Yellowjackets Fasching, Stockholm tonight
One of the greatest jazz-rock US bands still together with icons of the music keyboardist Russell Ferrante and sax matador Bob Mintzer joined by bassist Dane Alderson and drummer William Kennedy. Their 2022 album Parallel Motion was extremely satisfying both for its high octane sense of adventure and languorously tender moments.
Micah Thomas Trio Le Duc des Lombards, Paris tonight.
Pianist Thomas was excellent on Billy Drummond’s Valse Sinistre a few years ago. Here in la Ville de Lumière – Paris is alone with London and Berlin in a tie for Europe’s top capital city to boast the best range of jazz clubs – with double bassist Dean Torrey and drummer Kayvon Gordon.
Theo Croker Domicil, Dortmund Friday
Clubby nu jazz sounds from trumpeter Theo Croker with keyboardist/pianist Idris Frederick, bassist Marie-Ketely Gomes and drummer Miguel Russell.
Tom Ollendorff Quartet ft. Will Vinson Sunset, Paris Friday
These days one of the UK’s top jazz guitar leaders the O is playing Paris with hotshot English saxist Will Vinson – no vin ordinaire this ferociously accomplished post bopper. He is known for his work with Trio Grande. We have seen Tom live a few times and he does not disappoint certainly in terms of pristine melodicism, the writing and effortless unstinting flow.
Craig Handy Unterfahrt, Munich Saturday
Mingus Big Band legend tenorist Handy with a sousaphone and organ fuelled band. We loved his 2nd Line Smith release oh more than a decade ago now.
Donald Harrison Bix, Stuttgart Thurs 31 October
De Beren Gieren A-Trane, Berlin 31 October
Great live and reliably quirky. They’re Belgian after all.
Zoe Rahman Octet Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland Sun 3 Nov
We reckoned that English pianist Zoe Rahman’s Colour of Sound was the best UK jazz album in 2022. She plays Finland with her band of flautist Gareth Lockrane, saxists Helena Kay and Tori Freestone, trumpeter Mark Armstrong, a professor at the Royal College of Music who we heard live at the Spice of Life in June, trombonist Rosie Turton, bass great Alec Dankworth and drummer Gene Calderazzo who was on fine form earlier this month gigging with trombone icon Conrad Herwig.
Colin Vallon Trio Moods, Zurich Thurs 7 Nov
The reflective highly impressionistic Swiss pianist is touring his new ECM album Samares and plays Zurich together with double bassist Patrice Moret and drummer Julian Sartorius (pictured, top) who are on the recording. The elegant modalities of ‘Mars,’ from the album, is streaming.
