PLYMOUTH Jazz Club presents the Scottish trumpeter Bruce Adams this weekend (Winner of 2008 British Jazz Awards – Trumpet Category), for what is expected to be another highlight gig of the club's silver jubilee year.
Bruce Adams is a musician who prefers to play freelance with a wider variety of artists, and developing a range of mainstream styles.
He is a masterly trumpet player in the grand manner, and his tone is big without being brash, his lines are clear and swinging and he has a great feeling for melody. He took up trumpet at the age of 11 and played his first paid gig eight months later. As soon as Bruce left school he went out as a double act with his father in a kind of jazz-cabaret show, featuring guitar and vocals, entertaining in cabaret and working men's clubs, mainly in the North of England.
Following his father's death, Bruce concentrated more on his trumpet, and he learned to read music well and became a freelance trumpet player. As such he played in Mecca dance halls, theatre pits, pantomimes, and on cruise liners. For a while he was in the Scottish Radio Orchestra. He played for Showboat at the London Palladium, and for four years he was in the band of comedian Freddie Starr.
Nevertheless, alongside all this, Bruce was managing to play jazz at the highest level, appearing at festivals in Britain and abroad, winning awards in BBC Radio Two's Band Competition, and broadcasting with his own quartet. He has recorded with his own quartet and made some fine recordings with multi reed player Alan Barnes. Everybody who heard him was impressed, and he has shared the stage with front line partners such as Benny Carter, Al Cohn, and Buddy Tate.
He has been invited to play in the past at Tavistock, for the Tamar Valley Jazz Association, and its affiliated club, Speakeasy Jazz in Torquay. This will be his first visit to Plymouth Jazz Club.
Bruce will be joined by the Martin Dale Quartet.
Martin Dale is well known to Plymouth audiences for his versatility and the melodic tones of his saxophone. He has appeared at the club on numerous occasions. His prowess has been recognised by saxophone makers Arbiter, who developed a new model in his honour, the 'Martin Dale Signature Alto Sax'.
His latest line-up comprises musicians, who are also no strangers to the club, having played here with various different groups. Included are pianist Craig Milverton, bass player Kevin Sanders and drummer Coach York.
Bruce Adams with the Martin Dale Quartet will be performing in The Function Suite, at The Mermaid, Eggbuckland, Plymouth at 8pm on March 1. Tickets at the door, or in advance from Maestro's, Ebrington Street, Plymouth or ring 01752 847611.