The Watford Jazz Junction returns next month. The Jean Toussaint Quintet, Fergus Quill Trio and the Maddy Coombs Quartet are among the participating acts. Jean Toussaint we last caught live in the autumn of 2021 when in his band on that autumnal Vortex occasion joining the famed former Jazz Messengers player who was in Art Blakey's classic band when Terence Blanchard was also a member in the 1980s were one of Jean's former students pianist Andrew McCormack, Whirlwind label boss bassist Michael Janisch and Empirical drummer Shaney Forbes. Set highlights included Wayne Shorter's 'Palladium' made famous by Weather Report and Jean's composition a tribute to his late sister entitled 'Cry of the Unheard.' Toussaint - we don't know who is in his band for Watford so far - plays the Pump House Theatre on 18 May.
As for Leeds scenester bassist Fergus Quill who slurped up spaghetti for breakfast on 2022's ¡Blamo! beyond all distracting whimsy, a trio to stuff your face on Panettone to and hear live - pronto. There's a zaniness thumpingly led by Quill on 'Boris Hates Jazz… And That Suits Us Just Fine' as the trio slalomed in and out. The band play the Pump House Colne River Room from 3pm in a double bill with Maddy Coombs' Quartet on 18 May. Quill's technique recalls the peaks achieved by Welsh wiz Huw V. Williams a bit circa Hon. As fun and as satisfying as a clerihew - 'It was rather disconcerting for Hannibal/When he was introduced to a cannibal/Who expressed the very highest opinion/Of cold pickled Carthaginian' - a particular favourite in that latter regard. Full info. Dates are 12-19 May. Jean Toussaint, photo: press
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