The music scene in Bristol is one of the best in the country with many of the UK’s top jazz musicians finding it a great place to perform as well as a central location to play in London, Birmingham or Cardiff.  Equally so it is a short sprint down the M5 to visit the South West. We are fortunate that our old friend Andy Hague brings his quintet to pay a flying visit to Teignmouth Jazz and Blues. On its inception the Independent On Sunday raved  ‘The collective impact of what amounts to a South-West supergroup was close to overpowering’ Like fine wine, the Quintet has matured, with a changes to its line up, since this review and promises Teignmouth an even better experience.

Andy is critically acclaimed as one of the most talented horn players on the contemporary British scene. A prolific performer he is more frugal in his CD output but when he does he excels and his style can be appreciated  by listening to the acclaimed ‘Cross my Palm’ which Venue Magazine described as ‘a gem, showing off both the versatility of the players and the well-established empathy they have together..’

On tenor sax is Ben Waghorn who precociously started his playing live in Bristol in 1989 and has never looked back as being the reeds player of choice for many jazz greats such as Keith Tippet as well as forming his own groups. On keyboards and no doubt leading his own compositions is Jim Blomfield who Jazz UK says ‘packs more into a single solo than seems wholly decent.’

And that’s not all. On Bass is Chris Jones who has reputation not only as a player but as a composer and  experimental projects that have taken him to Glastonbury among other stages. Andy Tween drummer and yet another composer is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music he has vast experience across the music world touring with Seth Lakeman, Andy Shepherd and PP Arnold.