23.11.07

Manchester's premier jazz club Matt and Phreds has, over the last eight years, become a popular haunt. Snugly tucked into the heart of the city's vibrant Northern Quarter, the venue has become a place treasured by locals and admired by visitors. Arriving is always a warm and welcoming relief after Manchester's rainy winter evenings and it's not just the pizza that attracts attendees.
Matt and Phreds manages to draw a range of diverse artists to its stage, including dynamic new groups such as Empirical, Polar Bear, and Led Bib, while still maintaining bookings from better known acts such as much respected singer Liane Carroll or trombonist Dennis Rollins.

Wynton Marsalis has even been known to head over to the club's after hours jam sessions, following a Bridgewater Hall gig a few years ago. Next month's highlights include a highly anticipated visit from Partisans. It's a band that has played a central role in re-energising the whole Brit-jazz scene recently (1 Dec).
Also look out for the talented Lewis Wright Quartet (6 Dec), a vibraphone-led group that proved to be one of the highlights at the 2007 Manchester Jazz Festival. And best known nationally for his work with the Cinematic Orchestra, local guitarist and participant on the Take 5 Artist Development Scheme, Stuart McCullum will be playing towards the end of the year, on 29 December.

Chris Ackerley