TODAY FRIDAY MAY 25

RANDY BRECKER/TOMMY SMITH w. SNJO "A Tribute to Michael Brecker" - Queen's Hall, 85-89 Clerk Street Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9JG
0131 668 2019 ,. 7:30pm. £17.50/£12.50.
HANNABIELL & MIDNIGHT BLUE - Jam Jah, Durham, Alington House, 4 North Bailey, Durham DH1 3AT. 8:00pm £4. Prepare for an "experience" - Mindblowing!
RENDEZVOUS JAZZ – Porthole, North Shields 1.00 pm.
Maureen Hall's Friday afternoon workout.
THE SAFE SEXTET – The Jazz Cafe Pink Lane, Newcastle 9:00 pm till late.
Hard bop modern swing.
BROADWAY MELODY w. RUTH LAMBERT. - Gateshead British Legion Club, 142 Coatsworth Rd., Gateshead NE8 4LL. 0191 2623735.
The Roaring Twenties re-created with some of the better songs sung by Ruth.
DEEP JOY QUARTET (Paul Dunmall (reeds); Paul Rogers (bass); Mark Sanders & Miles Levin (drums))
- Central Bar, Half Moon Lane, Gateshead NE8 2AN. 8:00pm. £10 (Concessions available). 0191 4782543. A JNE Presentation.
"When drummer Tony Levin died early last year, he was mourned by musicians across the whole of the jazzspectrum, and a memorial concert in his honour brought together a host of leading players from the UK and Europe. This quartet was specially assembled for that concert, and proved to be such an inspired grouping that the four members decided to reassemble for a short UK tour, and it’s great news that Jazz North East have grabbed them for this Central Bar gig." - Jazz Alert.

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

R.I.P CHRIS CONNOR

One of my all-time favourite singers died August 29 aged 81. From first hearing her with Kenton in the 1950s I have been a fan and, although I only heard her live on one occasion - in Holland 1983 - her discs have never been far from the player. The last one I have was recorded at Pizza-on-the-Park in 1990 and the voice and the delivery are still there.
Chris personified the dry, laconic, cool vocalist but, unlike June Christy with whom Chris was often compared, she also had a warmth to her voice that June sometimes lacked. This isn't a criticism of Christy - I liked them both but, for me, Chris had the edge. Her influence is evident today in the current crop of singers.
"All About Ronnie", "I Hear Music", "Lush Life", "Blame It On My Youth" - even "And The Bull Walked Around Olay" (with Kenton) - are class with a capital C.
There's a wonderful collection of Gershwin songs on Spotify - 'Chris Connor Sings the Gershwin Almanac of Songs' that stands comparision with any other singer's songbooks.
I'm so sad. Rest in peace Chris.
Visit http://www.chrisconnorjazz.com/ photos, audio samples, discog. etc.
Above photo taken in 1983 at North Sea Jazz Festival, Den Haag, Holland.
Lance.
at 06:56

2 comments; click to add more:

  1. I'm in total agreement about Chris Connor's wonderful singing style, and my favourite album of hers was an Atlantic called "A Jazz Date With Chris Connor", with British pianist Ralph Sharon (before he joined Tony Bennett) and Oscar Pettiford on bass. In fact Oscar gets a name-check on "Everything I've Got (Belongs To You") when Chris sings, "Ive got the only disc where Oscar flubs a note . . .". Great stuff, total class. Dave The Rave (Take It To The Bridge)

    ReplyDelete

  2. I have been a Chris Connor fan for 9 years. I collect her music and memorabilia and have some live performances not available commercially. Am seeking any photos of Chris with the Jerry Wald and Claude THornhill bands. I especially enjoy Chris on Pennies From Heaven w/Jerry Wald and Jeepers Creepers w/Stan Kenton. Am saddened by her passing, but she will ALWAYS live on in our hearts with her music.

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