Bristol jazz week, March 2

Bristol pretty much looking forward to peak jazz this week. The Festival begins on Friday – hence no date at the Be-Bop club. If you’re reading this little blog, and in town, I’m assuming you’ve already looked at the programme. Going to try and do a note of some personal highlights later in the week.

Meantime, there’s plenty to divert you between now and then. The Sunday afternoon session at the Fringe in Clifton has a tribute to the Adderley brothers. They say:

THIS SUNDAY – The Jazz Rendez-Vous at The Bristol FRINGE Cafe-Bar – TRIBUTE TO CANNONBALL & NAT ADDERLEY featuring the wonderful French trumpeter Olivier Desplebin and the Julien Alenda Trio. Followed by Jam Session. Sunday 2nd March, Music Starts at 4PM. FREE ENTRY.

This months special guest is the trumpeter Olivier Desplebin who is flying in from France specially for the occasion ! Olivier is one of the finest jazz trumpet players in France, having shared the stage with Roy Hargrove, Joe Cohn, Flavio Boltro, Stephane Belmondo, …
Olivier Desplebin and Julien Alenda started out playing jazz together over 15 years ago they are both massive fans of Cannonball and Nat Adderley – this months Jazz Rendez-Vous promises to be really special.

Tuesday there is a date to note at the Coronation Tap where a crew of local (mostly jazz) musicians are putting on a benefit for those in need after the Somerset floods. Details:

Banding together for this very special gig are

Saxophonist, Craig Crofton
Trumpeter, Jonny Bruce
Keyboardist, Jonny Henderson
Guitarist, Jerry Crozier Cole
Drummer, Ian Matthews
and special guests to be confirmed!

We’re asking £5 admission on the door and ALL proceeds will go to
SOMERSET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION specifically earmarked for their Flood Relief Fund.

We sincerely hope you’ll join us! EVERYBODY’S WELCOME!

Thursday has (deep breath): John Pearce with Dave Newton at The Fringe, a pre-Festival special double bill at Future Inns with Blakeley’s Messengers and the Greg Cordez Quintet and a notable gig at St George’s where Ivo Neame and Jason Rebello appear as part of the venue’s piano duo festival. It’s slightly unfortunate that one comes just before the Colston weekend, but it certainly deserves a good audience. Neame, judging from the soon to be released new CD from Phronesis, is on startling form. Rebello, seen recently in a nice club in a city not far from here, is also a simply superb player. It’ll be fascinating to see how they work together. See also Tony Benjamin’s Bristol Post preview here.

Then it’s Festival time, starting Friday evening, with loads of free foyer music, concerts galore in both Colston’s main hall and The Lantern, and jam sessions after hours, not to mention workshops at the Folk House and a film show at Watershed. Can’t wait.