“I heard Wes Montgomery, and it was like ‘Oh My God!’" was how swinging modern mainstream US guitarist Sheryl Bailey explained her guitar calling to one magazine interviewer some years ago. That spark of inspiration was enough to send the player who grew up in Pittsburgh on her way deep into the heart of the modern mainstream jazz guitar tradition even as a teenager. After study at Berklee in Boston and a move to New York city the mid-1990s saw the guitarist, who’s on tour in England this week, debut with an album called Little Misunderstood and since then Bailey has chalked up a strong discography and a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist with albums such as the 2011 album For All Those Living and A New Promise. Hear this fine player this week, with dates at Spike’s Place, Beckenham with Gareth Lockrane, Simon Woolf, and Matt Fishwick (13 June); Da Scalzo 2, Ecclestone Place, London SW1 with Karen Sharp, and Simon Woolf (14 June); the Verdict, Brighton with Geoff Simkins, and Simon Woolf (15 June); Eagle Tavern, Rochester with Dave O’Higgins, Simon Woolf, and Tristan Maillot (16 June, lunchtime); Ronnie Scott’s Late Late Show with Ross Stanley, Simon Woolf, and Winston Clifford (17 June); Lower Ground Bar, West Hampstead, London with Christian Brewer, Simon Woolf, and Clark Tracey (18 June); Boisdale Canary Wharf with Jim Mullen, Simon Woolf, and Steve Brown (19 June); Clock Tower, Croydon with Allison Neale and Simon Woolf (20 June, afternoon); and 606, London with Ross Stanley, Simon Woolf, and Winston Clifford (20 June).
Sheryl Bailey above