Music / Jazz
Jazz pick of the week: April 13 – 19
Have you checked out the fortnightly jazz sessions at Canteen yet (Monday 13)? With jam session veteran Craig Crofton keeping a firm hand on the tiller it’s been attracting some fine musicians of late. Things continue to be classy at the Fringe session in The Mall (Wednesday 15) where the visit of Andy Sheppard and Percy Pursglove’s quartet is sure to fill the room. With Dan Moore (keys) and Tony Orrell (drums), it’s a kind of Super-Pushy Doctors that promises great fun. If you’re still not sure how to pronounce BEJE then catch the former Bristol European Jazz Ensemble’s global jazz infusion at Future Inn (Thursday 16), the same evening as Brass Junkies (above) appear at The Old Duke and James Morton’s Groove Den welcomes this week’s guest at the Gallimaufry.
Friday night offers a choice double bill beginning with the Jim Blomfield Trio playing an early set of contemporary piano jazz at the Colston Hall foyer. There’s time to grab a bite to eat en route to catch visiting trombonist Andy Derrick bringing pianist Mike Kemp down from Birmingham with him to the Bebop Club. Sunday night in Clifton has the competing pleasures of James Morton with soulful vocalist Celestine at the Coronation Tap or Jonny Bruce’s ‘trumpet legends’ themed band at the Alma Tavern.
And then, for the broader-minded listener, there’s a few leftfield gigs that should be well worth catching, starting with semi-improvised post-rock duo Bitch’n’Monk at Canteen (Wednesday 15) – singer Heidi Heidelberg’s vocalising is truly remarkable – and then there’s a Colston Hall double bill on Saturday with Tangle Club’s jazz reading of Astor Piazolla (Foyer) warming up for Portico (Lantern), now a trio and moving further into ambient electro-noise territory.
And biggest fun of the week, by far: George Clinton bringing his PFunk megaband to O2 Academy (Friday 17). One nation under a groove? Oh yes!
Gig pick of the week: Andy Derrick Jazz Quartet (Bebop Club, Friday April 17) Among the UK’s roll-call of illustrious trombonists Dennis Rollins and Don Lusher rank very high indeed. So when both have gone on record as rating Andy Derrick’s playing then it’s clear he’s doing something right. His Birmingham-based ADJQ gains Andy Hague depping on drums for a straight ahead session of classic faves.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
