
Music / Bebop
The week in Jazz Sept 11 – 17
So – Friday the Fifteenth may not be a snappy film title but this month’s biggest jazz jam (as in traffic jam) will be happening on that date. Probably the finest music will be at The Bebop, however, in the shape of John Law’s Re-Creations. John is an amazing and very individual piano player and this cracking quartet (which also includes the equally impressive tenor sax of Sam Crockatt) takes a very fresh look at jazz, pop and rock classics.
Other Friday 15 attractions are available, however, and very diverse they are too. The Surrey Vaults is hosting The Bristol Hum weekend festival of experimental and improvised music, while Cafe Kino’s Aphelion XX evening of electro-spontaneity features London’s Gareth JS Thomas. More conventional tuneage can be expected from the twin guitars of the Carter-Francis Duo at El Rincon, and Snazzback’s upbeat Latin-infused groovery can be caught at the Old Market Assembly. Something, as they say, for everyone.

Improvising legend Paul Dunmall blows into town
Wednesday the Thirteenth may be another failed film title but isn’t badly supplied with jazz action, either, notably the Paul Dunmall Trio who appear at The Fringe. By adding youngster Percy Pursglove’s trumpet and bass to the longstanding duo of saxophonist Paul and drummer Tony Orrell something really special has emerged and the gig should be a blinder. Over at The Gallimaufry residents Waldo’s Gift are holding a night of music by quirky Warp electronicists Mount Kimbie. For those wanting to learn how to play jazz for themselves, however, keyboard player Andy Nowak is launching Jump Start Jazz, a weekly workshop at St Werburgh’s Community Centre.
is needed now More than ever

Sophie Stockham – a week of two halves
Saxophonist Sophie Stockham is also out on Wednesday night, taking her talent-stuffed contemporary quintet Sefrial to Canteen. The band’s original music and collective firepower is always worth catching, though for a stylistic contrast you can catch Sophie playing more straight-ahead jazz with her Sophie Stockham Quartet at the Tobacco Factory (Sunday 17).

John Martin (in his Hidden Notes Band)
Tenor player John Martin – known for his Hidden Notes band and approach to playing – brings a locally-based quartet to Future Inn on Thursday (14). Known for his subtlety as a player, John’s experiences in Latin and world music are also evident.

Run Logan Run – Dan Jophnson (drums) and Andrew Neil Hayes (sax)
Less known for subtlety than spine-tingling energy, Andrew ‘Schoolboy’ Neil Hayes’ no-nonsense sax’n’drums duo Run Logan Run will be at The Greenbank on Thursday, too, as part of the Freestone Records night in the pub’s regular BS5 Freejazz sessions. Rip-Snorting stuff can be guaranteed to happen.