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/chrisingham.co.uk
Sunday, February 9
DIRT ROAD BAND (Venue 16, Ipswich, 2.30pm, £15/£7.50, ipswichjazzandblues.com) Powerful blues from former Dr Feelgood guitarist Steve Walwyn, plus Specials bassist Horace Panter and ex-Badfinger drummer Ted Duggan.
Tuesday, February 11
DEAN & EMILY MASSER (Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich, 8.30pm, £18/£9, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) Former saxophone stalwart of the Norwich scene Dean Masser returns with his daughter and rising star vocalist Emily for an evening of hard swinging standards, with Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
Wednesday, February 12
CHRIS COULL’S BLUE NOTE SEXTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £22, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A broad array from the much-loved recordings of Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordan, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, to name a few from the golden era of the '50s and '60s. With Chris Coull (trumpet), Andreas Panayi (saxophone), Mark Bassey (trombone), Terry Seabrook (piano), Dan Sheppard (bass) and Peter Cater (drums).
FOR THE DIARY
Saturday, February 15
ADRIAN COX & DENNY ILETT (Hadleigh Town Hall, 3pm & 7.30pm, £20, georgedouble.com) Former Kansas Smitty’s clarinettist Cox meets the fabulous blues-flavoured guitarist Ilett, plus Chris Ingham (piano), Joe Pettitt (bass) and George Double (drums). A matinée and evening show.
Thursday, February 20
JONATHAN GEE TRIO (Hidden Rooms, Cambridge, 7.30pm, £22 & £16.50, cambridgejazz.org, 01223 514777) Pianist Jonathan Gee combines three of his recent shows in one, with re-imagined Beatles and ‘80s tunes alongside Gee originals. With Tristan Mailliot (drums) and Mikele Montilli (bass).
Friday, February 21
FLANAGAN (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) Mark Flanagan, singer, songwriter and long-time guitarist in Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, brings his own delightful trio comprising Adam Double (bass/vocal) and George Double (drums/vocal) to showcase original, heartfelt blues/roots/Americana songs.
Sunday, February 23
GRAHAM CLARK (Yalm Food Court, Norwich, 7.30pm, £13, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) Monthly music shows at Norwich’s Yalm Food Court continue with jazz violinist Graham Clark joining Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
Wednesday, February 26
TRISTAN BANKS’ VIEW FROM ABOVE (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £20, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Infectious acoustic jazz with Latin and soul flavours played by a troupe of top session and jazz musicians. With Tristan Banks (drums), Paul Booth (tenor sax), John Crawford (piano) and Davide Mantovani (bass).
Friday, March 7
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JAZZ (Diss Corn Hall, 7.30pm, £18, thecornhall.co.uk, 01379 652241) A delightfully entertaining presentation led by Paul Higgs – former musical director for the National Theatre and RSC and one of the UK’s finest jazz trumpeters. With Chris Ingham (piano), Malcolm Creese (bass) and Neil Bullock (drums).
Sunday, March 9
GEORGIA MANCIO QUARTET + TASSOS SPILIOTOPOULOS TRIO (Venue 16, Ipswich, 2.30pm, £15/£7.50, ipswichjazzandblues.com) Impressive double bill featuring highly refined singer/songwriter Georgia Mancio with Gareth Lockrane (keyboard/flute), Andrew Cleyndert (bass) and Dave Ohm (drums), plus opening act led by guitarist Spiliotopoulos with Andrea Dibiase (bass) and Jon Scott (drums).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
I have heard about new folk events that will be happening in the far east of our county. Champions of the Lowestoft Folk/Art scene, John and Lynne Ward have been asked by First Light Community Interest Company to curate an ongoing series of gigs and sessions at East Point Pavilion, Royal Plain, Lowestoft, a building right next to the sea with a bar and food outlets that can accommodate an audience of 100+.
There will be a monthly concert and a free monthly Sunday afternoon acoustic session for singers and players. The sessions will include a ‘slow session’ for 30 minutes for those who want to learn a tune or who are improvers on their instrument.
According to John and Lynne: “We’re curating it for First Light to bring top folk acts to Lowestoft and to give another opportunity for people to participate in folk music locally.”
The first event is on Friday, February 28 when Dan Walsh plays, a St Patrick’s Ceilidh is arranged for March 17, Winter Wilson play in April, Edwina Hayes in June and Rory McLeod is booked for August. May and July’s concerts are yet to be confirmed. Those hoping to see John and Lynne in action will be pleased to know they are the supporting act for the first gig this month and their Ceilidh Band are holding down March’s event.
First Light Festival CIC is a not-for-profit organisation based in Lowestoft that aims to shine a spotlight on the wealth of talent and creativity that exists there. Its principal event is First Light Festival, so named as it happens each June at the Summer Solstice on Lowestoft beach, the first place in Britain to see the sun each morning. Running for the 5th time in 2025, it features local and national acts. Alongside the festival, the company oversees a year-round programme of arts and events that includes the running of East Point Pavilion and a number of projects across East Suffolk. Since November 2022 they have been an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
According to John and Lynne, the inspiration for the programme is to bring top folk acts to Lowestoft in a unique venue at reasonable ticket prices. The gigs should complement what goes on at Waveney Folk Club, the place in
Lowestoft where John first fell in love with folk music several decades ago. Historically, they have hosted national acts such as Martin Simpson and Nic Jones, but these days you are more likely to catch local acts there. Hopefully, the result will be more folk music for everyone.
Here are next week’s gigs a bit closer to home:
Friday, February 7
Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, 7.45pm, Milkmaid Folk Club: Sound Tradition, support from Flight. £12.
The Beer Café, Bury St Edmunds, 3.30-5.30pm, Folk session.
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Howie Lovett & Balkan Hill – Mid Suffolk Folk Night. £18.
Hadleigh Folk Club, Ansells House, Bryan Causton and Penni McLaren-Walker+Phil Lyons. £8.
Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Open Stage with special guests Kaszak and Afifi. £3.
Saturday, February 8
Canopy Theatre, Beccles, 8pm, Sid Griffin. £15.
Sunday, February 9
Cambridge Junction, 11.30am and 2pm, The Megson Family Show, adult £13.50, child £9.50.
Monday, February 10
Cambridge Junction, 7.30pm, The Olllam. £29.
Colchester Arts Centre, 8pm, Magpie Arc. £24.
Wednesday, February 12
The Wine Cellar, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, The Sharpe Cookies, Ed and Jane, The Larks.
Thursday, February 13
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, The Tannahill Weavers. £15 adv. £18 OTD.
Friday, February 14
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet. £21 OTD.
Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Freddie Hall and friends, support from Johnnie Wright. £12.
