Festive Live: RNCM Jazz Quartet

RNCM Jazz Quartet play The Social, Aviva Studios on Saturday 12 December, as part of the Festive Live programme. It's a free gig, though you'll need to book in advance through Factory International.

The quartet comes from the Royal Northern College of Music, where the four members are all in their final year. The line-up is Isaac Horton on piano, Aiden Bryson on saxophone, Max Cooper on bass and Jack Willan on drums. They describe their sound as combining thoughtful improvisation with strong ensemble interplay, and they talk about drawing on their diverse musical influences and a shared passion for jazz to get there. It's the kind of thing that's easier to hear than to describe — the balance between the individual solos and the way the whole group locks in together.

Their performance is one of many in Aviva Studios' festive programme, which brings together local choirs, bands and workshops at the venue throughout the season. The quartet plays on Saturday 12 December from 5.45 to 6.45pm, and they're back again on Sunday 20 December at the same time, so you've got two dates to choose from. Both run for an hour.

If you need access tickets — including wheelchair user spaces, an accessible viewing platform and essential companion tickets — those have to be booked through Factory International's Access Scheme. Otherwise, it's free with pre-booking required via Factory International. The Social is at Aviva Studios on Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ.