Bristol’s month in jazz – April 2025

It’s (British) summertime and the living is jazzy … or something. People are obviously getting out and about to judge by the early ‘sold out’ signs . If you didn’t snag a ticket for Beth Rowley (St George’s, Sat 5), Get The Blessing (The Forge, Fri 11), Laraaji (Strange Brew, Mon 28) or Gary Alesbrook’s Tribute To Miles Davis (St George’s, Wed 30) don’t despair – you can still catch Gary’s cool trumpet and flugelhorn with Al Swainger’s Pointless Beauty (Beacon, Sun 13). Bass player Al describes the project as ‘cinematic fusion for the emotionally curious’ offering soundscapes aiming at restoring your mental health, and given the news these days that could be sorely needed. And if you’re quick there are still a few tickets left for New York trance/ambient auto-harpist Laraaji’s second night at the Jam Jar (Wed 30). Oh – and don’t forget the Cheltenham Jazz Festival will be happening in the first week of May …

It was a big disappointment to hear that funding cuts had forced the Bristol Jazz Festival to take a year off in 2025, however the festival will be keeping things moving with a series of fund-raising events in partnership with Bristol Jazz Workshop. The gigs will be at the Tobacco Factory under the banner Jazz In The Loft, with the first featuring vibrant young Welsh pianist Joe Webb and his trio (Thur 3). There will also be a major event at The Mount Without on May 28 so save the date, as they say. It will be good to welcome back another pianist when the Neil Cowley Trio comes to St George’s (Tue 22). Neil disbanded the project some eight years ago pursuing solo electronic ideas but reformed the acoustic threesome in 2024, albeit with a more nuanced sound. Excellent local piano trio Yetii will be at their Greenbank base (Thur 3) while FringeJazz have two ivory-tinkling treats this month, starting with Tributaries – Monk and Beyond (Wed 2, Bristol Music Club). That’s drummer Liz Excell’s quartet with young pianist Elliot Warburton in the spotlight for a set of Thelonious Monk tunes and original material. Then it’s the four-handed/two-piano duo of David Newton and Euan Stevenson (Wed 16, Bristol Music Club) – two well-matched players each in their own right bringing energy to jazz standards. The ever-creative Jim Blomfield will be playing in the Tobacco Factory cafe/bar (Sun 6) as one of the BS3 Three alongside the Bebop Club’s Andy Hague and in-demand bass player Chris Jones.

There’s piano action at the Bebop Club in April, starting with club favourite John Donegan’s powerhouse sextet whose three-horn brass section features Andy Hague’s trumpet (Thur 3). They’re followed by cinematic pianist and composer Daan Temmink’s Trio (Thur 17). In between those gigs Andy pops up again, this time drumming behind virtuoso saxophonist Simon Spillet in a celebration of the great British player Tubby Hayes (Thur 10), while bluesy hard-bop groover Lou Donaldson gets a tribute night (Thur 24) in the very capable hands of Sophie Stockham Brown and her quartet featuring Ruth Hammond’s organ sound, Adam Stokes on guitar and Matt Stockham Brown on drums. Sophie also appears in Matt’s 6161 project who launch their debut album on Pete Cunningham’s Severn Songs label at Rough Trade (Wed 30), while Matt is also part of Riaan Vosloo’s Uphill Game  (The Bell, Mon 7) alongside Get The Blessing horn stars Pete Judge and Jake McMurchie. 

The next evening sees Riaan leave his double bass at home and provide an immersive analogue electronic set in support of Ledley (Cube, Tue 8), the duo of Led Bib saxophonist Chris Williams and trombonist extraordinaire Raph Clarkson. Riaan contributed electronics and production to Ledley’s recently released debut album, and the evening also features a solo mix of electronics, percussion and animation from the predictably unpredictable Tony Orrell. Sam Crockatt’s sax made a great impression as part of John Law’s Congregation at the Bebop Club last month and he brings a real all-star quartet to FringeJazz (Bristol Music Club, Wed 23) with Rebecca Nash (piano), Henrik Jensen (bass) and Dave Smith on drums. The Bell hosts the return of John Martin whose committed exploration of the saxophone has revealed multiphonic ‘hidden notes’ – his quartet play there on Monday 28 – and Mr Wolf’s welcome back Craig Crofton’s grooving reed-led jazz trio (Sun 27).

Amazing trumpeter Laura Jurd joins guitarist Adam Stokes and his trio with the aforementioned Chris Jones on bass and Matt Stockham Brown drumming (St George’s, Wed 16). Laura has become a major figure on the UK and European jazz scenes, noted for her distinctive style and wide range of inspirations from folk and classical music as well as jazz. Guitarist Adrian Utley is equally eclectic in his choice of projects, bringing two very different outfits to town this month. First up is Scaling Jacques Montagne (Wed 9, FringeJazz @ Bristol Music Club), somehow managing to unite contemporary experimental guitar styles with the ‘unhinged end’ of the late M. Montagne’s manouche playing. Then Adrian rejoins fellow-137 musician and top UK drummer Seb Rochford in Transcendence (Strange Brew, Thur 17), an electro-acoustic quintet mixing composed atmospheric music and free improvisation. There’s more conventional jazz guitar to be had at El Rincon when Electric Ladyband maestro Denny Ilett pairs up with saxophonist Kevin Figes (Thur 3) and Chris Powell’s fretwork will sparkle in the George Mabuza Group (The Bell, Wed 23), a celebration of the late great saxophonist and songwriter.

Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana label has a well-established house style of contemporary spiritual jazz inspired by the likes of Alice Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders but also deploying contemporary electronics and production. For Constellation, her third Gondwana album, singer Caoilfhion Rose (St George’s, Thur 10) brings an element of Celtic folk to that mix. More definitely retro in approach, Fascinating Aida vocalist Liza Pulman and pianist/singer Joe Stilgoe aim for the Hollywood stars as A Couple of Swells (St George’s, Wed 30) and in similar vein the Small Days duo of guitarist Dave Merrick and vocalist Natalie Davis will perform a live introduction to a showing of the classic Hollywood musical High Society (Old Picture House, Fri 11). There’s a less traditional approach to jazz standards, however, when the Kay Grant Group come to El Rincon (Thur 24) and jazz-folk singer-songwriter Lara Rxse provides this month’s first session at Karolina’s Jazz Club (Crafty Egg Fishponds, Fri 11).

Adventurous young Newcastle quintet Knats’ impressively infectious groove jazz got them some big gigs last year, including the BBC’s Gateshead Prom and they should have the Jam Jar jumping (Wed 23). Bristol-based RWKUS also come to the venue (Sat 5) with their celebration of classic Jungle music from 91-94 as well as rocking the Plough (Thur 3). Belgian quartet ECHT! (Jam Jar, Thur 24) similarly look to dance music influences but weave them into an acoustic jazz sound that comes with a big live reputation, while former Kokoroko guitarist Oscar Jerome’s solo career as singer/guitarist continues to refine a high-production sound (Thekla, Wed 23).

There’s a great homecoming showcase of Bristol contemporary stars at The Beacon (Thur 3) headlined by Ishmael Ensemble vocalist Holysseus Fly performing her emotionally rich solo material with support from jazz rockers Waldo’s Gift and soulful newcomer Nat Oaks. Afro-Latin grooving bass player Marla Kether comes to the Jam Jar with her full live band (Wed 30) and support from R’n’B singer Aisha Kigs and fans of Snazzback might spot some familiar faces among the smoothly ambient Dr Chonk & The Nature Injection (Canteen, Thur 17). But for pure straight ahead grooving jazz you might go for Albino Tarantino’s swampy N’Orlins sound (Canteen, Fri 4), the double bill of Funk Dungeon and Phoneline (Mr Wolf’s, Sat 12) or maybe Stone Cold Hustle guitarist Martin Mexme’s Organ Trio (Thur 17). Head Rush Brass Band hit the Harbourside (No 1 Harbourside, Fri 25) on the same night electro-swingers Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox rock the Beacon and Lloyd Cooks and Burns rearrange pop and jazz classics at the Crafty Egg in Fishponds.

In 2024 composer Daniel Inzani created quite a stir with his triple album Selected Worlds (St George’s, Thur 17), a showcase for his diverse musical interests from Ethiopian funk to classical string quartets and solo piano via left field jazz. The music quickly caught the ears of Radio3 and 6Music and the band delivered impressive live festival performances. Drummer Dan Johnstone continues his advocacy of the late Pauline Oliveros’ approach with a combination workshop and performance day titled A Year of Deep Listening (Arnolfini, Sat 5). That date would have been the composer’s 90th birthday. Immersive ambience abounds elsewhere, of course, with Spoonie Rave (Trinity, Sun 6), Index For Working Muzik (The Lanes, Mon7), Sahari (Mr Wolf’s, Sun 13) and German electronic sound artist Christian Löffler (Beacon, Fri 18).

New York experimental composer Tristan Perich brings his remarkable electro-acoustic composition Open Symmetry to the Beacon (Fri 25). The piece uses three vibraphones and twenty speakers to shape and reshape the hypnotic music of French performers ensemble O. In total contrast to that precision the South West Improvisers Group welcome ‘saxomaphone’ improviser Alan Wilkinson to their evening of making it all up (Star & Dove, Mon 7). There’s more improvisatory explorations in the latest Field Concert (St Anne’s Church, Fri 11) with the duo of trumpeter Charlotte Keeffe and guitarist Matthew Grigg headlining, while the Broken Numbers improv quartet welcome Brackish guitarist Neil Smith to their afternoon improv session at Exchange (Sun 27). After that you could mosey on down to the Louisiana to catch experimental violinist and soundscaper Agathe Max and dreamy electro-poppers French duo KosmoSuna.

And then, if you want it, you can have jam on top … but check for any announcement from the Stag & Hounds as details of their usual Sunday sessions weren’t available at time of writing. The Old England has its Community Jam Collective on Tuesdays, Mr Wolf’s has the Donut Filler Jam on alternate Wednesdays (Wed 2) and the JFS Jam on Tue 29. Canteen has Stone Cold Funk Jam (Tue 1, Tue 15), Canteen Jazz Session (Wed 2), Beat Cleaver Hip-hop Jam (Mon 7, Mon 21), Slapdash (Tue 8), Canteen Latin Session (Wed 16) and Kole Tang Hip-hop jam (Tue 22). The Fringe has Hot Club Jam (Mon 7), Peanut Butter Jam (Mon 14), Jazz Rapport Jam (Mon 21) and Seed Sessions (Mon 28). Elmer’s Arms monthly Byrfyfyr session is Sat 5, Jam Jar’s monthly The Door is Ajar is Sat 26.