Bristol’s month in jazz – September 2024

Are you ready for the new term? The Bebop Club certainly has its pencils sharpened, the University Jazz, Funk & Soul Society (aka JFS) are raring to go and the monthly Jazzata sessions are already under way. The latter are celebrating promoter Ian Storrer’s 40 years bringing the best jazz from the UK and beyond to Bristol with a special night (Beacon, Sunday 29) featuring Andy Sheppard’s sparkling new East Coast quartet. Andy’s career really benefitted from Ian’s support back in the 80s at The Albert pub in Bedminster and there will also be an exhibition in the Beacon of memorabilia from Ian’s long journey as jazz promoter since then. But if you’re still hankering after that summer vibe there’s the Somerset Jazz Festival at Radford Mill Farm (Fri 6-Sun 8) featuring many popular jazz and swing acts from hereabouts.

The Bebop regular Thursday sessions kick off impressively on the 12th with the debut UK tour of international, folk-inspired jazz quintet Atlantic Road Trip. That’s followed by  bassist Henryk Jensen’s piano trio (Thur 19) with fellow ex-pat Dane Esben Tjalve and drummer Dave Smith. Henryk and Dave are big names on the UK scene as well as popular local heroes. French-Chinese guitarist Julien Durand then brings his free-flowing Dreamscapes quintet (Thur 26) to round off a truly global set of gigs. More jazz guitar is celebrated in John Scofield’s A Go Go Live! (Fringe, Sun 22) with Jacob Houghton taking on a classic album of jazz-rock.

As well as launching their regular jam sessions at Mr Wolf’s (Tue 17) the JFS have Freshtival 24, a big night takeover at Strange Brew (Sun 15) featuring their own Bristol Big Band Society as well as electro-acoustic outfits Rwkus and Hippo. More grooving electronica comes when they welcome dance-friendly trio Zoobers (Mr Wolf’s, Tue 24). Wonky math rock fans should catch fusion band King Heron at the VooKoo session (Southbank, Fri 6) and they might also enjoy prog jazz quartet Plantoid  (The Lanes, Wed 11).

We don’t get to see much electronic harp around here so Welsh harpist Ben Creighton Griffiths’ quartet Chube should draw a crowd (Greenbank, Fri 27) for its contemporary jazz fusion. The band features bassist Ashley John Long, already well known at the Greenbank for the monthly Yetii piano trio sessions which this month have vocalist Louise Victoria guesting (Thur 5).

You can also catch Louise directing her excellent contemporary gospel choir The Good Stuff at The Bell (Mon 30) – they really are a brilliant and inspiring experience. As, of course, are Mercury Prizewinners The Ezra Collective (SWX, Mon 30) and Bristol’s own international post-jazz sensations Get The Blessing who return to Strange Brew (Sat 21) for an all too rare local gig. Invisible Apples – GTB trumpeter Pete Judge’s more restrained collaboration with pianist/composer John Baggott – are at El Rincon (Thur 26).

Saxophonist James Morton is another local hero always off touring with the likes of The Allergies and Herbaliser so his Sunday Sessions gig at The Raven (Sun 22) will please his many fans. Two more tasty saxophone players feature: Trinomica (Old Duke, Sat 7) has fluid tenor blower Julian Alenda up front, while the assertive Martin Kern (recently seen with The Saoco Collective) brings a quartet to join with the New York duo of riveting US vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli and bass player Pat O’Leary (St Stephen’s Church, Sat 21).

Groove-wise it’s a busy month, not least for 9-piece jazz-hoppers Mellowmatic who launch new album Rearranged at The Old Market Assembly (Fri 20). Could be that a few Mellowmatics show up to sit in at the SpaceJams celebration of 50 Years of Dilla (Lost Horizon, Sat 28), recognising the enormous influence of the late producer J Dilla on the contemporary jazz world.

There’s a couple of scorching organ trios to catch, with John Paul Gard’s Hammond skills leading Manuals of Fire (Old Fish Market, Sun 8) and Ruth Hammond showcasing hers in the Hopkins Hammond Trio (El Rincon, Thur 19). Ruth’s stylish tenor sax will be among the Brass Junkies, too (Raven, Sun 29), while Mr Wolf’s hosts the similarly exuberant brass funk outfits Shake Your Brass (Fri 6) and Beetroot Funk (Sun 29).

If there’s a particularly Norwegian oddness about psychedelic funk septet Flammer Dance Band (Jam Jar, Fri 20) it’s underlaid by some cracking musicianship, much like the indefatigable Blockheads (Fleece, Sun 22) whose bass player Norman Watt-Roy remains one of the definitive funk exponents. The Jam Jar also has afrobeat-inspired jazz from Donc and Friends (Sun 8) while The Shing A Lings (Old Duke, Thur 19) offer more subtle dance grooves, reviving the infectious Latin boogaloo style.

Is swing your thing? There’s genuine gypsy jazz royalty when the duo of manouche guitarist Lupo Reinhardt (grand-nephew of the legendary Django) and classical guitarist Yuliya Lonskaya comes to the Jam Jar (Wed 18) and it’s good to see the excellent Schmoozenberg’s bring their take on that music to the Folk House (Fri 13). The lilting Gallic flavours of musette inform Around About Dusk’s original music (Tobacco Factory, Sun 22) and more energetic French and Balkan dance rhythms power Fromage en Feu (Old Duke, Fri 27).

No stranger to gypsy swing, Moscow Drug Club vocalist Katya Gorrie (Bristol Fringe, Sun 29) also has her own trio and a repertoire that includes contemporary songs and jazz classics. Natalie Davis sings her favourites from that Great American Songbook (St Stephens Church, Mon 9) with accompanying guitar from Dave Merrick who will also provide some historical background on the songs and composers. Versatile vocalist Lady Nade will be bringing her set of Nina Simone’s greatest songs to the Somerset Jazz Festival (Radford Mill Farm, Sat 7).

Latin sounds remain a popular fixture, with Andy Hague’s latin-jazz Sexteto Gringo (The Bell, Mon 9) a great line-up and annual Argentinian visitors Tango Jazz Quartet doing exactly what it says on the tin (The Bell, Mon 2). Fiery vocalist Marta Zubieta brings her new latin-jazz and Bossa nova project Zubieta & The Suaves to Tobacco Factory (Sun 15).

More rootsy Brazilian music is explored by acoustic choro specialists Alvorado (Canteen, Wed 25) and latin-American heritage music duo La Gringa Negra (El Rincon, Thur 12) and there’s flavours of Brazil woven into violinist/vocalist Azhaar Saffar’s global meltdown of influences. Her Azhaar Saffar Ensemble (Cotham Club, Fri 27) offers a transglobal sound with her accomplished jazz violin very much at the forefront.

So you wait all this time for an electronic harpist and then two come along at once … Cardiff’s Ben Creighton Griffiths fusion band Chube (Greenbank, Fri 27) and Los Angeles-based Mary Lattimore (Beacon, Sat 21). Mary’s duo with accordionist Walt McClements occupies a more ambient place, creating electro-acoustic soundscapes reflecting her relationship with the sea. Amazingly it’s been 20 years since The Cube offshoot QuJunktions began bringing us a study stream of the best leftfield music from around the world. They are celebrating, naturally, with a great night (Cube, Fri 27) headlined by A Hawk and a Handsaw, one of their favourite acts.

Strange Brew (Wed 11) has the appealing combination of Mike Lindsay’s ‘glitch jazz’ – including vocalist Anna B Savage – and support from Yama Warashi, the idiosyncratic project of Japanese musician/artist Yoshino (formerly of this parish). Even more idiosyncracy can probably be expected from Music To Come’s eclectic line-up (St Thomas The Martyr, Sat 21) including Jabu’s Bird of Peace arkestra.

Tru Thoughts artist Anchorsong creates live electronic music and you can catch him at Gallimaufry (Tue 3) and there’s a triple bill of experimental electronica at Kino (Wed 25) under the heading Autumnal Equinox. Expect layered soundscapes, ritual ambience and heady drone. On the actual equinox day (Sat 21) the Cube has a 9-hour extravaganza of the unexpected in the shape of Toilet Fest 4 and Improv’s Greatest Hits hosts experimental US three piece Sham (Kino, Wed 11) with support from abstract cornet/guitar duo Arvy Ethers & Danny Riley.

The regular Byrfyfyr improv session is at the Elmer’s Arms (Sat 21) and a whole cavalcade of local improv merchants can be caught at Summer Noise #5 (Kino, Mon 2). Finally WetWare have an ambitious multi-media sound & visual event at Strange Brew (Thur 12) with contributions, among others, from Dali de St Paul. 

So – jam? There’s no info about the Stag & Hounds Sunday sessions at time of writing so best check with the venue.

Mr Wolf’s has the regular Wednesday Donut Filler jam and the fortnightly JFS jam (from Tue 17) while the Old England has the Community Jam Collective every Tuesday.

Canteen has  Cypher Space Hip Hop Jam (Mon 2), Canteen Jazz Session (Wed 4), Stone Cold Funk Jam (Tue 3 & 17), Slapdash Hip Hop Jam (Tue 10), Canteen Latin Session (Wed 18), Bristol Street Music (Tue 24).

The Fringe has Hot Club Jam (Mon 2), Peanut Butter Jam (Mon 9), Jazz Rapport Jam (Mon 16),