Bristol’s month in jazz – March 2025

It’s the last month of Greenwich Mean Time, so if you plan to see the hyper-hip Moses Yoofee Trio (Strange Brew, Sun 30) you’d best remember to put your clocks forward on the day to avoid missing their first hour of clever contemporary piano trio jazz. But no such problem with the rest of the month’s jazzy days, and an early highlight will be Scaling Jacques Montagne (Fringe, Tue 4) when guitarist Adrian Utley reveals yet another project from his rapidly expanding portmanteau. This one takes the classic Manouche line-up of two guitars, bass and clarinet into an avant-garde exploration of the dazzling M. Montagne. You might just be able to grab a ticket for Snarky Puppy piano and bass duo Bill Laurance and Michael Teague (St George’s, Sun 2) exploring that more intimate sound or, similarly, Penguin Cafe bandleader Arthur Jeffes solo piano show (Beacon, Fri 7). The Beacon also has virtuoso saxophonist Alex Hitchcock popping back from his New York base for a UK/European tour with his Euro Quintet (Sun 16), also featuring impressive young trumpeter James Copus. Tom Excell’s sprawling collective Nubyan Twist (pictured at top) come back to Trinity (Thur 13) for a groove-driven night of Afro-futurist jazz. And it’s always good to welcome a new venue for live jazz, especially in North Bristol – Shirehampton Public Hall are hosting Swing From Paris (Thur 20), a more straightforward Hot Club style celebration of that timeless Manouche café swing.

In a month full of diverse saxophonists it’s unfortunate that two well-respected veterans appear on the same night: sometime Dave Brubeck tenor player Jerry Bergonzi makes a rare UK appearance at Strange Brew (Wed 26) while longtime Stan Tracey partner Art Themen plays at FringeJazz (Bristol Music Club). It’s a tough choice, especially as Art’s Quartet includes pianist Huw Warren. Two saxophonists appear on the same night at St George’s (Wed 19) but that’s intentional: Alex Clarke and Ruth Hammond both play tenor sax and both emerged in the Young Jazz Musician of the year competition, albeit a couple of decades apart. They’re exploring classic ‘two tenor’ pairings from the past. The Stag & Hounds Sunday session would be entirely about saxophones this month if trumpeter Andy Hague hadn’t got his foot in the door (Sun 23). He squeezes in between Dan Newberry (Sun 2), Terry Quinney (Sun 9), Kevin Figes (Sun 16) and Luke Annesley (Sun 30) – a splendid line-up. And for more reedwork you can head over to Mr Wolf’s after Luke’s set to catch the Craig Crofton Trio there.

There’s a bit of a piano theme to the Bebop Club’s March programme, starting with the aforementioned Huw Warren in a duo with Jake McMurchie’s saxophone (Thur 6) – a tasty prospect. That’s followed (Thur 13) by Rebecca Nash contributing keys to Dee Byrne’s Outlines, a fine sextet of free-thinking players let loose on alto player Dee’s intriguing compositions. Then Jim Blomfield brings his superb Saoco Collective Latin and salsa septet (Thur 20) before – in marked contrast – John Law showcases an acoustic edition of his Congregation (Thur 27). The quartet will play a range of John’s compositions from Congregation’s various past iterations. Outline’s dynamic bass player Olie Brice brings his sizzling quartet to Fringejazz (Bristol Music Club, Wed 12) with the brilliant Alexander Hawkins on piano, Rachel Musson’s excellent tenor and the awesome Mark Sanders drumming.

Maverick World Service Project pianist Dave Morecroft has lately been revealing his ‘proper’ jazz skills in a trio that played at Canteen last month and now another – Juxter – comes to The Bell (Mon 24). There’s a couple more piano duos to catch: Rebecca Nash teams up with creative tenor player Alex Merritt for a lunchtime St George’s gig (Fri 7), while pianist John Baggott and trumpeter Pete Judge bring their Invisible Apples pairing to El Rincon (Thur 27). Over at Fishpond’s Crafty Egg upbeat pianist Sam Joyce leads the Joyce, Newton, Paradise Trio (Fri 14).

Fans of Moscow Drug Club might like to catch vocalist Katya Gorrie’s Trio (El Rincon, Thur 6) not least because it also includes MDC guitarist Andy Bowen. It’s another unfortunate clash, however, with swing singer Marvin Muoneke at the Fringe that evening. The Fringe also announced two vocalist gigs for Sunday 16 but you could catch both if you wanted: Kat Coles brings her set of forgotten jazz classics and Bossa nova (6pm) with Jake McMurchie’s tenor saxophone, and Kay Grant is also looking at freshly arranged jazz classics with Luke Annesley’s alto. Interestingly guitarist Neil Smith plays in both line-ups – a busy day for him, then. His own guitar-led Slate Trio are also playing his new compositions at El Rincon (Thur 13).

Ruth Hammond may have first emerged as a brilliant young tenor player but she’s probably better known these days for her skills on the organ that shares her name. You can check them in the Hopkins Hammond Trio gig at Fringejazz (Bristol Music Club, Wed 5). Guitarist Nigel Price brings Ross Stanley, another Hammond whizz, in his Organ Trio (Greenbank, Fri 14) and the inimitable John Paul Gard will get his Leslie whirling in Manuals of Fire’s set at The Old Fish Market (Sun 2). And even further out on the electronic keyboard spectrum synth duo Akasha come to The Bell (Sat 8), swiftly followed by synth exponent Ben Tunnicliffe’s Nowhere Ensemble (Mon 10). Ben’s band also appear at Mr Wolf’s later in the month (Sun 23).You can see Ruth Hammond back on the reeds in Brass Junkies (Canteen, Sat 29), with other big brass funksters Head Rush Brass Band also appearing at Canteen (Fri 14) while the mighty Bristol Hornstars big band crash into Old Market Assembly (Sat 8) and New Orleans originals the Hot 8 Brass Band will be storming the O2 Academy (Sat 22).

Sungazer’s big flamboyant grooving (Trinity, Sat 29) does a great job of fusing jazz and modern dance styles, as do Deyu (Jam Jar, Sat 15). Deyu is a bit of an all-star collaboration of great players from Snazzback, Waldo’s Gift and other bands and the Jam Jar gig will be a celebration of the late hip-hop musician MF Doom’s many guises. Also at the Jam Jar (Sun 2), young rhythm quartet Donc mix flavours of Afrobeat, Funk and Dub, followed there (Thur 6) by Afro-Jazz meets Neo-Soul project Conn3ct – another supergroup of familiar nu-jazz faces, with vocal support from MĀDŁY and others. MĀDŁY also appears at an International Women’s Day extravaganza and beer launch at the Lost and Grounded brewery (Sat 8). Veteran electro-funk outfit Cantaloop play Mr Wolf’s (Sat 1) and The Bell (Wed 5) and the JFS nights at Mr Wolf’s have soul-jazz band Howell’s Grooving Castle (Tue 18) and improv/nu-jazz crew Semper (Tue 4).

There’s another welcome return when poet Chris Redmond brings a Tongue Fu Laboratory Session to The Cube (Thur 27). The night features an improvising jazz trio – led by busy pianist Rebecca Nash – spontaneously accompanying wordsmiths including Dizraeli and Aish Humphries.  The talent-stuffed South West Improvisers Group (aka SWIG) welcome formidable bass clarinettist Chris Cundy (Mon 3) for a free-flowing session at the Star and Dove, while several SWIGgers can be found at the Broken Numbers lunchtime improv session at the Exchange (Sun 9). There’s a night of unpredictable musical chaos at Moor Beer (Sat 8) featuring Vibracathedral Orchestra and Parisian guitar wrestler Nina Garcia, among others, only rivalled by an eclectic Cube triple bill of Ex Agent, Zelt and Grandchild (Sat 29) and an IGH (Improv’s Greatest Hits) night topped by New York avant-garde guitar legend David Grubbs (Kino, Thur 20). Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist Fabio Ferri launches a single (ironically titled The Sinking Cathedral) at The Fringe (Wed 26), his latest piece mashing up classical music themes and tropes into a rock-beat scenario.

But of course you could always do it yourself … at one of the many jam sessions around the city: as well as the weekly Stag & Hounds Sunday sessions,  Fringe has Hot Club Jam (Mon 3), Peanut Butter Jam (Mon 10), and Jazz Rapport Jam (Mon 24). Canteen has Beat Cleaver Hip Hop Jam (Mon 3), Stone Cold Funk Jam (Tue 4, Tue 18), Canteen Jazz Session (Wed 5), Slapdash (Tue 11), Bristol Street Music (Thur 13), Canteen Latin Session (Wed 19) Kole Tang (Tue 25).  The Old England has Community Jam Collective (every Tuesday) and All Hands (Sun 2, 16, 30). The Love Inn has its 8th monthly Outer Edge session (Tue 4) and Jam Jar have their monthly The Door Is Ajar (Sat 29).