Jazz musician Chris Ingham and folk musician Chris Wilbraham cast their expert eyes over the local music scene
JAZZ with Chris Ingham: cjr.ingham@outlook.com/www.chrisingham.co.uk
Friday, December 6
A SWINGING CHRISTMAS (Diss Corn Hall, 7.30pm, £21, thecornhall.co.uk, 01379 652241) Festive, jazzy fun with the Chris Ingham Quintet, featuring singer Joanna Eden (aka Jazz at the Movies) plus Mark Crooks (clarinet/saxophone), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and George Double (drums).
Tuesday, December 10
DUNNETT & MADDOCK PLAY J J JOHNSON (Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich, 8.30pm, £16/£8, maddermarket.co.uk) Norwich’s own Tom Dunnett (trombone) and top UK tenorist Chris Maddock salute the bebop trombone legend J J Johnson. With versions of the Johnson’s 1960 album JJ Inc, the group is completed by Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
Wednesday, December 11
JOHN LAW’S RE-CREATIONS (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £20, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and George Gershwin, plus rock-era tunes from Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Radiohead. With John Law (piano), Sam Crockatt (saxophone), Henrik Jensen (bass) and Alex Goodyear (drums).
Thursday, December 12
ALISON RAYNOR QUINTET (Hidden Rooms, Cambridge, 2pm, £22 & £16.50, cambridgejazz.org, 01223 514777) Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, multi award-winning quintet ARQ combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies. Featuring Alison Rayner (double bass), Buster Birch (drums/percussion), Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Diane McLoughlin (saxes) and Steve Lodder (piano).
FOR THE DIARY
Wednesday, December 18
ALAN BARNES QUINTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £23, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A magnificent all-star quintet with the members boasting countless jazz awards between them, featuring Alan Barnes (alto/baritone/clarinet), Bruce Adams (trumpet), David Newton (piano), Andrew Cleyndert (bass) and Clark Tracey (drums).
A SWINGING CHRISTMAS (The Apex, Bury, 7.30pm, £25, theapex.co.uk) The annual Yuletide appearance of the Chris Ingham Quintet (aka Jazz at the Movies), featuring singer Joanna Eden plus Harry Greene (saxophone/guitar), Joe Pettitt (bass) and George Double (drums). *Last few seats*
Friday, December 20
REBOP PLAYS HORACE SILVER (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) The life-affirming grooves and melodies of the late, great jazz composer-pianist Horace Silver played by Paul Higgs (trumpet), Harry Greene (tenor sax), Chris Ingham (piano), Owen Morgan (bass) and George Double (drums). *Last few seats*
Wednesday, January 8
BEN CROSLAND’S ALL-STAR BAND (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £25, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A jazz interpretation of the songs of Kinks legend Ray Davies with Ben Crosland (bass), John Etheridge (guitars), Theo Travis (saxophone), Steve Lodder (piano), Nic France (drums).
Thursday, January 16
RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS (The Apex, Bury, 7.30pm, £28, theapex.co.uk) Popular multi-media presentation plus live jazz led by pianist James Pearson, tells the story of the famed Soho jazz club.
Friday, January 17
TIM GARLAND (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) A rare, not-to-be-missed UK club appearance from saxophone superstar (who spent 17 years with Chick Corea) and lauded composer. Tonight Tim blends bewitching original pieces with some of his favourite standards. With Chris Ingham (piano), Malcolm Creese (bass), George Double (drums).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
There is a new folk session happening in The Bell at Rickinghall, between Bury St Edmunds and Diss, at 8pm on the third Thursday of each month, started by Jane Bromley and Peter Reeves, a couple on and off stage, who get married later this month. They perform as Peter and Jane.
I first met them in December 2022 at our open mic in Beyton. They bring a wide range of instrumentation to their art. Peter was the first musician in 17 years to play bagpipes at our event. He can also play piano, guitar and banjo with a history of playing in jazz and function bands as well as the Glenmoriston pipe band. Jane is classically trained having played recorder and flute in early music ensembles and orchestras.
Their musicality and ability to create sets of traditional music, original songs and interesting covers, often with Appalachian roots, has earned them slots at Bury Folk Festival, Ely Folk Club, the inaugural Bungay Folk Festival and the final of the Milkmaid Folk songwriting competition this year.
They decided to share their music after lockdown made them realise how much they missed engaging with others through music. They have a passion for the stories and history behind traditional songs. Apparently, their songwriting is nearly always a joint venture, Peter starting with a riff or melody he likes to create a structure Jane can fit words to, Jane starting with lyrics to develop the song and add instrumentation. Inspiration for their songs comes from nature and everyday lives.
The session they have started in their home village is in it’s third month and has been well attended, with each musician taking a turn to play or sing something of their choice, often being joined in a chorus or with choice harmonies. This was Jane’s response when I asked what their motivation was for getting involved: “There is nothing better than those moments where voices and instruments spontaneously come together - it is joyful and uplifting.”
Which is why they also run a monthly sing and chat session for The Blossom Charity, in Eye, which provides a safe and encouraging space for those who would like to sing, but perhaps don’t have the confidence, experience or time to join a formal choir. The charity runs coaching programmes for people who would like to make changes in their lives to achieve their goals and be the best version of themselves. In its third year, the sing and chat group is held at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month in a venue called The Hexagon. They warm up with rounds and easy folk tunes, before singing traditional and popular songs in unison and harmony, with a break for tea and cake.
Very much an example of the community and connection music can bring into our lives, regardless of experience or background.
Here are next week’s gigs:
Friday, December 6
Hadleigh Folk Club, Ansell Centre, 8pm, Roswell+John Mosedale. £8.
The Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Open Stage with special guests The Gripweeds. £4.
Saturday, December 7
Tostock Village Hall, 7.30pm, The Larks play for Tostock Past and Present Society. £15 (incl meal).
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Blackbeard’s Tea-party. £14.
Monday, December 9
The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm, Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band. £29.50.
Colchester Arts Centre, 8pm, Jackie Oates and John Spiers. £17.50.
Wednesday, December 11
Banham Barrel, 8pm, Later with James Veira.
Friday, December 13
The Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club, Chris Fox and The Running Man, support from The Larks. £12.
Wingfield Barns, 7.30pm, Janice Burns & Jon Doran. £13.
