This month’s concert promises a treat for fans of melodic, straight-ahead swinging mainstream jazz. Lancastrian reedman John Hallam spent twenty-one years playing traditional jazz with Sheila Collier’s Smoky City Jazzband before turning professional in 1989 so that he could play a wider range of the music he loves. While still an outstanding performer in a traditional setting, John is equally at home in a slightly more modern context, playing alto, tenor and baritone with his own Jazztet; as a clue to his style, he quotes Lester Young, Stan Getz and Ben Webster among his tenor influences and Gerry Mulligan as his favourite on baritone.
John also has a delightfully dry sense of humour.
At the Exchange, he will be backed by the excellent Roly Veitch quartet, with Jeremy McMurray on piano, Andy Champion on bass and John Hirst on drums alongside Roly on guitar.
Mike Durham.
PS: After the disaappointment of having to cancel the January concert due to the weather, I hope we will see a big collection of happy faces for this one, which promises to be an excellent evening of high-quality music: and don't forget, if you've been unable to get through on the Council's booking line (0191 643 7093) - a source of frustration to me as well as to many of you, but about which it seems I can do nothing - you can always pay on the door!
PPS: AND another thing..... tickets for the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival are selling fast (over 60% sold already) so you might want to think about buying yours in advance: see http://www.whitleybayjazzfest.org/ which also has full details of the 28 bands playing over the weekend, etc., etc.
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