Spring on Jazz agenda

The early 2011 programme, which starts immediately we’re into the new year, promises all kinds of first-class Friday night entertainment from the combination of established names and up-and-comers for which the College Grove venue is renowned.

Among the familiar names will be members of the Panayi-Nightingale Quartet on February 18, when Andy and Mark will be joined by Dave Newton, Simon Woolf and Steve Brown to play arrangements of classic and lesser-known Cole Porter tunes.

The first gig of the season, on January 7, is an interesting prospect, bringing pianist Joe Stilgoe to the city. Son of entertainer Richard Stilgoe, he has followed a well-trodden path from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra via cruise ships to Ronnie Scott’s – and now Wakefield Jazz!

Zoe Gilby, who’s down to appear on January 21, made a big impression when she sang with Jim Mullen at the end of 2009, so now she’s returning with her own quintet to perform a mix of classics and her own songs.

February 4 should be an intriguing evening when a new four-piece band led by Dylan Howe calls in at the start of a 24-date tour. All Dylan will say is they’ll be playing “special arrangements of Blue Note classics, David Bowie’s Berlin period, John Coltrane and beyond”. Sounds promising.

Another (nearly) new band is in the offing on February 25, in the shape of a trio assembled by Gilad Atzmon’s former drummer Asaf Sirkis. Starting off as a side project, it attracted lots of attention and bookings and is now Asaf’s main focus, to great effect.

More familiar names heading for Eastmoor Road include UK jazz stalwart Peter King – with Steve Melling, Geoff Gascoyne and Mark Fletcher in tow – on February 11, flautist Gareth Lockrane with his Grooveyard five-piece on March 25 and another veteran, Chris Biscoe, leading a quartet including Tony Kofi, on January 28.

Go to www.wakefieldjazz.org.uk for full details of the season.