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/www.chrisingham.co.uk
Friday, December 20
REBOP PLAYS HORACE SILVER (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) The life-affirming grooves and melodies of the late, great jazz composer-pianist Horace Silver played by Paul Higgs (trumpet), Harry Greene (tenor sax), Chris Ingham (piano), Owen Morgan (bass) and George Double (drums). *Last few seats*
Sunday, December 22
LIZZIE WISHES YOU A SWINGING CHRISTMAS (Yalm Food Court, Norwich, 7.30pm, £14.50, norwichjazz club.co.uk) Seasonal selections from Ella Fitzgerald’s celebrated Christmas album with Lizzie Blissett (vocals), Paul Higgs (trumpet), Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
FOR THE DIARY
Wednesday, January 8
BEN CROSLAND’S ALL-STAR BAND (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £25, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A jazz interpretation of the songs of Kinks legend Ray Davies with Ben Crosland (bass), John Etheridge (guitars), Theo Travis (saxophone), Steve Lodder (piano), Nic France (drums).
Thursday, January 16
RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS (The Apex, Bury, 7.30pm, £28, theapex.co.uk) The popular multi-media presentation plus live jazz tells the story of the famed Soho jazz club. Led by pianist and Ronnie Scott’s musical director James Pearson,
Friday, January 17
TIM GARLAND (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) A rare, not-to-be-missed UK club appearance from saxophone superstar (who spent 17 years with Chick Corea) and lauded composer. Tonight Tim blends bewitching original pieces with some of his favourite standards. With Chris Ingham (piano), Malcolm Creese (bass), George Double (drums).
Wednesday, January 22
JAZZ AT THE MOVIES (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £22, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Relieved of Christmas duties for another year, the film music repertoire quintet deliver jazzy spins on tunes from the silver screen, featuring Joanna Eden (vocal), Chris Ingham (piano/MC), Mark Crooks (clarinet/saxophone), Joe Pettitt (bass) and George Double (drums).
Thursday, January 23
CLARK TRACEY’S JAZZ CHAMPIONS (Hidden Rooms, Cambridge, 2pm, £22 & £16.50, cambridgejazz.org, 01223 514777) Internationally recognised jazz drummer, band leader, composer and arranger Tracey leads an all-star quintet playing his own music and that of Stan Tracey, his father. With Art Themen (saxophone), Simon Allen (saxophone), Dave Newton (piano) and Andrew Cleyndert (bass).
Friday, January 24
DJANGOLIERS (Diss Corn Hall, 7.30pm, £18, thecornhall.co.uk, 01379 652241) Inspired by the music of the late, great Belgian guitarist, Djangoliers interpret Django’s classic arrangements and compositions Nuages, Swing 42 and Manoir Des Mes Reves and explore the thrilling contemporary developments of ‘Gypsy Jazz’. With Simon Hurley (guitar), Robert Ford (guitar), Zak Barrett (clarinet) and Andy Staples (bass).
Wednesday, February 12
CHRIS COOULL’S BLUE NOTE SEXTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £22, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A broad array from the much loved recordings of Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordan, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, to name a few from the golden era of the '50s and '60s. With Chris Coull (trumpet), Andreas Panayi (saxophone), Mark Bassey (trombone), Terry Seabrook (piano), Dan Sheppard (bass) and Peter Cater (drums).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
Last Friday I was reminded again of the glamour of performing folk music, when we arrived at Cambridge Folk Club to play in support of Chris Fox, only to find all parking spaces filled, requiring us to walk a couple of blocks carrying our instruments.
We entered the club room to find Chris on stage, sound-checking flanked by Jon Parker on double bass and multi-instrumentalist Toby Shoer, well known for his work with Sam Kelly and Honey and The Bear.
We first met Chris in 2016 when we gigged with him in the basement of a Cambridge café. For several years our paths crossed as he travelled from Huntington to events such as Bury Folk Collective’s Contemporary Folk Nights and even our Open Mics at Beyton White Horse, refining his act, introducing a loop pedal - initially operated with stockinged feet - to supplement his sound. He began scoring more prestigious gigs, playing on the main stage at Cromer’s Folk on The Pier, after winning a competition and decided to become a full-time musician in 2020. He has played main act sets for folk clubs all over the country and shared a stage with artists such as Peter Knights, John Spiers and Jim Moray as far a field as Costa del Folk in Portugal.
Knowing that music provided his sole income made me worry for him a little. If applying for a mortgage, telling a bank manager that you are a full-time folk musician is unlikely to persuade him to lend a lot of money. After our sound check I asked how things were going and learned that Chris now supplements his musical income with teaching work, which he loves. I speculated that contact with young children must create inspiration for his songwriting and he confessed to having only written one song in his two or three years as a full-time musician, despite the amount of time he had on his hands. Knowing he is happy in his work was one of many things to congratulate him about.
When he took the stage after our opening set, it became apparent how far he has come since our first meeting. He spoke with relaxed, self-deprecating humour, involving his band mates in on-stage banter, but always sounding genuine. I have seen young, ambitious folk performers on that stage come out with phrases like “How are you doing Cambridge?“ and then saying songs were “from my next CD”, rather than explaining why they were written. Chris introduced songs in a way that conveyed what they mean to him, revealing the musical and personal journey he has been on. Another joy was the expert way Chris sang and accompanied his songs. This expertise was capably augmented by his band mates, both well established session musicians, who obviously respect and enjoy Chris’s talent, a great tribute.
The effect of all this was a performance of two sets of songs as fine as any I have seen at this prestigious folk club. Those of you who weren’t present take solace in the knowledge that Chris is the first artist to be announced as playing at Bury Folk Festival, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. A ticket, available from the festival website, would be a fine festive gift for any local music lover and at £22.50 great value if Chris Fox was the only act on the bill.
Something to look forward to during a Christmas period without many Folk gigs.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 20
Whitings Bar, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, The Larks.
Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, Milkmaid Folk Club Christmas Party.
The Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Christmas Showcase with The Cyriacs. 8pm.
Friday, December 27
Beyton White Horse, 8pm, Open Mic with The Larks.
