (Hen & Chicken, Sunday 14). Jim and Andy have been playing together in Andy’s eponymous quartet and other projects for many years, with Jim’s distinctive and many-layered style a great foil to Andy’s straight ahead trumpet. While this quartet does feature several of Andy’s own compositions the band sound is set by more unusual standards by Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and others.
Ben Waghorn and tenor
Though never a shrinking violet, Jim’s playing will understandably be more eclipsed when he accompanies The Three Tenors (Wednesday 10), The Fringe’s annual celebration of the full-throated splendour of the middle sized saxophone that has often dominated modern jazz. Between them the trio of players represent a wide range of styles, including Nicholas Dover’s melodic modernism, Ben Waghorn’s hard bopping directness and the frankly unclassifiable versatility of Jake McMurchie. Whether or not they play Nessun Dorma, however, remains unclear.
Greg Sterland
The Bebop Club features another fine young tenor player in Greg Sterland (Friday 12) who moved to Bristol from Cardiff bringing a reputation for fearless improvisation and who has teamed up with Dutch pianist Daan Temmink in a quartet that explores each other’s compositions as well as other contemporary music. Al Swainger’s bass and Andy Hague’s drumming complete the foursome.
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Soul-jazz vocalist Bronte Shand Kirkby
The Gallimaufry has wasted no time in blowing off the New Year cobwebs, either, with three gigs worth consideration this week. The first is on Wednesday (10) when weekly residents Waldo’s Gift welcome spoken word performers with the aim of providing ambient accompaniments. Then on Thursday (11) singer Ruth Royall welcomes Circe’s Diner vocalist Bronte Shande Kirkby for a soul-jazz showcase while Sunday (14) sees the venue taken over by The Next Movement, a grooving workout of jazz, Afrobeat and neo-soul hosted by vocalist extraordinaire Celestine.
The Duval Project in action
Similar soul-jazz treats are to be found at the Old Market Assembly (Friday 12) when trumpeter Gary Alesbrook’s post-funk Duval Projectt give an airing to their highly polished debut CD Giant Leap, with singer Marie Lister slipping between fulsome ballads and hard-nosed contemporary R’n’B. On the same night, however, lively Latin funksters Snazzback are appearing at No 1 Harbourside .
Reflective contemporary pianist Andy Nowak
And, finally, if all that grooving and funking seems a little frenetic for your post-hangover New Year mood you might like to catch the piano-led Andy Nowak Trio at Canteen on Sunday afternoon (14). Though also a member of the funky Duval Project, Andy’s versatile contemporary jazz piano brings out the melodic depth of some modern jazz classics.
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