Music / Jazz
Bristol’s week in jazz, November 19-25 2018
Clearly those Ezra Collective lads had a good time rocking the Thekla last week because two of them – keyboard player Joe Armon-Jones and trumpeter Dylan Jones – are back again with their other projects this week.
And despite Becki Biggins claim that ‘it’s a man’s world’ there’s a whole load of female jazz artistry about, too.
Ezra-wise, first up is Dylan Jones with PYJAEN (Canteen, Thursday 22), a newly formed quintet that’s already getting people nearly as excited as that other band. They make clever, angular original music driven by clear grooves from Afrobeat, hip-hop and the like.
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Down at the Exchange, however, Joe Armon-Jones (Saturday 24) showcases his debut release on Gilles Petersen’s Brownswood label in a late night gig that also promises some pretty catchy grooves. The album features Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd, among others, but details of the touring line-up are a bit hard to find.
But enough of the boys – this week sees top Scots improvising trumpeter Kim Macari rock up at Cafe Kino (Wednesday 21) as part of the Macari/Brice/Woodhead trio, a muscular threesome also including Olie Brice (bass) and Andrew Woodhead (piano). Local free-thinkers Grigg/Hitchens/Lash/Magda will be in support.
Improvising harpist Mary Lattimore comes from Los Angeles to Rough Trade (Tuesday 20) for what should be a calming display of gently plucked ambient music created solo with loop station and midi effects. Latest album Hundreds of Days evokes wide-open American spaces. More urbane electronica from Berlin comes to The Cube (Friday 23) in the shape of Monika label’s Barbara Morgenstern.
For a more conventional kind of jazz performance, Grammy-nominated vocalist Becki Biggins new project It’s a Man’s World (Future Inn, Thursday 22) covers classic songs usually associated with male singers, aided and abetted by great sax player Ben Waghorn and Hammond maestro John paul Gard. There’ll be a few of her own gospel-inspired compositions too.
There’ll be a warm welcome for new member Ana Gomez, a Spanish pianist recently moved to Bristol, when the Bristol European Jazz Ensemble comes to the Bebop Club (Friday 23). Steered by trumpeter Dave Mowatt the current line-up also includes the ever-amazing drumming of Tony Orrell and they will, appropriately enough, be playing from their euRIP Suite. At the weekend Tony brings his own Jellilalas to the Old England (Sunday 25).
And finally … a couple of contrasting left field treats that merit attention: Moscow Drug Club’s accordionist Mirek Salmon tips his hat to the master of bandoneon in a Tribute to Astor Piazzolla (Fringe, Wednesday 21). With passionate violinist John Pearce in his quintet the spirit of Nuevo Tango can be counted on to attend. But over at The Bell a real blast from the past will kick up the dust when the revived anarchic creativity of Ted Milton’s Blurt hits the stage. Rich fare for a lunchtime gig!
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