Live Music: Jazz825 presents Amalgam

Local five-piece Amalgam have developed a wide-ranging and original repertoire over the last few years. Every member of the group now contributes compositions, chief among them keyboard player Dave Lee whose writing goes from strength to strength. Instrumentally, the band is led by Laurence Harper’s trumpet and flugelhorn (and occasional dad-dancing) and Dave Whiting’s guitar, alongside Dave Lee’s keyboards and Jason Nichols’ bass, with Trevor Taylor’s drums providing a richly varied foundation. When not playing their own distinctive material, they are likely to draw on the compositions of Pat Metheny and other artists working in the ECM fusion style. They’ve just completed their first CD, which will hopefully be available at this gig.