Jazz: Dave Jones Quintet

Spring 2024 saw the Dave Jones Quintet touring to mark the occasion of Dave’s 60th birthday, performing a mixed programme of Dave’s original compositions alongside those of Kenny Garrett.

The tour included a return visit to London’s Pizza Express Soho, where the band had recorded their live album back in 2023. Other performances have included Birmingham Jazz, Black Mountain Jazz, Narberth Jazz, North Devon Jazz, Bristol Jazz Festival, Swansea Jazz Festival and Aberjazz Festival. Tonight’s set will include a couple of pieces from Dave’s Crime Scenes and Subterfuge library music album freshly arranged for the quintet line-up and never previously performed live.

Dave also composes music for TV, and has had numerous placements of tracks in productions in the US (‘The Big Bang Theory’, ‘The Today Show’, The US Open Golf Tournament), in Japan (NHK news and current affairs), and the UK (‘University Challenge’, ‘Location, Location, Location’, ‘Alan Carr’s Adventures with Agatha Christie’, and many others).

“Scintillating horn interplay that mixed fire with subtlety, qualities that Jones also brought to a sparkling piano solo” (JazzMann, live review 2023). “Solid and deep-delving swing, especially when the band switched straight into fifth gear, as on ‘Chief Blackwater’ “ (Jazz Journal, live review 2023).

Saxophonist Ben Waghorn is one of Bristol’s finest players with a national reputation – he has worked in London’s West End and on many pop, TV and film recordings. He has been involved in a range of projects with Keith Tippett, including ‘Tapestry’, a piece written by Keith for two saxophone quartets and the BBC singers, the quartet ‘Work in Progress’ and The Keith Tippett Octet. He can also be heard on recordings with Geoff Eales and Dave Stapleton [Slowly Rolling Camera]. Ben has also recently performed with the BBC Big Band and played in Singapore with the London Concert Orchestra.

Trumpeter Andy Hague is well known as leader of his own quintet, Double Standards quartet and Horace Silver tribute Silverado. He also frequently appears at the club on drums.

Bassist Ashley John Long is revered for his astonishing technique, and alongside his jazz career has a growing reputation as a contemporary classical composer.

Drummer Ryan Thrupp has just recently graduated with a First from the Royal Welsh College jazz degree course and was busy this summer working with funky festival favourites Cut Capers.