Ian Storror and Jazzata reach the 40th Anniversary of promoting

Jazz & Acoustic Music in Bristol

Starting in 1983 at the pub that he had run since 1979 in Bedminster, Bristol, The Albert Inn, Ian Storror began to put on weekly Jazz events in the tiny 90-capacity bar.

By the time he left in 2005 The Albert had become an internationally renowned venue for live music.

Jazz at the Albert (now known as Jazzata = Jazz at the Albert) and the equally regarded Albert Hole Folk & Roots Music Acoustic Club, run by Lorraine Carpenter, Storror’s long-time partner, started from very humble beginnings, developing the standard and quality of artists to perform in the city. So much so, that many musicians moved to Bristol to join in the growing music scene, with many offshoots leading from the venue.

The Albert would host management meetings of The Ashton Court Free Festival in the early 90s, giving the upstairs meeting room freely to help keep the festival going.

In 1989 Ian participated in the three-year mini-arts festival The South of the River Show (1989- 91), brainchild of the then city councillor Head of Leisure Bob Walton, creating events away from the pub such as the Methodist church opposite, the Windmill City Farm, and an outdoor free event in Victoria Park.

Storror was also influential in helping establish the Be-Bop Club at The Bear in Hotwells and the Bristol Jazz Workshops at the same venue.

He further promoted a general upsurge in interest in Jazz in the city by presenting a regular bi- weekly series of broadcasts on BBC Radio Bristol over a five-year period on the Keith Warmington Show, entitled ‘The Giants of Jazz’.

Several recordings were made at The Albert and broadcasted by BBC Radio 2 in the early 90s, which led to a ground-breaking New Year’s Day live broadcast in 1994, with Humphrey Lyttelton and Acker Bilk.

A series of 7×1-hour TV episodes were recorded, titled ‘At The Albert’ made for broadcast by HTV in the late 90s, featuring local and national musicians in a series with the likes of Andy Sheppard, Stan Tracey OBE for Jazz, and super group Show of Hands and Steve Tilston with Maggie Boyle for Folk music.

Storror would also become instrumental in setting up The Tobacco Factory project (1998-2001) in North Street, Bristol, alongside other arts organisations such as Show of Strength and Travelling Light theatre companies, and later Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory.

Ian and his partner Lorraine were forced to leave The Albert in 2005, having spent 26 years as landlord.

Over the 40 years, Storror has overseen over 3,500+ live music events, including in other established venues such as:
Bristol Old Vic, Colston Hall-2, St. George’s, The Watershed, The Southbank Club, Hard Rock Café, Bordeaux Quay Eco-restaurant and the Hen & Chicken as well as one-offs in many other venues; such as Jamie Cullum at L Shed (2003) on the dockside, plus outdoor events and even in disused buildings.

Some of the outstanding artists to have appeared at The Albert were, Ronnie Scott, Guy Barker, Julian Joseph, Stan Tracey OBE, Django Bates’ ‘Human Chain’ and Andy Sheppard from the UK, plus the Contemporary Network Touring artists.

American artists also played The Albert, such as legendary guitarist Tal Farlow, Joey Calderazzo (pianist for Michael Brecker); The Dirty Dozen Brass band from new Orleans; Don Byron with his project Nu-Blaxploitation with his band Existential Dred; and most notably David Murray, regarded as the eminent saxophonist in the world at the time of the gig in 1992. The gig also had top drummer Idris Mohammed and culminated in an epic saxophone duel with Andy Sheppard joining Murray on stage.

 

After leaving Bordeaux Quay he was headhunted to establish the new Jazz Club (2009) in the basement of the newly built Future Inns Hotel, part of the Cabot Circus development, lasting three years until 2011. Since then Storror has promoted independently as Jazzata.

Most recently he has used the Bristol Beacon Foyer, while the main venues were being refurbished, and has now been invited to continue this year in the refitted Lantern Hall at the Beacon.

The plans for this year’s celebrations are already underway with gigs booked at The Lantern up to May, with major artists such as Andy Sheppard planned for the autumn months. This will coincide with an exhibition of archive material collected over the years including visual and recorded footage, photographs and advertising memorabilia. Following the exhibition Storror intends to lodge the whole archive with the National Jazz Archive held at Birmingham City University. Discussions for this process have already taken place.

 

Jazzata website at: http://www.jazzata.com/
Bristol Beacon for tickets: https://bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/category/gigs-concerts/

All gigs: Doors from 7.15pm for 8pm start

Sunday 18 February; Henry Spencer

Sunday 31 March; ‘An Evening with Alan Barnes’

Friday 19 April; Jean Toussaint Quartet (USA/UK)

Sunday 26 May: The Brandon Allen ‘Groove Band’

June, July & August 2024
Artists in talks with are;
Mike Westbrook’s OBE; ‘Band of Bands’,
Jasper Høiby’s ‘Three Elements’
Greg Abate (USA)
Ed Jones Quartet
Autumn/Winter 2024
Andy Sheppard
Gary Crosby’s ‘Nu-Troop’
Perfect Houseplants
Jonathan Kreisberg (USA)

 

Credits and Awards

Received ‘A Building a better Bristol’ award from Bristol Chamber of Commerce
“In recognition of a valuable contribution to enhancing the City for the benefit of all who visit, live and work in Bristol”

Awarded Best Jazz Venue, 1996 and 1998 (Venue)

‘Highly recommended Venue’ (European Musicians Ensemble)

10th of ‘The 50 best music venues in the country’ guide (Independent on Sunday)

Top five in ‘Best music pubs in the UK guide’ (Roger Prost)

Venue Magazine 2010, “Top Banana Awards” ~Top 3 Bristol promoters 2010
“For a solid series of the good, the great and the risky that’s put Jazz firmly on the map
and into the life of the region”

For further information, please contact:
Ian Storror .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
07766 741417

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