- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Repertory Big Band conducted by Ed Puddick + Worcester Youth Jazz Orchestra Eastside, Birmingham Monday 15 April
Playing Sammy Nestico - 2024 is the centenary of the Basie arranger's birth. Straight Ahead - it says it on the tin.
- Mark Turner Quartet Ronnie Scott's, London Mon 15 Apr
Sold out.
- James Brandon Lewis Vortex, London Tuesday 16 Apr
JBL reviewed in these pages with avant rock band The Messthetics recently - he has his own record Transfiguration out and also appears on the new Gifts with Dave Douglas. Former Fugazi members bass guitarist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty are in the Messthetics - the prog inclined guitarist Anthony Pirog is also in the band.
You'll hear the titanic saxophone playing of Lewis in a completely different context here but fear not there is extensive soloing from him and the chunky riff-groove alchemy is very satisfying - JBL letting go massively on 'The Time Is The Place' amid shrieking guitar and more shreddies found than in your average cereal packet.
Heads up in the jazzanorakerie if still lamentably unfamiliar with JBL, drawn from Eye of I, but happen to be a Donny Hathaway soul lover. And isn't any self respecting Amy Winehouse fan out there? (Big weekend just gone in that regard with the premiere of Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back to Black exploding everywhere.) First port of call is the saxist's unbelievable cover of 'Someday We'll All Be Free' if thinking of schlepping over to Hackney from Osidge but still undecided.
There's nothing you can teach me
That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway
Amy Winehouse
In the famous 'Rehab' video in the bath tub blowing a trumpet original Empirical player Jay Phelps is in view as is Burnin' Bobby G, - Robin Banerjee - of Jazz Jamaica, seen with his guitar - it's worth knowing
Playing Dalston - JBL has learnt a few vital things too from Donny - with his Transfiguration band featuring pianist Aruán Ortiz, bassist Brad Jones and drummer Chad Taylor. There are two shows on Tuesday night - the first has already sold out.
Hot Club Gallois Cu Mumbles, Swansea Wednesday 17 Apr
John Settle Seven, Leeds Wed 17 Apr 6pm start
- Anthropods + Sloth Racket The Lescar, Sheffield Wed 17 Apr
Vienna based US drummer Mark Holub known for his work with Led Bib, the avantist here with his tub thumpingly effective new band Anthropods headlining in the Steel City.
Denny Ilett and the Chris Ingham Trio Pavilion at The Sports Ground, Guildford Thurs 18 Apr
The Jazz Defenders The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen Thursday 18 Apr
John Donegan Sextet Hen and Chicken, Bristol Thurs 18 Apr
Alan Barnes and Andy Panayi Sextet Lighthouse, Poole Friday 19 Apr
- Antonio Forcione & Giorgio Serci The Verdict, Brighton Fri 19 Apr
- Örjan Hultén Orion 1000 Trades, Birmingham Fri 19 Apr
- Dan Costa Trio Scott (Flanigan)'s, Belfast Fri 19 Apr
- Moscow Drug Club Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham Saturday 20 Apr
Singer Katya Gorrie, trumpeter Jonny Bruce, bassist Andy Crowdy, accordionist Mirek Salmon and guitarist Andy Bowen deliver an eclectic mix of styles in Notts. Riffs yes but no one shoots the sheriff sho'would way
Dana Ali Band Matt and Phred's, Manchester Sat 20 Apr
Mark McQuillan Group The Jazz Centre, Southend Sat 20 Apr in the afternoon
Dan Costa Trio Arthur's, Dublin Sat 20 Apr
- Rebecca Poole Quartet Cromarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire
Purdy is with trumpeter Stuart Henderson, guitarist Hugh Turner and double bassist Raph Mizraki. Sold out.
- Christine Tobin and Phil Robson Birr Theatre and Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly Sat 20 Apr
- James Blood Ulmer Cafe Oto, London Sat 20 Apr and Sunday 21 Apr
Famed for his tenure with Ornette Coleman in his harmolodics pomp, for the stormingly compelling Are You Glad to Be in America? and for playing the blues like the ultimate mutha, hearing Blood Ulmer is an exhilarating ride as we know from hearing and interviewing the cult avant guitarist on the Isle of Dogs of all places in the 1990s.
- Conor Murray trio The Workman's Club, Dublin Sun 21 Apr
County Donegal jazzer Conor Murray is the Glaswegian jazz vocals star Georgia Cécile's bass player and appears in Dublin with his twin brother sax ace Micheál who he played with on Murray's Law (2021). Completing the Workman's Club line-up is drummer Jay Davis who is on the fine new Ronan Perrett trio album, Between.
James Brandon Lewis, pictured, plays London's Vortex on Tuesday night
Tags: gigs