One of the country’s top jazz bands will be appearing at Birmingham Jazz’s regular event this coming Friday.
Wild Flower Sextet is an all-star ensemble led by saxophonist Matt Anderson playing original music inspired by the sound and approach of jazz legend Wayne Shorter, alongside new arrangements of classic and lesser-known Shorter compositions.
The band recorded their debut album in 2014 with support from the Jazz Services Recording Support scheme, and in February 2015 they will undertake a 13-date UK tour to promote the release of this album on the Jellymould Jazz label. Matt Anderson graduated from Leeds College of Music in 2010 with First Class Honours, also receiving the Sam Hood Rosebowl for Outstanding Performance. He has since studied with Iain Ballamy and Stan Sulzmann, and was awarded ‘Young Musician of the Year’ at the Jazz Yorkshire Awards 2010.
The Matt Anderson Quartet toured nationally in 2012, with JazzUK commenting: “melodic standards and original tunes… impressive throughout,” and he has gone on to work with many of his former tutors, currently appearing in bands led by Jiannis Pavlidis, Jamil Sheriff and Jamie Taylor as well as featuring on Taylor’s latest CD Introducing Outside Line.
The sextet draws on an all-star line-up of UK jazz musicians including trumpeter Laura Jurd, guitarist Alex Munk, bass player Sam Vicary, drummer Sam Gardner and pianist Jamil Sheriff.
The Red Lion, Warstone Lane, Birmingham B18 6NG.
Admission £12, members £10, students £5.