Adam Stokes Quartet

Guitarist Adam Stokes has been making his presence felt in Bristol for several years now – like many successful jazz players he is adept at making his own scene and generating new gigs. He has played all round town in duo settings with vocalists such as Victoria Klewin, and before lockdown was running two popular jam session nights at the LeftBank and the Stag and Hounds. The LeftBank has sadly fallen victim to the pandemic, but the Stag sessions are back running on Sundays from 5 pm. A versatile player, Adam is equally happy playing for swing dancers or producing angular lines influenced by Monk and Eric Dolphy in more contemporary settings.

Saxophonist Dan Newberry has visited us several times before and is one of the best young sax players to emerge in many years. Dan has stayed on at RWCMD to study for a Masters, and plays with amazing maturity. He’s obviously listened to all the greats, but on his last appearance in Bristol really seemed to be channelling a lot of Dexter Gordon.

Organist Guy Shotton is a Cardiff Uni music graduate possibly better known across the bridge but now living in Bristol. Guy is sometimes to be found working with saxophonist Jeremy Huggett’s mainstream band and also works a lot with up and coming vocalist Sarah Meek in her Sheek quartet. He has been an Assistant Musical Director for Bristol Hippodrome Choir and has backed visiting jazz artists such as Alan Barnes, Simon Spillett, Dick Pearce and Chris Biscoe. He last performed at the club alongside trumpeter Jonny Bruce.

Appearing on drums tonight Andy Hague is also well known as a trumpeter and as organiser of the Be-Bop Club. As a drummer he has backed many of the UK’s biggest jazz names including Don Weller, Peter King, Gerard Presencer, Andy Sheppard and many more.