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
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.
KIM CYPHER BAND (Haverhill Arts Centre, 8pm, £15/£10, haverhillartscentre.co.uk) Swinging Cat Jazz Club hostess Hannah Horton welcomes fellow saxophonist Kim Cypher and her band for an upbeat mix of saxophone and vocal jazz, Latin, blues, swing and funky grooves.
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.
FOR THE DIARY
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).
Tuesday, March 11
Q3 (Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich, 8.30pm, £18/£9, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) Led by pianist Martin Hallmark, Cambridge-based quartet Q3 present an evening to perform tracks from their 2024 album Water-Speckled Midnight, combining jazz with Latin, funk, Arabic and Mediterranean influences. With Kevin Flanagan (saxophone), Tiago Coimbra (bass) and Chris Diamand (drums).
Wednesday March 12
TIM KLIPHUIS TRIO (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £27.50, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis has created a brand new style that embraces classical, gypsy jazz and folk. Hailed as a ‘current-day improvising Paganini’, his inclusive and innovative approach to music has united audiences and is influencing a new generation of string players. With Nigel Clark (guitar) and Roy Percy (double bass).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
David Bartlett of Bury Folk Collective has competition news:
My Folksong’s Better Than Yours
When I was at school, we had so-called ‘houses’ – like those in the Harry Potter books - ours were York, Salisbury, Lincoln and Bristol. You played sports for your house. If you did well academically, you got points for your house. It was to motivate and encourage competition. Not for me really, because I’m not competitive. And neither is the world of folk music and song as far as I can see. It is, on the contrary, unfailingly supportive and inclusive; participatory rather than vying.
However, even in this generous community of folk people, a tad of friendly competition is possible. The Bury Folk Collective is organising its annual Robbie Callas Cup - a chance to win the hallowed tankard for a year and have it inscribed with your name. This is for local singers to ply their skills and sing a traditional-style, unaccompanied folk song to other keen-eared participants who vote for a winner. To enter, contact buryfolkcollective.co.uk before the event.
The Milkmaid Folk Songwriting Competition takes things a step further. Competitors are invited to write their own lyrics and music. Application is online. There are four heats and a final all of which audiences are welcome to attend. Each folk song is performed live before a panel of judges - your song may be performed for you if you wish. As well as a cash prize, the winner gets a booking at the club and a main stage appearance at Bury Folk Festival. Both competitions are in good spirit, fun and in a supportive atmosphere. And who knows? You might win.
February 26, Robbie Callas Cup, Risbygate Sports Club 8pm. Milkmaid Folk Songwriting Competition, Risbygate Sports Club, £10 entry. March 19 start and dates through to April 25. Apply online at songwritersclub.co.uk/2025 by Friday, February 21.
Having been involved in each of the Milkmaid folk songwriting competitions that have happened since 2014, with varying degrees of success, I can vouch for David’s assertion that the competitions are friendly affairs and are a great opportunity to meet other performers and share your music. Friends we have made at songwriting competitions have made a huge difference to our musical lives. The judges are usually a mix of musicians and regular folk audience members. They are given a structure to help them choose a winner - music, maximum score 15; lyrics, maximum score 15; performance, maximum score 10; pertinence to folk, maximum score 5; Je ne sais quoi, maximum score 5.
The final, on Friday 25th, is well worth putting in your diary. The standard and variety of fresh, contemporary folk music you will hear that night will definitely impress you.
Here are some gigs happening sooner:
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.
Sudbury Arts Centre, 8pm, Gavin Faithall Lever. £15.
Monday, February 17
The Dove, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm, Round the Room Session.
Colchester Arts Centre, 8pm, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle. £22.50.
Tuesday, February 18
Rose and Crown, Bury St Edmunds, 4-7pm, Daytime Folk Session.
Wednesday, February 19
Arkenstall Village Centre, Haddenham, Ely, 8pm, Ely Folk Club, Mountain Song, support from Steve Jinski. £13.
Banham Barrel, 8pm, Later with James Veira.
Friday, February 21
Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, The Milkmaid Folk Club: Different Accents, plus support. £12; Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Showcase with Songs of the Folk, Rich Young, Wickenwood. £11.
Saturday, February 22
Canopy Theatre, Beccles, 7.30pm, State of the Union: Brooks Williams and Boo Hewerdine. £15.
