Jazz breaking news: Ginger Baker, Andy Sheppard and Get The Blessing line up for Bristol Jazz Festival
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Organisers behind the first ever Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival, are getting ready for a busy three days of music that will see the city’s central music venue, the Colston Hall, play host to 24 gigs on 1-3 March.
Headliners include former Cream drum legend Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion, John Scofield’s Organic Trio with Hammond player Larry Goldings, and a rare UK appearance by Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Local artists are also pleased to see Bristol’s jazz heritage getting some wider public acknowledgement, as saxophonist Andy Sheppard (pictured with Trio Libero, who play on Sunday 3 March) told Jazzwise: “This Festival is great news for Bristol and I’m delighted that Trio Libero have been asked to perform at the first one. The team behind it has vision, commitment and talent. The city is full of wonderful creative musicians and the people deserve an international jazz/blues festival.”
The line up includes modern, trad, swing and funk-orientated sounds while Bristol’s links to the 1990s dance scene is also present via Portishead bassist Jim Barr’s nourish Ornette-inspired quartet, Get The Blessing who will be appearing with another Portishead bandmate, guitarist Adrian Utley. The Colston Hall’s Terrace Bar will also keep things going from 10.30pm every night with a jam session led by pianist Harry Kanters. The complete programme runs as follows: Friday: The Big Chris Barber Band (6.30pm, Hall 1); Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion (9.00pm, Hall 1); Saturday: Alyn Shipton Clayton Legacy Band (12.45pm, Hall 2); Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts and Big Buzzard Band (2.15pm, Hall 1); Get the Blessing (3.45pm, Hall 2): Lillian Boutte (6.45pm, Hall 1); John Scofield Organic Trio (9.00pm, Hall 1); Sunday: Bateman Brothers Band (12.45pm, Hall 2); Andy Sheppard’s Trio Libero (2.15pm, Hall 1); Matt Schofield (3.45pm, Hall 2); Pee Wee Ellis and Clare Teal band (6.45pm, Hall 1); and Arturo Sandoval (9.00pm, Hall 1).
For more info go to www.bristoljazzandbluesfest.com
– Mike Flynn