gig of the week
Sarah Jane Morris and Tony Remy play Brighton on Friday night
First up the key UK and Irish venues out there at a glance that we reckon are putting on quality jazz regularly
- Ronnie Scott’s, London
- Pizza Express Jazz Club, London
- 606, London
- Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
- Glad Cafe, Glasgow
- Vortex, London
- Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham
- Band on the Wall, Manchester
- The Globe, Newcastle
- The Cask, Scarborough
- St Ives Jazz Club, Cornwall
- The Grasshopper, Poole
- Cu Mumbles, Swansea
- Fleece Jazz, Leavenheath
- Flute and Tankard, Cardiff
- The Verdict, Brighton
- Arthur’s, Dublin
- The Globe, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- The Lescar, Sheffield
- Matt and Phred’s, Manchester
- Seven, Leeds
- The Spin, Oxford
- 1000 Trades, Birmingham
- Hampstead Jazz Club, London
- Crazy Coqs, London
- Cafe Oto, London
- The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh
- Berts, Belfast
High points this week
Katya Gorrie trio, St George’s Bristol Wednesday
Singer, composer, and performer Katya Gorrie returns to her jazz and blues roots, celebrating the music of Julie London, Peggy Lee, and Blossom Dearie. Her sultry tone and hip phrasing invite listeners to engage with the lyrics. The performance features guitarist Andy Bowen and bassist Will Harris.
Harris is known for his role in The Jazz Defenders whose boogaloo and kind of Bu-isms on Memory in Motion deserves acclaim and bums on seats. Harris is also known for his work in the mighty Michelson Morley.
Andy Bowen, a jazz guitarist and educator, specialises in the jazz and swing music of the 1930s and 40s. He performs with Gorris in the Django Reinhardt-inspired ensemble Swing from Paris and the Bristol-based Moscow Drug Club.
Leyburn Jazz Festival Thursday-Sunday
Highlights include a lunchtime gig on Friday from husband and wife team of singer Zoe Gilby and bassist Andy Champion. Also on: Scots icon Jim Mullen, the Edison Herbert trio and Nicola Farnon are also heading to this North Yorkshire gathering.
Nigel Price Organ Trio, 1000 Trades, Birmingham Friday
Sarah Jane Morris The Verdict, Brighton Friday
A stroll down the Rickie Lee Jones infused ‘Jazz Side of the Road’ is a must. Sarah Jane’s The Sisterhood was a vocals jazz highlight in 2024. Containing big input from blues guitarist Tony Remy who appears in Brighton with the Communards legend and fine guitarist Marcus Bonfanti.