Malcom Strachan + Miles Pillinger Quintet 26/04/23 @ Brudenell Social Club

Leeds based jazz trumpeter Malcolm Strachan (a founder member of The Haggis Horns) released his second solo album "Point Of No Return" on Haggis Records in January 2023 and it's blown up hugely across radio and social media in the UK and worldwide. A follow up to his debut album "About Time" from 2020 (also on Haggis Records), which also received great critical acclaim and strong radio support across the globe, the new release has stepped up the game hugely. Once again, Malcolm delivers an album of original music written by himself and featuring material covering a broad spectrum of jazz styles. From modal jazz grooves to Brazilian samba beats, Latin rhythms to cinematic soundtrack vibes, and along the way, some beautiful ballads.

The release has had big radio support by Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles on BBC 6 Music, from more than a dozen DJs on Jazz FM (making it onto the B Playlist), strong Bandcamp editorial support, radio play on BBC Radio 3 "J To Z" and many more great jazz radio shows and stations across the UK and beyond.

With a bunch of UK album release parties in February and March (including one at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Club in London), there had to be a hometown album launch. In steps Leeds' "Mr Jazz" Lubi Jovanovic (DJ Lubi) with another great Jazzland Sessions seated show at Brudenell on Wednesday 26th April.

The musicians onstage with Malcolm on this show are from the core band on "Point Of No Return". They include fellow Haggis Horns band members Atholl Ransome (tenor sax/flutes), George Cooper (piano) and Errol Rollins (drums). They're joined by double bass player Sam Quintana, percussionist Sam Bell and a guest trombonist to still to be confirmed. It's almost 2 years since Malcolm and the band launched his debut album at Brudenell so it's a welcome return. Last time sold out and with only 120 tickets available again, this one will too.

Malcolm is one of the UK's best known and busiest session trumpeters and has recorded and toured with the likes of Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamiroquai, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Jess Glynne, The Craig Charles Fantasy Funk Band, Black Honey, The New Mastersounds, The Abstract Orchestra and Blue Note Records jazz saxophone legend Lou Donaldson. Of course, he's also a founder and existing band member of UK funk kings The Haggis Horns.

"Point Of No Return" by Malcolm Strachan will definitely appeal to lovers of contemporary jazz but with a classic feel that harks back to Blue Note Records and CTI Records and trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd. However, with a series of grooves encompassing soul, Latin and samba, and on a few tracks, a definite soundtrack vibe, this album and music can also appeal to those outside the jazz world. Good music is good music, whatever the genre.

Support comes from one of the new rising jazz stars currently in his final year at Leeds Conservatoire. Manchester born drummer Miles Pillinger is already well known for his membership of jazz fusion band Mangorata and also trumpeter Olivia Cuttill's quartet. Now he steps out front as a band leader with his own ensemble, the Miles Pillinger Quintet, playing his original compositions. He has assembled a heavyweight band including fellow Mangorata bandmates Olivia Cuttill (trumpet) and James Absalom (tenor sax), saxophonist Helen Pillinger plus Fergus Quill (double bass) and Nico Widdowson (piano). The music is post-bop and modal jazz inspired by Miles' favourite drummers Brian Blade, Max Roach and Elvin Jones and composers such as Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Hermeto Pascoal. Only just starting to gig out now, this band is definitely one to watch for in 2023 in the UK jazz scene.