Music – Jeanie Barton’s Jazz Column

re you cool enough to Root Down with Thom Whitworth’s Funky Organ on Friday July 19 at Peggy’s Skylight in George Street, Hockley, featuring Thom Whitworth (guitar and trumpet), Paul Deats (organ), Dave Shields (bass guitar) and Stevie Smith (drums)? Entry is £8 on the door or £6 in advance via their website; their show starts at 8pm and afterwards DJ Daddio plays until late.

Back at Peggy’s the next day there’s Classic Jazz & Middle Eastern Meze with the Alex Hitchcock Quintet featuring Alex on tenor saxophone, James Copus on trumpet/flugelhorn, Will Barry on piano, Joe Downard on bass and Jay Davis on drums; tickets are £12/10 and doors open at 7pm. (They also have their weekly afternoon tea accompanied by Paul Deats’ jazz piano between 12 and 5pm).

On Sunday July 21 Cool Jazz play at Strelley Hall, combined with Mulberry Cafe’s famous afternoon tea from 12.30pm. Tickets are £18.50 from the cafe or telephone 0115 9061200.  There’s a free Mezinee concert at Peggy’s by proprietor performers Rachel Foster and Paul Deats who make up the Me and Mr Jones duo from 12 midday.  At 6pm they are screening the film Ella: Just One of Those Things, a documentary which follows her extraordinary journey over six decades as her sublime voice transforms the tragedies and troubles of her times into joy. It’s £5 for a seat.  London based guitarist Edison Herbert visits to perform with Martyn Spencer on double bass and Andrew Wood on drums at The Lion Inn at Basford from 1.30-3.30pm. I’m singing requests including blasting out two Bond songs with the phenomenal Nottingham Jazz Orchestra at the Federation Club on Claremont Rd at 8pm – get there early as it tends to fill up quick; you get a lot of sound for your £10.

The Alfa Big Swing Band return to the Village Inn, Marehay on Monday July 22 from 8.30pm.

Dexter’s Jazz Club on Tuesday July 23 has Brian Archer on trombone with the Richard Hallam trio from 8.30–10.30pm; admission is £6 at the Headstocks in Cinderhill.

On Wednesday July 24 the Risley Park Jazz Club returns with trombone star Richard Leach who brings his 7 Stars of Jazz to for a swinging evening of traditional jazz in the style of the great Alex Welsh band. They perform at 8pm and admission is £9.  The Olly Chalk Trio visit Peggy’s as part of their Scathed Citizens album tour; Olly is on piano leading his compositions with Sam Ingvorsen on double bass and Gwilym Jones on drums.  They also play at 8pm.

There’s a new Jazz Jam at Peggy’s hosted by the Andrew Wood Trio on the last Thursday of every month; it starts this Thursday July 25 at 8pm.

Where no entry fee is mentioned please assume your purchases from the venue support the live music.