Bristol’s month in jazz – February 2026

So it’s time to welcome back a couple of regulars after the winter break, notably SWIG (the South West Improvisers Group, pictured above) who are back at the Star and Dove (Mon 2). They’re kicking off with seriously special guests saxophonist Rachel Musson and doyen of the bass clarinet Chris Cundy.  The Bristol Jazz Festival’s Jazz In The Loft returns with amazing clarinettist Adrian Cox’s Trio (Tobacco Factory, Sat 14) and the Wednesday jazz nights formerly (and confusingly) known as Fringejazz resume in their new (less confusing) identity as Jazz at Bristol Music Club. They, too, kick off in style with Red Kite (Wed 25), a transnational contemporary jazz sextet that includes bass player Jasper Høiby.

And it seems to be a Fretful February thanks to a plethora of guitar-based gigs covering the entire spectrum of jazz styles. Top billing has to go to Seb Rochford’s Finding Ways (St George’s, Thur 26), the ever-creative drummer’s latest project involving (among others) guitarists Tara Cunningham, David Preston and Adrian Utley and aimed at ‘finding ways to keep positive’. Korean guitarist Sangyeon Park appears with singer/pianist Yunmi King and the BEJE Trio (St Paul’s Church, Clifton, Sat 21) in a renewal of their ongoing international partnership. There’ll be some very ‘out there’ guitar when ambient composer Jonny Nash and improvising cellist Tomo Katsurada come to Strange Brew (Mon 2) while US-based Brazilian acoustic player Fabiano do Nascimento (Jam Jar, Wed 25) deploys complex loops and a seven-string guitar to construct his solo music.

Meanwhile, leaning in a more prog direction, The Croft have Krautrock-influenced guitar trio Plantoid (Wed 25) and fusion guitar hero Jonah Hitchens appears in the star-studded line-up of Hungry Hungry Hippos at the JFS (Mr Wolf’s, Wed 3) as well as with his eponymous Jonah Hitchens Band (Fringe, Fri 27). Guitarist James Chadwick leads off at The Old Fishmarket (Sun 8) and then in a duo with sax player Jake McMurchie at Karolina’s Jazz Club (Crafty Egg Fishponds, Sat 14). Jake himself returns to the Old Fishmarket (Sun 22), the same day that the versatile Denny Ilett brings his guitar to Spirited Bristol along with Ruth Hammond’s keyboards and Matt Stockham-Brown’s drumming. And there’s another six-string clash on Thursday 12 when Martin Mexme’s trio are at Fringe and the threesome of Stuart Oliver with bass player Riaan Vosloo and the aforementioned Matt S-B are at Cafe Grounded, Fishponds.

There is a guitar in the mix of Jude Lane’s hot young septet Beyond The Blue (JFS, Mr Wolf’s, Tue 17) but it’s Jude’s keyboard playing that generally drives things along. There’s nothing but wind-power driving classy acoustic chamber jazz septet Superlocrian however (Bebop Club, Thur 5). The Bebop also have trombonist Joe Bradford’s Quintet (Thur 19) and then welcomes back bass player Arnie Somogyi (Thur 26) who originally started the club back in 1988. Arnie brings a quintet with US tenor saxophonist Gideon Tazelaar including the man who inherited the Bebop mantle – Andy Hague – on trumpet. Andy also appears – on drums this time – in the Sam Crockatt Quartet keeping time for the lyrical tenor sax player (Bebop Club, Thur 12).

Five-Way Split (Lantern, Sun 22) are a classic hard-bop quintet of excellent and experienced players including great trumpeter Quentin Collins. The band are aiming at the classic Jazz Messenger style of powerful swinging coolness. More contemporary sounds can be expected from Sophie Stockham Brown’s chordless Orfic quartet (Spirited Bristol, Sun 15) featuring Sophie on tenor and Pete Judge’s flugelhorn – good to see that project returning.

Among other saxophone-led outfits the Alex Merritt Quartet (Fringe in the Round, Tue 3) also includes star pianist Elliot Galvin while Sound of Blue Note tenor player Terry Quinney leads the Sunday session at Stag and Hounds (Sun 1), a role subsequently played by lyrical trumpeter James Guildford (Sun 8), contemporary tenor man Greg Sterland (Sun 15) and uber-pianist Jim Blomfield (Sun 22). After his many enjoyably ambitious compositional exploits it’ll nonetheless be good to see sax/flute player Kevin Figes bringing a straightforward jazz trio to Canteen (Wed 11).

They’ve been around so long now it seemed incredible that it was only last year that piano trio Yetii finally released – to great acclaim – their debut studio album Inner Worlds. They return to their Greenbank base with guest trumpeter Laura Jurd (Thur 5). Keyboard player and provocateur Dave Morecroft has made many recordings in his time but still managed to surprise people with his comparatively sedate and sophisticated piano jazz trio, returning to Canteen (Thur 19), while up-and-coming young pianist Eddie Gripper shows his musical versatility accompanying singer Ellie Hopkins (Spirited Bristol, Sun 8).

Big brassy and funky stuff is always to be found and this month starts with Bigfoot Brass Band (Canteen, Fri 6) and Brass Junkies (Canteen, Fri 13) before the Voodoo Brass Band take The Lanes’ late night funk club spot for Valentines Day (Sat 14). Probably the biggest brassy stuff will be Cluster-Funk V at The Lantern (Thur 19), the annual coming together of Bristol Hornstars, Brisol University Jazz Orchestra and the JFS House Band. The funky Howell’s Grooving Castle are at Mr Wolf’s (Sat 21) and that venue also has funk’n’hip hop band Neirin headlining on Friday 13th. A couple of stormers hit The Bell – jazz funk improvisers World Government (Wed 11) and boogaloo funksters Manfredi Funk Initiative (Wed 25), Canteen have hip-hop jazzers Papaya noon (Thur 12) and this months Cotham Club stars are New Orleans style jazz and blues outfit Kirris Riviere & The Delta du Bruit (Fri 27)

Swingwise things start with Swing’it at The Bell (Sun 1) and a string of vocalists – Marvin Muoneké (Fringe, Thur 5), John Prescott & Capitol Swing (Grain Barge, Tue 10), Ruby Jazz (Tobacco Factory (Sun 15) and the Barrel House Vipers (Canteen, Wed 18). The Hen & Chicken has their monthly Sunday Social swing dance (Sun 8), this time including a Balboa workshop and the month rounds off with the Kris Nock Big Band at Staple Hill Methodist Church (Sat 28).

Swerving in a leftwards direction there’s a top class afternoon of improv treats at Exchange (Sun 8) headed by veteran vocalist/trumpeter Phil Minton, a fine warm up for Mondays Improv’s Greatest Hits gig at Kino (Mon 9) headlined by No Wave-inspired multi-instrumentalist Si Paton. The Dark Horse has its monthly Free Jazz Gachapon (Thur 12) and the Exchange hosts another Eggy Tapes night of the predictably unpredictable with knifedoutofexistence headlining. Further electro/noise experiences include the Bristol Laptop Orchestra supporting David/David at Queens Head, Eastville (Fri 20) and Ricardo Camembert topping the bill at The Croft (Sun 22).

Electro-acoustic duo Rian Treanor and Rai Tateishi bring cyber-minimalism to QWAK Club at the Cube (Thur 5) followed by a choice on Friday 6:  Awkward Corners electro/drone (Kino), Realist Alive’s avant-club futurism (Cube) or cinematic post-rocker Yann Tiersen (Lantern). After which you’ll probably be glad of the Ambient Cafe session at Bar 57 (Sat 7) then wait for the smudged minimalism of AD 93 band feeo headlining at Strange Brew (Fri 20). Finally there’s an A/V feast at Bristol Megascreen when Adam Coombs performs live with a screening of an immersive, surround sound video interpretation of his Tapestries I-IV (Fri 27).

Don’t forget the full calendar of jazz events in Bristol at Bristol Jazz Live

Jam Sessions:

Weekly – The Stag & Hounds: Sunday Sessions (Sun); Mr Wolf’s: Donut Filler (Weds), JFS Open Jam (Tue 10, 24); Old England Community Jam Collective (Tue)

Fringe – Hot Club Jam (Mon 2), Jazz Rapport Jam (Sun 8), Peanut Butter Jam (Mon 9), Jazz Rendezvous Jam (Mon 16), Let’s Talk Jam (SEED session Mon 23).

Canteen – Beat Cleaver Cypher Space (Mon 2, Mon 16), Stone Cold Funk Jam (Tue 3), Slapdash (Mon 9), Canteen Jazz Session (Tue 10), Canteen Latin Descarga (Tue 17)

Attic Bar – Suntrap Jam Night (Thur 12, Thur 26)