The Brown Bird Quintet
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The Brown Bird Quintet is an upcoming Manchester based jazz group led by Will Bird (Trumpet) and Jasmine Brown (Sax). All members of the group are recent graduates of the Royal Northern College Of Music, where Jasmine and Will were awarded the Martyn Edwards Jazz Bursary. The Quintet formed in 2024 and has so far made several appearances at Wakefield Jazz Club, and played gigs and hosted jams across Manchester, playing a variety of music from original compositions to arrangements of swing, latin, funk, pop and even video game music!
Jasmine Brown grew up with 2 jazz musicians for parents and quickly discovered a passion for all things swing and bebop, falling in love with the playing of Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley. After graduating from the RNCM last year, she has began establising herself on the Manchester scene, composing and arranging. Some of her most recent notable peformances include playing with Femme De La Femme at Band on the Wall and with Tom Smith and Katie Brown at Ruislip Jazz Club.
Will Bird was introduced to jazz at a young age by his dad, a jazz clarinetist, and was then inspired by jazz trumpet players such as Chet Baker and Roy Hargrove. Since moving to Manchester to study the trumpet, he has persued a career as a freelance musician using his skills as an performer, arranger, and pianist. Some of his most recent notable peformances include playing with the Sam Lightwing Quintet at Manchester Jazz Festival and Jeremy Sassoon's Ray Charles Project at Buxton Jazz Festival.
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Ed Kainyek Quintet
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Ed Kainyek is a prolific saxophonist based in Manchester, with a long and varied career in jazz and education, who has performed at countless venues and festivals around the world. Ed’s repertoire spans traditional jazz standards, contemporary jazz, and even relaxed ambient sets. Whether leading his own band, jamming with fellow musicians, or teaching the next generation, Ed Kainyek stands as a dedicated and skilled figure in Manchester’s jazz and live music community.
For this gig, Ed was joined by Trish Heenan (vocals), Al Scott (piano), John Sandham (bass) and Rick Weedon (drums). Expect two fantastic one-hour sets mixing vocal-led tunes and instrumentals.
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Paul Farr Quartet
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The Paul Farr Band is back at Matt and Phreds for what is always a wonderful evening of passionate live music.
Appearing regularly at Matt and Phreds for over ten years, band leader and composer Paul is more often than not seen playing with award winning blues sensation Kyla Brox. When he’s not playing around Europe with Kyla he can be seen here playing his own mix of jazz, blues and funk with influences of Schofield, Frisell and Metheny all wrapped up in original tunes.
This performance is set to be very special, as Paul is joined by a fantastic rhythm section made up of Eryl Roberts on drums and Sam Vickery on bass - the trio will also be joined by the fantastic Jeff Guntren on saxophone as a special guest throughout the night.
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Stuart McCallum Quartet
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From jazz beginnings to alt-folk and electronica, Stuart McCallum is one of the most vital and creative musicians of his generation. An in-demand guitarist, composer, producer and educator, Stuart’s current projects include: The Breath, Solitude, Music for Imaginary Film, co-writing with Richard Spaven, as well as performance, composition, and production research and education; Stuart being Deputy Head of Popular Music at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Stuart rose to prominence writing for and playing with the Cinematic Orchestra, on their Ma Fleur and Live at the Albert Hall albums, as well as on their award winning Disney soundtrack, The Crimson Wing. Stuart’s varied career has involved collaborations with electronic artists such as Jordan Rakei, James Zoo, JP Cooper and Bjork percussionist Manu Delago; performances with UK jazz greats John Surman and Kenny Wheeler; recordings with American jazz stars Ari Hoenig, Ira Coleman and Dan Weisz; and performances with prominent folk artists, such as Danny Thompson and Michael McGoldrick.
Tonight, Stuart is joined by three highly acclaimed musicians who have all built a fantastic reputation and prowess in the North’s music scene by their own right. This performance is set to be incredibly special and a unique opportunity to see these musicians freely and expertly perform the most beautiful instrumental music in a highly intimate setting.
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ALLIGATOR GUMBO
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Alligator Gumbo are a 7 piece New Orleans jazz band from Leeds, who have been playing together since 2011. Having played extensively around the country, and often packed out Matt & Phred’s, we can’t wait to see them again.
A gig with Alligator Gumbo sees jazz from the hey-day of the New Orleans swing/jazz era, when music was raw and largely improvised with melodies and solos happening simultaneously which has now become defined as the 'New Orleans' sound.
As well as the band’s unique and fast-tempo treatment of the classic tunes, Alligator Gumbo take this distinctive style and apply it to their arrangements of more modern and popular songs which everyone will recognise and happily head to the dance floor upon hearing.
Follow the band: instagram.com/alligator_gumbo
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THE VINYL STEPPERS
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The Vinyl Steppers put a twist on chart-hits for music that’s unexpected, giving pop classics a throwback feel, with swing and jazz tunes in there too! Expect sultry sounds that make the dance floor irresistible for quick steppers and slow dances.
Follow the band: instagram.com/thevinylsteppers
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BEYOND THE BLUE
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“…their sound crosses genres and pushes boundaries whilst retaining their roots in the UK jazz scene.” - Voicemag UK
Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based Jazz band. They have played a number of sell-out shows in venues ranging from The Vortex Jazz Club to Hootananny Brixton to Milton Court Concert Hall as a part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. They have also opened for many established artists such as Omar, Moses Yoofee Trio, Blue Lab Beats, Ebi Soda and Rosie Frater-Taylor and have played at renowned festivals like Love Supreme and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Their music, written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane, draws influence from a wide range of genres ranging from UK dance music to jazz and classical music, with a unique instrumentation of: cello, guitar, alto, tenor and rhythm section. Their latest release, a four-track live session, reimagines their previous quartet material in a dynamic septet setting that sets the tone for a future debut album release in 2025.
Follow the band: instagram.com/beyondtheblue__
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HONEY BEE JAZZ
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Honey Bee Jazz is a collective of Jazz musicians from around the world that met in Manchester to study music, and created a session jazz band. Since then, the up and coming 4-piece band has gone from strength to strength, continually arranging songs to showcase around the MCR jazz scene.
For this extra special gig, HBJ will play popular jazz, in styles such as Swing, Ballad, and Bossa Nova, from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as jazz rearrangements of music from pop genres from the 1980’s til the 2020’s… Yep, this band has it all.
Follow the band: instagram.com/honeybeejazz
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THE MUSIC OF MILES DAVIS, WITH THE TOBY BRAZIER QUINTET
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The Toby Brazier Quintet come from Leeds and Bradford where they perform regularly in and around the local scene.
They focus on the bebop, hard bop and post bop periods of jazz performing the great tunes of the 40s, 50s to the modern day. The band’s repertoire sees them spotlight the likes of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and Charlie Parker, to name but a few jazz greats.
Tonight, the focus of the band will be on the jazz legend which is Miles Davis; celebrating how he changed and influenced music of the day. The quartet will play music from great albums such as ‘Kinda Blue’, ‘Milestones’, ‘Seven Steps to Heaven’ and many more classic Miles and Wayne compositions.
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BUTCHER’S BREW
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Ray Butcher is a jazz trumpeter who has played jazz with many of the greats from the UK scene. He’s worked with Dr John, Mica Paris and recorded a solo on the song ‘God’s Great Dance Floor’ from the US chart topping and GRAMMY nominated release by Chris Tomlin ‘Burning Lights’.
Tonight, Ray is joined by a superb line up for an unforgettable night of the best music ever. Expect jazz, funk, blue note, and Latin instrumental music. Tim, Ray and Sam performed a similar set during two tours of Moscow and St Petersburg at the Union of Composers’ Club.
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WANDERING MONSTER
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Leeds-based group Wandering Monster reaches beyond what may be expected from the tried and tested line-up of the tenor saxophone/guitar quintet. The band’s original compositions, penned by double bassist and leader Sam Quintana, draw from a love of American and European jazz, rock and world music, creating a sound that’s simultaneously raucous and sensitive, intense and intellectual.
Wandering Monster is made up of some of the finest musicians operating in the UK today; members of the band have also performed with a host of esteemed artists who include Mike Walker, Nikki Iles, Mark Nightingale, Lianne Carroll, Evelyn Glennie, Ant Law, Jasmine Myra, Melt Yourself Down and Worldservice Project amongst others.
Line Up: Sam Quintana (Double Bass/Compositions), Ben Powling (Tenor Saxophone), Calvin Travers (Guitar), Richard Harrold (Piano/keys), Tom Higham (Drums)
