Music / Jazz
Jazz pick of the week, March 2-8
There’s a ton of jazz coming your way this week, most of it packed between Friday and Sunday at the Colston Hall: yes, it’s the third Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival and you’ll need to check their website for the full SP.
There’s 45 acts appearing, 20 of them in the foyer, with big names including Dr John, Pee Wee Ellis, Lillian Boutté and Carleen Anderson all catching the weekend’s New Orleans theme.
Especially tasty treats should be Andy Sheppard’s unveiling of new ECM material with guitarist Eivind Aarset back in the band (Saturday 7), astonishing vocalist and violinist Alica Zawadzki (Saturday 7), trip-hop influenced Slowly Rolling Camera (Sunday 8) and festival openers Paradox Ensemble (Friday 7), a lively spin-off from the Beats & Pieces big band.
There’s a’fringe’ programme through the week, too, which includes Gary Alesbrook’s Duval Project performing with a string section at Fringe@The Mall (Wednesday 4), saxophonist Nicholas Dover’s new Fault Lines project at Canteen (Wednesday 4) and Emily Saunders’ poised vocals (and new CD) at Future Inns (Thursday 5). Cardiff’s Occasional Brass Ensemble bring that street band sound to Canteen (Thursday 5) while bass player Vicky Tilson’s VTQ will be previewing her new F-IRE Collective album at The Tunnels (Sunday 8).
Amazingly that’s not all the week’s jazz, either: there’s the Canteen Jazz Session (Monday 2), Victoria Klewin and the True Tones (Old Bookshop, Saturday 7) and Bartoune (Tobacco Factory, Sunday 8) as well as Trinity hosting a jazz workshop, concert and jam session from Tomorrow’s Warriors (Sunday 8).
Gig pick: Emily Saunders (Future Inns, Thursday 5) New album Outsiders Insiders blends her cool Brazilian vocal style with a range of soulful jazz numbers and with hot trumpeter Shanti Jayasinha in the mix it’s irresistible stuff.
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