January & February 2016
Once again, Jazz is kept alive in a quiet time of visitors, by our local stalwarts in Reading and area pubs restaurants. Stuart Henderson, Simon Price and his trio, High Turner, Mark Burton feature together with many others at venues, Abbot Cook, Magpie and Parrot, The Flowing Spring, Global Cafe, Fisherman’s Cottage: surf the gigs list for a complete opportunity to enjoy some good music over a meal or drink.
Django style guitar is the flavour of Marlow Jazz Club’s gig on the 19th, with Gary Potter and on the same night Fleet Jazz Club give you an opportunity to refresh your Mingus vibes with Chris Bricoe’s Mingus Profiles Quintet.
Norden Farm host sax firebrand Alex Garnett on the 22nd with Cleyndert and Tracey, plus Mick Hutton on piano. A hot time assured.
An interesting line up awaits us at Jazz In Reading’s Progress Theatre promotion on the 29th with The Moscow Drug Club. I think that I am right in saying that, apart from bassist Andy Crowdy, the musicians are Bristol based, like last month’s guest Andy Sheppard. In fact MDC‘s guitarist Denny Ilett is one of Andy’s favourites. With an accordion, trumpet and vocalist completing the line up, I anticipate something of a new experience.
February
Moving into February, South Hill Park presents a double booking of jazz on the 5th. Although I suspect Bracknell Jazz have a slightly different audience for guitarist Mark Ridout in the Recital Room, as opposed to classy vocalist Jacqui Dankworth and cool piano plus vocals of hubbie Charlie Woods in the Wilde Theatre. As I am at the Southport Jazz Festival, I can regret not being at both gigs.
Dave O’Higgins last seen with Darius Brubeck at Progress, now cuts loose with a quartet that includes Clark Tracey-drums and Oli Hayhurst on bass at Norden Farm on the 12th. Dave is certainly one of our leading jazz musicians and always worth hearing in any setting.
I urge you to experience the unique music of Arun Ghosh at Progress on the 26th. An energetic fushion of Jazz with the sounds of the Indian subcontinent. Engaging and enthusiastic, Arun will thrill and charm you with his compositions and delivery. His musicians include rising star Shirley Tettah on guitar who is one of Gary Crosby’s Jazz Jamaica members and tomorrow’s warriors.
You can find all these events listed on the gigs calendar with links to the venues for tickets.
Remember, keep music live.
Bob
Jazz n Stuff
