A fantastic gig in prospect from Fringe in the Round legend and ace saxophonist / composer Alex Merritt.

The band brings together four distinctive improvisers and voices on their respective instruments to interpret original material of Alex’s drawing inspiration from classical composers such as Maurice Ravel, Olivier Messiaen and Henri Dutilleux as well as a host of contemporary jazz influences such as Immanuel Wilkins, Billy Hart, Mark Turner and Joe Lovano.

The line-up features the amazing Elliot Galvin on piano (Shabaka Hutchings, Norma Winstone, Marius Neset), Will Harris on bass (The Jazz Defenders, Matt Anderson, Simon Gardner) and Dave Smith on drums (Robert Plant, Fofoulah, JuJu, Outhouse) for this Bristol date.

This quartet builds on the success of Alex’s former quartet release ‘Anatta’ (2016) a record that featured legendary American drummer Jeff Williams, received critical acclaim as a “promising debut, of striking quality” from the Guardian’s John Fordham and was praised as “one of the best UK jazz recordings I’ve heard this year” by Marlbank’s Stephen Graham on its release. Since this time Alex has also released two albums for the prestigious Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound New Talent; ‘Mind-Ear-Ladder’ in a co-led quintet with trumpeter Steve Fishwick (2022) and ‘Common Threads’ with the Fresh Sound Ensemble (2023). Alex is now relishing the opportunity to get back to the classic quartet format with this brilliant line-up and is excited to bring some new quartet material to The Fringe as part of a larger nationwide tour ahead of a recording later in 2026.

Entry requirements: 14+ — Read more — Read less