Music / Jazz
The week in jazz – May 9-15
Those who know him know that Hen & Chicken jazz promoter Ian Storrer does not get overexcited easily. Ever since he managed to snag this week’s visit from the Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet, however, he’s been enthusiastically rating it as his gig of the year to anyone who cares to listen and – hopefully – plenty of people will care enough to listen on Friday 13 when the New York guitarist comes to town. Kreisberg (pictured above) is a dazzling jazz guitarist, both technically and melodically who’s garnered plaudits from John Scofield, Dr Lonnie Smith and others, and his band includes equally impressive pianist Dave Kikoski, long-time associate of Roy Haynes, The Brecker Brothers and countless others. This is a real top notch band who would rarely perform in so intimate a venue and there is no doubt that Ian’s excitement will be well justified on the night. The event is sponsored by Bath Ales, thus keeping the ticket price down, and The Bebop Club is coming over to collaborate, too.
Fans of jazz guitar may well have already got a fix the night before when conceptual Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen brings his new project to St George’s (Thursday 12). Part of the hall’s Filmic season, the performance is a live accompaniment to Anastasia Isachsen’s film of religious buildings and ruins inspired by Henriksen’s beautiful album Places of Worship and will feature the composer’s processed trumpet and electronics alongside visionary guitarist Eivind Aarset (pictured) and electronica from Jan Bang. Aarset has often collaborated with Andy Sheppard, using his guitar to add beautifully judged complementary electronics in his unique style and this multimedia context should be ravishingly atmospheric. But if more straightforward jazz-rock guitar is to your taste then the choice of Mark Lawrence’s Groovelator organ trio at Future Inn on the same night will please you greatly, while swinging modernist Denny Ilett will host his monthly ‘& Friends’ night at the Alma Tavern on Sunday 15.
There’s yet more guitar action on Wednesday 11, too, when the Fringe showcases new quartet Flat Earth, a powerful electric jazz’n’blues band fronted by vocalist Victoria Klewin (pictured) with no-holds-barred guitarist Andy Christie alongside John-paul Gard’s Hammond organ and Eddie John drumming. Aiming at Mose Allison territory, the band have recruited Ben Waghorn to add some blistering sax to the mix for this gig. More soulful jazz will feature at Canteen that night, with Ruth Royall’s smooth vocals to the fore, while sax/Hammond instrumental duo Sophie Stockham & Ruth Hammond bring their cool jazz and hot boogaloo to No 1 Harbourside.
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