The funky Matt & Phreds consolidates its position as Manchester's premier jazz club with a solid new season of bookings. Despite both its namesakes original owners having left the venue, new manager Dean Moule is keeping the vibrant and varied programme of new and emerging talent very much to the fore of the venues packed rosta.

Regular appearances by home-grown stars including Cinematic Orchestra guitar whiz Stuart McCullum, freewheeling Hammond man John Ellis and local bass hero Jon Thorne and his quartet, all number among January's highlights. Varying the mainly jazz programme are credible blues and folk singers Laura Beth and the charismatic Kyla Brox. The most welcome, and potentially noisy, booking is that of The Blessing (featured in the forthcoming February issue of Jazzwise). The post-trip hop jazz quartet led by Portishead bassist and drummer Jim Barr and Clive Deamer should raise the roof with their paint-stripping mix of jazz-rock and free jazz.

The remaining January bookings are as follows; Jim Mullen Organ Trio (10 Jan), Rod Mason Essentials (11 Jan), Moss Freed Sextet (12 Jan), Filmonik (13 Jan), Uli Elbracht Trio (14 Jan), John Ellis Trio (15 Jan), Henry Botham Trio (16 Jan), Jon Thorne Quartet (17 Jan), Jem and Paul (18 Jan), Myke Wilson and guests (19 Jan), The Other Jam Session (21 Jan), Stuart McCallum Trio (22 Jan), Laura Beth Hassell (24 Jan), Kyla Brox Band (25 Jan), Cabbage Alley (26 Jan), Jon Thorne Quartet (28 Jan), Kyla Brox Duo (29 Jan), The Blessing (30 Jan), and The Nat Birchall Quartet (31 Jan).

More info at www.mattandphreds.com