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Alligator Gumbo

Matt and Phreds

James Paylor  double bass, vocals / Greg Surmacz clarinet, saxophone / Chris Williamson  trumpet / Tim Hurst trombone, vocals / Mike Rudland-Simpson  steel guitar, vocals / Chris Lloyd  piano, vocals /Jose Williamson  drums, washboard, bells, whistles

Alligator Gumbo are a 6-piece New Orleans jazz band from Leeds, who have been playing together since 2011. Having played extensively around the country, and often packed out Matt & Phred’s, we can’t wait to see them again.

A gig with Alligator Gumbo sees jazz from the hey-day of the New Orleans swing/jazz era, when music was raw and largely improvised with melodies and solos happening simultaneously which has now become defined as the ‘New Orleans’ sound.

As well as the band’s unique and fast-tempo treatment of the classic tunes, Alligator Gumbo take this distinctive style and apply it to their arrangements of more modern and popular songs which everyone will recognise and happily head to the dance floor upon hearing.

Doors at 6pm
£7 entry, pay on the door – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: friday 19 may

Time: 9:30 pm - 12:00 am

Price: £7 entry, pay on door

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Henry Botham’s New Orleans Piano Gumbo

Matt and Phreds

Henry Botham piano

Henry Botham is one of the UK’s leading Harlem Stride, Blues and New Orleans pianists, most noted for his work with 52 Skidoo, The Nightcreatures, and Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners.

Henry has a huge passion for and appreciation of New Orleans piano, which draws from a wide range of influences including Blues, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Rhumba, Ragtime and even Classical music and Rock, all epitomised by the recognised master of the genre, James Booker.

Audiences will not only enjoy Henry’s playing, but also his both witty and interesting introductions to both the style at large and the songs he will play. This is the music of and inspired by Dr John, Professor Longhair, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith, Luckey Roberts and Dick Wellstood. Now that’s a pretty impressive selection.

Having his musical roots in traditional New Orleans music certainly doesn’t stop Henry being a pioneer of bringing this distinct style into the modern age, you can expect some surprises from Henry along the way, from Prince, to The Beatles, to The Prodigy and beyond, all remaining true to the New Orleans style.

Doors 5pm
Free entry – tables are first come, first served on the evening.

Date: saturday 20 may

Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Price: Free

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Los Chichanos

Matt and Phreds

Sandino Borges Leitao  guitar, vocals / Georgia Ollier keyboard, vocals / Conal McIntosh  bass, vocals /  Jordan Ferguson  congas, vocals / Jose Luis Rivera Martinez  timbales, vocals

The band behind Edinburgh’s late night fiestas, Los Chichanos formed to heat up their audiences with pumping live Latin music. Mixing a rich percussion section, powerful vocals, vintage guitar solos and mesmerising Peruvian melodies from the Amazon and the Andes, Los Chichanos perform “chicha” or Jungle Cumbia. The style of music has experienced a worldwide boom in recent years, and it’s clear why – tropical vibes, jungle sounds, experimental guitar-driven songs, ’60s organ leads and all the raucous rhythms of live cumbia and salsa! This music was written to make bodies move and minds travel.

With members from Brazil, El Salvador, Chile, Australia and the UK, the international combo formed in Scotland in 2021. Their shows regularly reach capacity, proving popular amongst lovers of tropical parties, Latin music and late night dance hangouts. Using traditional cumbia rhythms and full-powered percussion on congas and timbales, the group mixes experimental electric guitar and iconic nostalgic organ sounds, exploring ‘60s psychedelic and surf influences… The result? A hugely danceable setlist that transforms any night out into an infectious tropical fiesta. Let Los Chichanos lead you on their jungle expedition across the Latino dance floor and deep into the misty South American rainforest. Dress jungle for bonus points.

Wild syncopated Latin rhythms, vintage surf-inspired guitar, organ and psychedelic Latin vibes – Los Chichanos present a pumping fiesta of Jungle Cumbia (also known as “chicha”). Join this infectious tropical excursion.

Doors at 5pm
£7 entry, pay on the door – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: saturday 20 may

Time: 9:30 pm - 12:30 am

Price: £7, pay on the door

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M&PxMJF Open Jam: Led by Craig Hanson

Matt and Phreds

For this extra special Jam Night, Matt & Phred’s are teaming up with Manchester Jazz Festival to give all singers and musicians the opportunity to come down to our little backstreet Jazz Club and get on stage to perform. We are happy to announce that this year’s Open Jam will be led by the prolific drummer Craig Hanson, whose band is comprised of equally reputable musicians. The stage is open to all musicians to get up and play with the house band and fellow jammers.

With the genres for the night surrounding Jazz, Neo-Soul, and R’n’B, whether musicians want to play a standard, a unique twist on a popular tune, or simply see where the beat takes them, all is welcome. Bring along your vocal cords, guitars, brass, strings, and whatever other instruments you play, and play alongside like-minded music lovers.

Over the years, the Matt & Phred’s Jam Nights have attracted the likes of Chuck Perkins, Lonnie Liston Smith, Benn Clatworth, as well as members of Riot Jazz Brass Band, GoGo Penguin, and the Beats & Pieces Big Band, to name but a few… Who knows who might be in the audience and on stage tonight. You can certainly expect to see some familiar faces from the rest of the Manchester Jazz Festival line up, as well as those who have built a stellar reputation among the Northern music scene.

More of a listener than a player? No problem, there will be plenty of room for you to kick back and watch the evening unfold. It’s fair to say anything could happen.

A little on Craig Hanson, jam leader: Craig is an acclaimed musician on the Manchester scene. He performs and tours with many artists including 6x Grammy-nominated artist Yola. He was one half of spiritual funk jazz duo Skeltr, winning various awards and releasing two successful records. Craig is now working behind the scenes on his own brand new project (all to be revealed). He is very excited to be leading the MJF Jazz Jam ’23!

Doors 6pm
Gig 9pm – midnight
Free entry – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: monday 22 may

Time: 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Price: Free

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The Chanteuse

Matt and Phreds

The Chanteuse, aka Lucy Hope, is one of the UK’s leading and most devoted exponents of French chanson. These powerful songs that she reinterprets with her own ‘je ne sais quoi’ have become a Gallic soundtrack to love, passion and heartbreak.

Throughout the night, Lucy will be staging the songs from her album, The Chanteuse sings Modiano. The record is a collection of the songs written in the 1960s and 1970s by the Nobel Prize for Literature winning French author, Patrick Modiano. The Chanteuse will also be performing chanson classics from the oeuvres of Jacques Brel to Edith Piaf; Georges Brassens to Barbara.

Doors 6pm
Gig 9pm – midnight
Free entry – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: wednesday 24 may

Time: 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Price: Free

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Jim Wallace – Gypsy Project

Matt and Phreds

Jim Wallace guitar / Andrew Meyer clarinet / Andrzej Baranek – piano / Tim Williams – bass / Ric Weedon – drums

Featuring a foot-stomping mix of traditional Gypsy Jazz alongside the bands own exhilarating arrangements of contemporary pop songs from the modern era, there’s something for jazz aficionados and music lovers alike. Alongside Jim’s virtuosic Django Reinhardt-inspired lead guitar the band features the improvisational talents of some of the North West’s finest Gypsy Jazz soloists in Andrzej Baranek (accordion) and Andrew Meyer (clarinet), backed up by a stellar swinging Gypsy rhythm section. Rarely has such a delicate balance been successfully struck between the artistic and the absurd.

Come and take a peek whats on Django’s playlist as these talented, humorous and charismatic individuals tear through the music of Britney Spears and alike, whilst paying a respectful homage to the unrivalled swinging sounds of The Quintette du Hot Club de France.

Doors 6pm
Gig 9pm – midnight
Free entry – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: thursday 25 may

Time: 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Price: Free

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Deadbeat Brass

Matt and Phreds

Gavin Brown sousaphone / John Needham-Pearmain tenor saxophone / TBC – baritone saxophone / Alex Browne, James Duckworth, Peter Clark trumpets / Tim Mansfield, Barrie-Jon Knight trombones / Lloyd Brown bass trombone / Tim Bradshaw drums

Deadbeat Brass is made up of 10 of the North’s finest horn and percussion players to bring you their big brass sound, a fusion of New Orleans jazz, funk, grunge and latin grooves to every live experience. Huddersfield’s own funky horn juggernaut brings you a mix of hard hitting unique take on covers and their own brand of riot-prog to packed out shows throughout the UK.

A hit with festival crowds across the country, the band have played at festivals including Kendal Calling, Beat-herder, London Remixed, Moovin Festival & Balter festival. Their unique sounds and high energy performances have seen them support artists such as The Apples, Hot 8 Brass Band and Craig Charles. Releasing their debut album in 2017, Charge, the band has most recently released a live EP from tracks taken from their appearance at London Remixed Festival with their second album to debut in 2023.

This evening, Deadbeat Brass will be playing a mixture of their own brand of ‘Riot-Prog Jazz’ originals, pop and rock covers ranging from Britney Spears to Linkin Park to Sean Paul as well as jazz & Nola songs thrown in.

Doors 5pm
Gig 9.30pm – 12.30am
£7 entry – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: saturday 27 may

Time: 9:30 pm - 12:30 am

Price: £7, pay on the door

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Baiana

Matt and Phreds

Laura Doyle vocals / Micky Dunne guitar/ Jesse Eigan – bass / Vidar Norheim drums, vibes

Born in Liverpool and blessed in Rio, Baiana is the band with the totally tropical twist, bringing the music, glamour and charm of vintage Brazilian jazz and pop to every show. The band has played sold-out shows in London’s jazzland and got national coverage after a series of sell-out gigs at the Edinburgh Festival. Baiana is all about the thrill of Brazil and will be playing classic Bossa Novas, seductive sambas and Latin-inspired arrangements of well-known standards. Sometimes reflective, always full of passion, this will be a night of infectious rhythm, superb musicianship, and beautiful song.

Laura Doyle, the front lady of Baiana, became an entertainer after studying clowning with the great Philippe Gaulier in Paris and developed her unique voice and style on the “underground cabaret” scene in London and elsewhere. She fell in love with Brazilian music while living in Rio where she rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s most famous people, including Fidel Castro and Sophia Loren. A born-entertainer, Laura’s colourful costumes and charismatic performances always have audiences shouting for more.

Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Vidar hails from Norway and was a member of alt-pop darlings Wave Machines who released two critically-lauded albums and played at Glastonbury and other major festivals. Guitarist Micky is one of the most respected “gypsy jazz” guitarists on the British jazz scene and has performed for many years with Django luminaires such as Gary Potter, Romane, John Jorgenson and violinist Daniel John Martin. Bassist Jesse is a much in-demand bass player and vocalist, at home in a intimate jazz club or playing a major festival. He has recorded and toured with artists such as Louis Berry, Marcus & Martinus, Ray Quinn, China Crisis and Ninet Tayeb to name but a few.

Doors 6pm
Gig 9.30pm – 12.30am
£7 entry, pay on the door – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: friday 26 may

Time: 9:30 pm - 12:30 am

Price: £7, pay on the door

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Dan Burnett

Matt and Phreds

Dan Burnett  piano, vocals

Dan Burnett is a singer, songwriter, and freelance multi-instrumentalist musician based in the UK. With influences stemming from the soul, acoustic, and blues genres, Dan’s songs will take you on emotional journeys about life, love, and heartbreak.

Playing regularly throughout the year, Dan is also a library music composer for film and TV. He has co-written and recorded music which featured on Stolen (Nicolas Cage), and Supernatural (USA TV series), among many others. Since 2014, Dan has been an international endorser of Kawai Pianos.

Expect to hear Dan’s favourites from his musical upbringing in Soul, Blues and Funk. On top of this, you’ll get to hear some of Dan’s absolutely mesmerising original material which we at M&P’s are in love with.

Doors 5pm
Gig: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Free entry – tables are first come, first served on the evening

Date: saturday 27 may

Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Price: Free

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Cuba Vida Salsa Band

Matt and Phreds

It may be Manchester but there’s no reason why we can’t pretend we are in an exotic city, listening to the Latin vibes of the Cuba Vida Salsa Band, led by the fantastic Jesus Moreau Batallan!

The Cuba Vida Salsa Band is an exciting group offering a unique sound emerging from Latin, Jazz, Funk, Reggae-Ton and Salsa music. The exhilarating line up of vocalists, keys, effects, saxophone, and drums promise an authentic Salsa Party from start to end. With all three musicians having roots in the genre and its culture, any audience is sure to be impressed by their musicianship and showmanship, along with the stories they tell about the music they play.

Never failing to bring an extraordinary atmosphere either on or off the dance floor, expect both classic and modern Latin music (Timba), originating from Cuba. As well as playing the classics from the likes of Latin Grammy Nominee composers such as Tony Perez, you can expect original tunes from the band, boasting superb harmonies and rhythm from the get go.

If you’re partial to a bit of Salsa dancing, then bring your dancing shoes!

Doors 6pm
Gig 9pm – midnight
Free entry – to reserve a table, call 0161 273 5495

Date: tuesday 23 may

Time: 9:00 pm - 12:00 am

Price: Free

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