- Lynne Arriale Trio Pizza Express Jazz Club, London Monday 8 April and Tuesday 9 Apr
On pianist-composer Lynne Arriale’s 17th album Being Human issued earlier this year featuring a suite of 10 original compositions that represent the better side of human life for acts of passion, courage, conviction, love, persistence, heart, etc, dedicated to figures who have inspired Arriale including Greta Thunberg, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman and in Nobel Laureate the remarkable Malala Yousafzai - soul. Joined by bassist Alon Near (hear him to best effect on the Jarrettonian 'Heart') and drummer Lukasz Zyta there's a lot of grandeur in the chordal architecture of the pieces led off by the epic 'Courage'. Arriale beyond sheer technique finds the, if you like, spiritual Bill Evans parts of the keyboard few can ever unlock and so you get on 'Love' a luminous dreamworld that recalls just what Evans was able to achieve.
- Iain Ballamy Quartet Rugby Club, Kenilworth Mon 8 Apr
Legendary Loose Tubes and Food saxophonist Ballamy with pianist Rebecca Nash, bassist Nick Pini and drummer Jeremy Stacey. Influenced by George Coleman Iain has been on the ascendant freshly inspired once again since the Shavian What's New recorded near the erstwhile Balloon Man's home turf of Frome in 2019.
Grifton Forbes-Amos Quintet Eastside, Leytonstone Tues 9 Apr
Julian Marc Stringle Quartet Watermill, Dorking Tues 9 Apr
Soft Machine Ronnie Scott's, London Wednesday 10 Apr
Other Doors from Soft Machine last year paid homage to both today's version of the band and looks to the future and also represented a way of marking the abiding influence of both drummer John Marshall who had passed away and in a cameo, bass don Roy Babbington. Title track 'Other Doors' is the sort of flickering spirit conjured that in an ideal world every back room in every decent pub would feel naked without a band playing in its mould once a week or more regularly. Theo Travis on sax was far less prog on this record than usual. 'Crooked Usage' was the jazziest thing here - it's as poignant as a Thelonious Monk ballad and proved as tentative and mind blowing as Monk at his most compelling. John Etheridge on 'Whisper Back' delivers poignancy by the kleenex box load on 'The Stars Apart'. For bass riffery head to 'Now! Is The Tine' but 'Back in Season' sums up the passing of time best of all and the august floating sense of the spheres this lovable record evokes.
Capital City Jazz Orchestra Cu Mumbles, Swansea Wed 10 Apr
AC3 + Jemima Whyte The Cask, Scarborough Wed 10 Apr
Zoöphyte The Tap Social, Botley Wed 10 Apr
Aidan Thorne and Toby Hay Flute and Tankard, Cardiff Wed 10 Apr
Grant Russell Quartet Matt and Phred's, Manchester Thursday 11 Apr
James Owston Quartet Hen and Chicken, Bristol Thurs 11 Apr
Glitch 41 night The Rum Shack, Glasgow Thurs 11 Apr
Evan Parker 80th Birthday Celebration MAC, Birmingham Thurs 11 Apr
Rebecca Montgomery Trio Berts, Belfast Thurs 11 Apr
Indigo Jazz Voices The Globe, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Thurs 11 Apr
Singers Carrie McCullock, David Edgar, Jenny Lingham, Paul Close and Jen Errington backed by pianist Alan Law, bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Rob Walker.
- Joel Ross Vortex, London Thurs 11 Apr
Already something of a veteran on Blue Note with nublues his fourth recording for the venerable label, vibist Joel Ross by dint of this and of course his considerable playing prowess can easily and already be seen as the most significant American vibist of our time in the lineage of greats such as Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Nelson and Gary Burton. This new record has stand-out alto work from Immanuel Wilkins - the line-up also featuring pianist Jeremy Corren, bassist Kanoa Mendenhall, drummer Jeremy Dutton and a guesting Gabrielle Garo on flute. The album opened mournfully with 'Early' and proceeded in solemn fashion leading beautifully into John Coltrane's 'Equinox' which certainly lays down its credentials fast. Most of the tunes are absorbing Ross originals and there's another Coltrane cover in 'Central Park West' and the other cover is Thelonious Monk's 'Evidence'. Ross playing the Vortex is something of a coup for the club hosting the vibist with Corren, Mendenhall and Dutton from the album.
Jim Mullen Organ Trio The Stoke, Guildford Friday 12 Apr
Liane Carroll Trio The Verdict, Brighton Fri 12 Apr
Joel Frahm Trio Scott's, Belfast Fri 12 Apr
James Allsopp Quartet 1000 Trades, Birmingham Fri 12 Apr
Rob Luft Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 13 Apr
Guitarist Luft is on John Surman's 5-star Words Unspoken issued earlier this year. For Brighton he brings his own current band featuring saxophonist Joe Wright, bass guitarist Tom McCredie and drummer Corrie Dick.
Fleur Stevenson Trio Andwell Brewery restaurant, Hook Sat 13 Apr
Alina Bzhezhinska and Tony Kofi The Bear, Luton Sat 13 Apr
Hamish Stuart 606, London Sunday 14 Apr
Joel Frahm Trio Magy's Farm, Dechomet Sun 14 Apr
Lynne Arriale Trio, pictured top, returns to play Soho on Monday and Tuesday nights
Tags: gigs