Just back from a very enjoyable afternoon at the last day of the Liverpool Jazz Festival, 3 really excellent bands.
Jam Experiment
Rory Ingham (trombone)
Alex Bone (saxophone)
Toby Comeau (piano)
Sam Quintana (bass)
Oren Mcloughlin (drums)
Formed in early 2014, the quintet is mainly comprised of jazz students at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester. The ensemble is based in the north, and plays styles ranging from bebop to contemporary, showcasing an exciting set of arrangements and original compositions. The five-piece includes the Young Jazz Musician of the Year ’14 Alexander Bone – on saxes.
The quintet formed as a vehicle for composing and arranging, which was the result of a weekly 'jam'. The band rehearses regularly at Chetham’s, and hope to carry on playing together for many years to come.
Influenced by the likes of Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Keith Jarrett, The Jam Experiment play exciting melodies, soul injected improvisations, and chewy grooves, creating a truly original sound.
The band has been selected as winners of this year's Jazz North Introduces scheme and will be performing at a number of high profile jazz festivals throughout the region.
Can't find a video of the group playing together, but here's the sax player. You know you're getting middle aged when the musicians are younger than you......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjc6kAHX47wWhite Canvas
Barry Dallman (piano)
Andy Hulme (guitar)
Grant Russell (bass)
Adam Goldberg (drums)
This exciting and eclectic quartet was formed by pianist Barry Dallman as an outlet for his original compositions and his writing is influenced by artists such as EST, Michel Petrucciani, Bill Evans, Michel Legrand and Miles Davis.
Barry has always maintained that jazz doesn't have to focus solely on complexity and technical facility and his own music reflects a love of space, melody and dynamic contrast.
White Canvas made their debut at the inaugural Liverpool International Jazz Festival in 2012 where they supported Robert Mitchell and the Kit Downes Quintet and are currently working on their first album which is due to be released late 2015.
Really liked this lot, but again I can't find any videos of them together, here's their website
http://barrydallman.com/white-canvas/, there are some tunes there , and here's a video of Barry Dallman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVkAVwRlC8U Blind Monk Trio
Bob Whittaker (tenor saxophone)
Hugo Harrison (double bass)
Johnny Hunter (drums)
Blind Monk Trio have caused quite a stir over the past couple of years in the UK Northern jazz scene, putting a fresh spin on the sax/bass/drums trio format. With influences from the whole history of the genre (Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, FLY) blended with alternative rock and eastern folk. The trio’s debut album COULROPHOBIA was released November 2014. For more details visit the trio's website.
"Some bands exude cool and Blind Monk Trio have their unique musical style down to a T. We can't get enough of this fantastic trio. Join the Brotherhood for a Live Music Treat!" - Claire Turner, owner, Matt & Phreds Jazz Club, Manchester
"Energetic, original and quirky - think John Coltrane meets Led Zeppelin" - Barney Stevenson, producer, Marsden Jazz Festival
Blind Monk are local boys and are often to be found playing in
The Caledonia, Bob Whittaker also leads "Marley Chingus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F11dksohTLE