Bryan Corbett and his Instrumental Groove Unit
Thursday 12th December – The Marrs Bar
Local promoter Music Spoken Here presents their final show of the year at The Marr’s Bar, Worcester on Thursday 12th December, with Bryan Corbett and his Instrumental Groove Unit – a band of top musicians from across the West Midlands.
Birmingham-based Bryan, who plays trumpet and flugelhorn, is well known on the local, national and International jazz circuit, has spent many years with Acid Jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies and performed as a featured soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
In 2011, Bryan was diagnosed with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), a rare condition that can cause tumours. Over the next two years, he underwent multiple operations to remove a number of tumours. During a routine scan last year, it was discovered that one of the tumours they were unable to remove (but had been monitored over the years) had grown considerably and was now affecting his liver, ribs and diaphragm – devastating news for anyone, but due to the location, even successful surgery could end his career. Once again, he underwent life saving surgery in the summer under the world leading specialist Professor Triponez, who had been a huge support to Bryan from the start and was confident that his team could remove the tumour and allow Bryan not only to survive, but also to quickly resume his career as a trumpeter.
His Instrumental Groove Unit (IGU) played their last gig at The Tin in Coventry in February, before his surgery. After a month of convalescence in the Canaries in the summer, he was able to resume playing, easing back in with a few gigs before picking up again with The Brand New Heavies for their 30th Anniversary “Brother Sister” tour, which played Coventry in November and will be at Birmingham Town Hall on 20th December.
This exciting project includes Brand New Heavies drummer Luke Harris on drums and Wayne Matthews on bass, both based in the West Midlands, along with Paul Deats (who runs Peggy’s Skylight Jazz Club in Nottingham) on the Fender Rhodes! They will be playing original material that emphasises the ‘pocket’ of groove and freedom of improvisation. Bryan describes it as “a chance to play some original tunes and ideas, coming to it from a different angle than I normally would”.
This will be the 40th show that Music Spoken Here has presented since starting the program of exceptional jazz, funk & fusion performances at The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, back in May 2022. Originally a monthly program, in January this year the frequency increased to every other Thursday, opening to a packed house with the incredible six-piece band FNUK that included Jason Rebello (former pianist with Sting and Jeff Beck) and King Crimson drummer Jeremy Stacey, on 11th January. Over 160 musicians have performed on the program, many appearing in Worcester for the first time, enjoyed by more than 1,200 people over the last two and a half years. Admission to all Music Spoken Here gigs at The Marr’s Bar is free for Club Members or “pay what you can” on the door for non-members. For more information visit the Music Spoken Here website