Music: The Text Messengers Play The Messengers

Trumpeter Andy Hague has been presenting occasional sextet gigs under the Text Messengers name for a number of years, but the nod to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers has more been due to the three horns front line rather than the repertoire. However, Andy has now amassed sufficient arrangements actually performed by the Jazz Messengers that the band can now present a full programme of Jazz Messengers classics, covering several eras of Art Blakey’s legendary group with compositions by Benny Golson, Bobby Timmons, Wayne Shorter and Bobby Watson.

Alto saxophone player Luke Annesley’s playing career ranges from performing classic film scores with the John Wilson Orchestra, playing in quartet with the great guitarist Dave Cliff for a number of years, and improv-based projects such as his quartet Moonscape. He has a lyrical style as an improviser and composer. Since arriving in Bristol in 2021 he has been forming new musical collaborations here in both straight ahead and free improv contexts while also being heard back in London (his original home) in venues such as The Vortex, Ronnie Scott’s and Dean St Pizza Express, and in recording sessions (recently at Abbey Road recording alongside US drum superstar Pete Erskine).

Tenor saxophonist Dan Newberry has become a favourite of Bristol audiences in recent years with his hard blowing yet melodic style. He is now living here having completed his Masters at the Royal Welsh College in Cardiff. Dan has recently been playing with epic funk band Hungry Hungry Hippos alongside trumpeter Gary Alesbrook and guitarist Alex Hutchings.

Pianist Jim Blomfield is of course one of the mainstays of Bristol’s jazz scene. He has backed countless big name guest soloists and released two albums of his own music which blend jazz with electronica and contemporary music influences. He is also well known as one of the UK’s finest salsa pianists and appears in many Latin ensembles, including recently guesting with the legendary Roberto Pla at London’s Pizza Express.

Bassist Riaan Vosloo recently gained a doctorate, and is well known as a performer, composer, producer and educator. He has composed music for TV and films and has production credits on albums by Jamie Cullum and Gregory Porter. He is currently course leader for the MA in Popular Music Practice at BIMM Bristol, and has previously taught at Birmingham Conservatoire.

A senior lecturer at BIMM Bristol, drummer Mark Whitlam has performed live and recorded with some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians, including Jason Rebello (Sting, Jeff Beck), Clare Teal, Claire Martin, Jim Mullen (Average White Band) and Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown) through to unique collaborations with BBC Proms conductor Charles Hazlewood, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) and Adrian Utley (Portishead).