Jazz picks of the month: June 2015

So there may be a bit of a fuss down Pilton way this month but, jazz wise, there’s not much nearby festival action to report other than the Upton Jazz Festival  (25-28) over in the charming Malvern Hills and featuring the great Alan Barnes and Bristol’s own Moscow Drug Club. Closer to home, however, it’s the Bebop Club that has some of the best tunes for June, rounding off their season before the summer break with couple of crackers. First up is the visit of LUME (Friday 5), a long-standing improvisation-based club night from London led by saxophonists Cath Roberts and Dee Byrne. They’re bringing Dee’s quintet Entropi (featuring ex-Bristol pianist Rebecca Nash) and Quadraceratops, (above) Cath’s critically acclaimed 7-headed jazz monster. 

It’s a powerful double bill that will pack the (admittedly small) room and would have peaked the programme if the following week (Friday 12) wasn’t promising the return of The Session – a sizzling quintet offshoot of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra who blew the club away on their semi-impromptu visit last year. Featuring ex-Snarky Puppy trumpeter Steve Lands and young drumming hotshot Charles Burchell they are a superbly talented bunch who really enjoy playing together.

Another transatlantic visitor to check will be saxophonist Len Aruliah – UK born but Canada-raised he divides his time between the two countries and will be visiting No 1 Harbourside (Thursday 11) for a duo performance. His even-toned soprano playing is especially compelling, though he’s no mean alto player either, and his expressive and fluent style reflects an ongoing fascination with calypso and township jive. Straightahead jazz fans face a tough choice, however, as that same night sees Sound of Blue Note return to Future Inns for another hard-bopping trawl of one of the great jazz catalogues.

The Exchange’s Fat Paul will have a treat for lovers of the hard stuff when the mighty Paul Dunmall & Phil Gibbs bring their long-established improvising sax and guitar partnership for a matinee performance (Saturday 6) with support from artful popsters The deSelby Codex. Both Paul and Phil were originally part of the ebullient 80s jazz scene in Bristol before becoming national figures in the free music world. More formal composition marks Bath-based bassman Greg Cordez who has recently hooked up with Loop Collective sax player Sam Crockatt and their quintet will appear in Bristol twice this month, firstly at Canteen (Wednesday 17) and then the Colston Hall Foyer (Friday 26). 

Both Greg and Sam are gaining serious recognition as players and composers for blending modern ideas with classic jazz values, something that’s also true for saxophonist Kevin Figes whose excellent quartet will be playing some of Kevin’s tunes at Fringe Jazz @ The Mall (Wednesday 17). Finally, there’s yet another chance to catch the busy Greg Cordez when he appears with Daan Temmink at Future Inn (Thursday 25). Daan is a Dutch film composer and jazz pianist who’s relocated to Bristol and his John Taylor influenced contemporary jazz trio also includes Tony Randall Phillips on drums.