Music / contemporary jazz

6161 – that’s my number

By Tony Benjamin  Wednesday May 15, 2024

Drummer Matt Stockham Brown’s sudden 2023 departure from the highly successful improv-groove duo Run Logan Run came as a bit of a surprise. His swift re-emergence with horn-heavy contemporary jazz sextet 6161 may have seemed equally unexpected until you remember that Matt was also the rhythm driver for the excellent (and much-missed) Dakhla Brass.

It’s now one year later and the new band is one of the headliners at this year’s JazzStroud weekend festival, alongside Ezra Collective’s Joe Armon-Jones, hot young Scottish saxophonist Matt Carmichael and Mercury-nominated sax star Cassie Kinoshi’s electro-jazz project un.procedure.

For 6161 it’s been a swift rise to prominence – they have only just finished recording a debut album, hopefully out early in 2025 – but it reflects the all-star quality of a band that includes two members of Get The Blessing (Pete Judge on trumpet, Jake McMurchie’s tenor sax) , Cut Capers’ baritone man Tom Taylor, Modulus III keyboard whizz Dan Moore and Sefrial/Orphic saxophonist and composer Sophie Stockham.

Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
Keep our city's journalism independent.

Thanks to Matt’s top reputation as a drummer he had the pick of the Bristol scene – and he knew who to call: “I knew exactly what I wanted it to be,” he recalls. “I just had my fingers crossed that they would want to be involved. I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out.”

Interestingly, after Run Logan Run’s improvisatory approach, Matt has composed some quite tight charts for 6161: “A lot of it is through-written, though I have tried to give some space for people to improvise. I wanted to write music that has more of a narrative than just ‘a quick riff and everybody gets a solo’.”

But why that name? “It’s funny, but the number 61 just seems to crop up a lot for me and I thought it sounded contemporary.,” says Matt. “Then someone told me about Angel Numbers – I’d never heard of them – but apparently 6161 means something about being tested and getting somewhere through struggling. I don’t know about that, but setting up this project has certainly been the best therapy!”

And Matt’s very pleased to be coming back to JazzStroud with his new band: “I love that festival! Dakhla did it some years ago, and Run Logan Run two years back. I’ve played it with one of Dan Inzani’s bands, too, and I’m also playing with his new project this year. It seems to be a good fresh line-up.”

Among Matt’s top picks for the weekend are Ruth Goller’s ethereal voice project Skylla (“I love Ruth’s bass playing, and now she has Seb Rochford on drums.”), BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Matt Carmichael (I’ll be excited to see who he brings with him) and the intensely groovy keyboard player Joe Armon-Jones (“He’s definitely one of the leaders of that fresh London scene.”)

He reserves his most fulsome enthusiasm, however, for Bristol-based singer/electronicist t l k: “I love t l k – totally brilliant! That’s the singer I would love to collaborate with one day.”

There’s plenty to discover on the JazzStroud bill, too, with coolly accomplished drummer/composer Romarna Campbell and sound artist/singer afromerm (aka Cil) both intriguingly stylish newcomers from London, while the Tomorrow’s Warriors Frontline showcase is bound to have stars of the future.

Matt Stockham Brown is a firm believer in checking out the unknown. “Some fans seem fixed in only listening to certain sounds, but I’m intrigued by all musical worlds,” he says. “I try to be as open as possible and then I can borrow ideas to help me write music that’s hopefully pushing forward – that’s where progression comes from!”

You can judge how Matt’s progressing on Fri 24 at JazzStroud. The festival takes place at various venues in Stroud from Thursday – Sunday, May 23 – 26.

Main photo: Matt Stockham Brown

Read next: 

 

 

 

Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
I want to receive (tick as many as you want):
I'm interested in (for future reference):
Marketing Permissions

Bristol24/7 will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

We will only use your information in accordance with our privacy policy, which can be viewed here - main-staging.bristol247.com/privacy-policy/ - you can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at meg@bristol247.com. We will treat your information with respect.


We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Related articles

You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Independent journalism
is needed now More than ever
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Join the Better
Business initiative
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
* prices do not include VAT
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Enjoy delicious local
exclusive deals
You've read %d articles this month
Consider becoming a member today
Wake up to the latest
Get the breaking news, events and culture in your inbox every morning