The quays are alive with the sound of music

Jazz at St Peters by the Waterfront Essential Sounds (Image: Archant)

This year, 2015, is a big year for jazz at St Peter’s by the Waterfront with ten acts lined up between February and December as part of their Jazz by the Waterfront season.

There are a number of returning acts this year including the Essential Sounds Big Band who have been a sell-out for the past couple of years, Hannah Horton, the very talented tenor and baritone saxophone player with her quartet and the amazing jazz singer-songwriter Zoe Gilby with her husband Andy Champion on double bass and the rest of her band.

Centre manager Andrew Mayhew tells me it is an exciting time for the venue with plenty of interesting shows.

There are also a number of new acts to Jazz by the Waterfront this season including Jazz at the Movies fronted by the acclaimed singer Joanna Eden and featuring the groovy sounds of the Chris Ingham Quartet, Blue Town Jazz, a group based in Colchester with plenty of favourite jazz standards and the very talented local Ipswich singer Andi Hopgood with her quartet featuring alto saxophonist Martin Hathaway.

The first evening of 2015 sees the return of the Kamao Quintet on Friday February 6.

Members of the quintet filled in for Dave Shulman in 2014 as a last minute change in the schedule; this year the whole quintet will be featured.

The Kamao Quintet take their inspiration from the legacy of the great Django Reinhardt and traditional Manouche and Romani music. Fronted by singer and guitarist Jean de Talhouet, the band includes clarinet (Dave Shulman), violin (Sharon Subbarao), gypsy guitars (Dave Kelbie), and double bass (Ruth Goller), creating a beautiful sound that complements the vocals with haunting and lyrical harmonies.

Tickets are now available for this evening and all other evenings from the website www.jazzbythewaterfront.com and cost £10 in advance and £12 on the door.