Jazz: Martin Kern with Jim Blomfield Trio

Martin Kern grew up in Bülach near Zürich in Switzerland and first started to play classical cello, then later at age 17 picked up the saxophone. He studied in Paris at the Cèntre d´’Information Musicale and at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern before spending some time in New York. He then moved to Berlin where he became a part oft he vibrant jazz scene. It was there that he recorded his first albums as a bandleader, “Visions” and “Now Is The Music”. He later moved to Vienna where he recorded his most recent CD “Live At The ORF”, a live radio concert at the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation. The original compositions on this album also borrow ideas from world music and blues. Martin’s music is a striking blend of bebop, hard bop and contemporary jazz, his sound reflecting those of legendary saxophonists Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and others. He has been living here for a couple of years to complete an MA in Film & TV Composition at the University of Bristol.

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 is now based in Bristol after living in London for many years. He is a tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and also teaches at BIMM in Bristol. He is a regular member of the Ed Jones Quartet, and appears on Ed’s recent album For Your Ears Only.

Drummer Andy Hague is also widely known as a trumpeter, but drums were actually his first instrument. As a drummer he has backed many visiting guest soloists at The Albert Inn and The Be-Bop Club, and for the past couple of years has been working with Welsh pianist and composer Dave Jones in his quartet featuring Ben Waghorn.