Jazz: Quentin Collins Quintet

The Be-Bop Club is delighted to welcome one of the UK’s finest jazz trumpeters to appear alongside some of Bristol’s best-known players in a quintet specially formed for the evening.

Quentin Collins has performed, toured, and recorded with a plethora of internationally renowned artists across many genres including Fred Wesley, Gregory Porter, Mark Ronson, Omar, Basement Jaxx, Roy Ayers, and Alicia Keys. He is however possibly best known for his 12-year tenure with the Kyle Eastwood Band, a favourite at European jazz festivals and with which he has recorded four albums.

Those with good memories may recall him appearing at a JATA promoted gig at the Tobacco Factory with the Dylan Howe Quintet alongside saxophonist Brandon Allen, the two then formed the Quentin Collins/Brandon Allen Quartet which recorded a couple of highly acclaimed albums, as well as both playing for Kyle Eastwood.

In 2015 Quentin co-founded Ubuntu Records with Martin Hummel. Ubuntu has become one of the UK’s most important labels, and Quentin has had a hand in producing albums such as Leo Richardson’s The Chase, Camilla George’s Isang, and Noemi Nuti’s Nice to Meet You.

in 2019 he assembled an all-star transatlantic sextet to release Road Warrior, a collection of original, straight-ahead contemporary bop compositions written by Collins and alto saxophonist Tom Harrison. Amongst others the album features pianist Dan Nimmer, who has performed for many years with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. “The combination of virtuosity, togetherness, and sheer spirit that emerges from these nine tracks is quite remarkable” – The Guardian.

Post Covid Quentin has joined Five Way Split, a cooperatively run venture between the band members which partners him in the front line with saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos who visited us back in April with his Dexterity project. Five Way Split’s debut album All The Way has received rave reviews and is highly recommended.

Joining Quentin in the front-line we have Swiss saxophonist Martin Kern, who has previously proved himself the perfect foil to former trumpet guest Damon Brown last season. Also pleased to welcome back pianist Tim Funnell, who hasn’t appeared at the club for several months – many will remember him doing a sterling job accompanying Simon Spillett in 2022, with regulars Chris Jones and Andy Hague completing the band on bass and drums.