The Bridge Jazz Club is a popular monthly jazz night which I host at Exeter Phoenix. It has been running for over ten years. The usual format is an opening set from me on saxophone with a guest rhythm section followed by an open mic/jam session.
Seats are £10 if booked in advance. For booking details, email lazybirdjazz@hotmail.com. There may be tickets on the door, but these are £12.50 (cash & correct money only). Please note that advance reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable unless I sell out and can resell your seat.
Jammers: see information lower down this page.
Coming up:
Sun 2nd April 2.00pm. Pete Canter & Friends + jam/open-mic session. Pete Canter saxophone, Tom Unwin keys, Valere Speranza double bass, Gary Evans drums. Seats on sale from 6th March.
Sun 14th May 2.00pm. Pete Canter & Friends + jam/open-mic session. Pete Canter saxophone, James Clemas keys, Kevin Sanders double bass, Matt Evans drums. Seats on sale from 7th March
4th June 2.00pm. Pete Canter & Friends + jam/open-mic session. Pete Canter saxophone, Tom Breeze keys, Marcus Vergette double bass, Russell Collins drums. Seats on sale from 16th May
Bridge Jazz Club will continue at Exeter Phoenix in 2023 with a monthly Sunday slot at 2pm. There will be no session in August.
Information for jammers
Jammers places are limited and allocated in advance. Although it is usually first come, first served, I sometimes allocate slots based on balance of instruments and to achieve variety from month to month. There are a limited number of half price seats for jammers. Email lazybirdjazz@hotmail.com to enquire about playing in the jam session. Jammers turning up on the day hoping to play may well be disappointed and will have to pay the full entry price of £12.50.
Jammers with a slot in the jam/open-mic session should bring concert charts for the rhythm section and sign up on the jammer’s sheet when they arrive. Depending on how many people want to play, players of front line instruments might expect to play 1 or 2 tunes. There is often a mass rendition of the blues or a jazz standard to close the evening. The Bridge Jazz Club welcomes players of all levels of experience and makes everyone welcome. Singers and instrumentalists should bring their own microphones. There is a small monitor amp suitable for vocals, flutes etc. There is no amp for guitars so you need to bring one. Please note that there are often people jamming who play keys, bass or drums so you cannot always expect to play with the house band.
Singers, please note this is a jazz jam session so please bring along jazz standards, not pop or show tunes. Charts for keys and bass should be in the form of lead sheets with just melody and chord symbols. Lead sheets usually fit on 1 or 2 sides of A4. If you aren’t sure if your tune and the chart you have for it are suitable, please email a copy in advance to me at lazybirdjazz@hotmail.com so I can tell you.
Support the Bridge Jazz Club:
The Bridge Jazz Club stays afloat and is able to pay the house band and the room hire at Exeter Phoenix from the proceeds of the door charge. You can support the club and help ensure that it continues to thrive by turning up to listen as often as you can and by encouraging your friends to come along too. We also appreciate help with putting away chairs and tables at the end of the session.
Follow the Bridge Jazz Club on Twitter at @BJazzCExeter
Join the Bridge Jazz Club Facebook Group
If you would like to receive occasional emails about about forthcoming gigs at the Bridge Jazz Club and my other gigs, please email lazybirdjazz@hotmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list. Your email will never be shared with others.
Jazz Club, Exeter, Devon, UK, jam session