Whitley Bay International Jazz Festival Day 3 - Afternoon

Barrelhouse & Boogie: Jeff Barnhart & Paul Asaro.

Cecile McLorin Salvant with Jean-Francois Bonnel & his Band: Cecile McLorin Salvant (vocals), Andy Woon (cornet), Jean-Francois Bonnel (reeds), Martin Litton (piano), Paul Munnery (trombone), Roly Veitch (guitar), John C. Hallam (bs), Josh Duffee (drums).

Fidgety Fingers: Tom 'Spats' Langam, Martin Wheatley, Keith Stephen, Roly Veitch, Philippe Guignier (guitars).

The last in the one hour piano concerts featured Americans Jeff Barnhart and Paul Asaro playing barrelhouse and boogie. From first note to last this was a treat. Our pianists are great communicators offering incisive comment on the players and styles developed one hundred years ago and more. Barnhart, a big man, played Eubie Blake's Charleston Rag (dating from 1899), a masterful version of High Society (!), Chattanooga Choo Choo and others. At the conclusion of each piece there was thunderous, well deserved applause.

Paul Asaro, the other half of the recital, is a young man of prodigious talent. At one point he claimed to 'dabble' in certain aspects of the music. Well, if that's the case, I bet the audience wished they could turn their hand to whatever took their fancy. Asaro can play, no two ways about it. Blind Pig Blues, Alligator Crawl and Juan Tizol's Caravan were executed quite brilliantly. Barnhart and Asaro rattled off any number of tunes (James P Johnson's Riffs and Meade Lux Lewis' Honky Tonk Train Blues were highlights) and as a finale they went out with St.Louis Blues as a four-hander.

On leaving the One-Cent Club the word was out that a 'must see' was Cecile McLorin Salvant. Arriving at Kelly's Stables it was impossible to get into the joint. It was packed to the rafters. Fortunately the door was kept open (it was rather warm!). I, together with thirty or forty others, stood in the corridor, faces pressed up against the glass. The sensation that is Cecile performed a programme comprising tunes associated with Billie Holiday. Phrasing, interpretation of the lyric, everything about the perfromance was flawless.

The band, led by Jean-Francois Bonnel, was hand picked for the occasion. All were stars but none more so than Cecile McLorin Salvant.

Meanwhile, back in the One-Cent, the afternoon was winding down with four then five ace guitarists on the stand. An all acoustic show, Langham, Wheatley, Stephen and Veitch played a wonderful set - each guitarist taking the spotlight in turn and appreciating the skills of the others. It wasn't competitive, just relaxed, no egos here.

Riverboat Shuffle, I Saw Stars (Veitch taking the vocal) and Stompin' at the Savoy were a joy, then the boys were joined by the Hot Antic's Philippe Guignier. He called Come to Me My Melancholy Baby and so we had it - just like that, no problem. Then Sweet Sue Just You (another relaxed vocal by Veitch). A finale, with an astral theme, saw each take a two-chorus solo and so we got, variously, Stardust, Moonglow, Blue Moon, Stella By Starlight etc. Perfect.

Russell.

Click here for wonderful clip of Cecile McLorin Salvant's Billie Holiday tribute. From Lena of Miami.

And another...

CD Review: Cecile McLorin Salvant – Woman Child

Cecile McLorin Salvant – vocals, piano (track 10); Aaron Diehl – piano; Rodney Whitaker – double bass; Herlin Riley – drums; James Chirillo – guitar, banjo.

(Review by Debra M.)

Cecile McLorin Salvant  first  made an impression in the jazz world  in 2010, when she unexpectedly won  the  Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Her distinct musical identity was forged growing up in Miami with French & Haitian parents, and by the study of classical and baroque music as well as vocal jazz in Aix-en-Provence, where she began  performing with reed player Jean-Francois Bonnel.

Renowned Scottish Jazz Artists to Celebrate Burns Night with Special Concert at Middlesbrough Town Hall

(Press release)

Ahead of Burns Night, Middlesbrough Town Hall is kicking off 2020 with an afternoon of live music, celebrating the unique energy of Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene.

Taking place on Sunday 19th January, some of Glasgow’s finest jazz musicians are set to perform in The Crypt within the historical Middlesbrough Town Hall. 

As part of a successful series of monthly Sunday afternoon Jazz concerts, this Burns Night celebration will be headlined by Tom Bancroft’s ‘In Common’, a musical project fusing the common elements of jazz, electronica, Scottish folk and Indian classical music to create a unique sound centred around drones, grooves and improvisation.

Support comes from BBC Introducing’s ‘One to Watch’, Georgia Cecile; winner of The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Joe Williamson, and Scottish Jazz Award winners, the Fergus McCreadie Trio. 

Whitley Bay International Jazz Festival Day 3 - Evening

La Retaguardia Jazz Band (Chile) - pictured above.

Matthias Seuffert Sextet and Cecile McLorin Salvant (International) - pictured left.

Matthias Seuffert (ten), Jean-Francoise Bonnel (tpt/ten), Martin Litton (pno), Martin Wheatley (gtr), Malcolm Sked (bs), Nick Ward (dms), AND Cecile McLorin Salvant.

For me, if there has to be one defining moment of this happy festival (happy yet sad that there will be no more) it was the set I caught by Matthias and that wonderful singer Cecile McLoen Salvant.

I missed her previous sessions which were tributes to Billie and Bessie but I praised the Lord for passing me the ammunition to catch this one.

Okay so I only heard three numbers by her but I loved every one. Everything I Have Is Yours, Anything Goes (including the verse) I even forgave her for taking a breath in the middle eight! (it's not easy - try it) and a gorgeous rendition of Born To Be Blue.

This was superb songstering - sheer poetry. Needless to say I hurried back for the second set but the word was out and Kelly's Stables was full.

In the photo above the audience appear to be looking elsewhere, - this was due to the fact I had to take the picture via a mirror.

I'll repeat the name Cécile McLorin Salvant - YouTube her here. On this particlular clip Jean-Francoise Bonnell plays piano. Tonight he played tenor and cornet truly an amazing player!

Matthias blew good tenor on what was ostensibly a tribute to Don Byas. I wondered if this was the first time a Tadd Dameron tune - Good Bait - had been played at Whitley Bay?

This was good middle of the road stuff. Matthias said, and I quote, "We're usually considered too modern for the classic jazz festivals and not modern enough for the modern jazz festivals."

He'll do for me!

The other band I caught tonight was La Retaguardia Jazz Band from Chile.

Hard to believe that, only a few miles away, another Chilean, saxist Claude Werner, was playing at The Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay, as part of a fringe festival.

La Retaguardia opened up with spirited versions of Wang Wang Blues and Stevedore Stomp delighting the large audience and proving that this really was an international festival. Excellent interpreters of classic jazz, they are based in Santiago and appear regularly on Chilean TV - take note BBC and ITV. I wanted to stay longer but the appeal of Cecile was too strong and I left to return to Kelly's Stables but, alas, there was no room at the inn.

Nevertheless, this effected me the opportunity to chat with Colin Aitchison, Our Man In Hong Kong, over here on a flying visit. No doubt Colin will be dropping in somewhere for a jam. With him was his nephew who is also a BSH visitor.

That's the beauty of Festivals and concerts - you always meet someone unexpected - and vice versa!

There was more Jazzfall this past weekend in and around the Coast than you get in the average month.

Lance.

PS:All may not be lost for the future. Organiser Mike Durham, providing he gets enough interest, has outlined plans for a JAZZ PARTY at the same venue on the 4-6 of November 2011. I'll be posting more details shortly.

Cecile Salvant McLorin Scores For gold.

Those of us who caught Cecile Salvant McLorin at the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival won't be surprised to learn the Cecile has picked up the prestigious 2010 Monk Int'l Jazz Vocals Competition award at Kennedy Center Washington D.C.

Well Done Cecile.

Lance

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party - Day 3, Sunday October 28.

(Review by Lance.)
Well, with the help of the Metro and the number 309 - and, of course, that Good Old Wagon the number 27 for the final leg of the return trip I made it.

The Whitley Bay Jazz Party is  something special and well worth the problems non-drivers or reluctant drivers (myself) sometimes face.

If the worst came to the worst I'd walk!

It's simply a wonderful, friendly weekend.

A Gardenia for Lady Day: Cecile Mclorin Salvant Sage Hall 2 Thursday October 25

Cecile Mclorin Salvant (vocals); Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/cornet); Jean-Francois Bonnel  (ten/alt sax and clarinet);  Martin Litton (piano); Roly Veitch (guitar); Manu Hagmann (bass); Richard Pite (drums). (Review by Ann Alex).

What a good time was had by all!  Nearly every seat on all three levels of Hall 2 was occupied for this tribute to Billie Holiday, sung by Ms Mclorin Salvant, who was an attractive, elegant lady in red, with large-framed spectacles.  Her voice has many vocal colours, sweet and persuasive, pleadingly sad, then wonderfully dark and rich in the lower ranges.  The emphasis was on the songs that Billie sang in the 1930’s, a relatively happier time of her life.  Our singer brought her own style to the songs, with effective interpretations.  I felt that she could have had an alternative career as an actor.

CD/Gig of the Year Choices

Gig of the Year
Hugh Cochrane: .	The Impossible Gentlemen @ Zefferelli's, Ambleside
Ken Drew	Marian Crispell & Raymond McDonald @ N'cle Uni.
	Arun Ghosh @ Sage Gateshead
	Laura Jurd/Paul Dunmall (jt)
Tony Eales	Igor Butman - Moscow Jazz Orchestra @ Wigan Jazz Festival
	Bobby Shew & LA Big Band @ LA Jazz Festival
	Tommy Smith & SNJO Play Stan Kenton @ Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Chris Finch	Trilok Gurtu, Paolo Fresu, Omar Sosa @ Sage Gateshead
Flore	David Sanborn/Bob James @ Barbican (London Jazz Festival)
Steve Horowitz	Arun Ghosh @ Sage Gateshead
	Ollie Howell Quintet @ The Bridge, Newcastle
	Courtney Pine @ Hoochie Coochie
Kath Jobes	Lindsay Hannon Plus @ Sage Gateshead
Lance	Keith Crombie Funeral/Wake @ Town Walls, Newcastle
	Emma Fisk @ Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party
	Cecile McLorin Salvant & Daryl Sherman @ Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party
Liz	Michael Bublé @ O2
John Taylor	Martin Stephenson/Martin Taylor @ Ashington Festival
Roly Veitch	Graeme Wilson Quartet @ Lit and Phil

More from Cecile

Those who, like myself, couldn't get enough of Cecile McLorin Salvant at Whitley Bay Jazz Festival will love this number from her MySpace site - When The Sun Sets Down South.

There's also some smooth tenor from Monsieur Bonnel and a nice guitarist.

Lance.

Cecile McLorin Salvant - Set List

Further to the previous post here is Cecile's set list. a most interesting program. If dreams come true The mood that I'm in Dream of life 24 Hours a day Miss Brown to you He's funny that way Forget if you can A sailboat in the moonlight I can't believe that your in love with me Yankee Doodle never went to town I wonder where our love has gone. Roly

More on Cecile McLorin Salvant

I posted earlier the news that Cecile McLorin Salvant had won the prestigious Thelonious Monk vocal award at Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. well, here are her winning performances plus a clip from Whitley Bay Jazz Festival all on the NPR Music site.

As well as the music there is an insightful dissertation on the art of singing jazz entitled Singing Simply is Really, Really Hard.

Lance.

Nominees Announced For Jazz FM Awards 2022 with PPL and PRS for Music (Press release)

London, September 8, 2022: Jazz FM have today announced the nominees for the Jazz FM Awards 2022 with PPL and PRS for Music, which will once again recognise the best new talent, contemporary icons and established stars from across the jazz, soul and blues spectrum.

The recipients of this year’s special awards will be announced in due course.

 

Since launching in 2013, the Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music has honoured some of the true greats of the genre including the likes of Tony Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Dame Cleo Laine, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Georgie Fame and Ahmad Jamal.

 

Votes can be submitted via www.jazzfmawards.com and, for the very first time, via Amazon smart speakers by using the command “Alexa, vote for the Jazz FM Awards”.

**Winners to be announced at a ceremony at Shoreditch Town Hall in London on October 20, 2022**

Jools Holland, Marcus Miller and Norma Winstone Amongst Stars To Be Honoured At Jazz FM Awards 2022 with PPL and PRS for Music

(Press release)

A show featuring highlights from the ceremony will go out on Jazz FM at 10pm on Thursday October 20^th 2022

The Jazz FM Awards have announced that Jools Holland, Marcus Miller and Norma Winstone are the recipients of this year’s special awards, presented annually to three musicians who have made contributions of exceptional significance to their art. The awards will be presented in-person on the evening of Thursday October 20^th at the ceremony at Shoreditch Town Hall, which will be hosted by US actor and star of The Wire and Treme Clarke Peters.

The Road to Jazz FM Fifth Annual Awards Ceremony - April 30.

(Report by Steve T)

Wow, how did little old me end up at a posh do like this? Actually, I'm exactly the sort of person who should be here, but that's not generally how it works. It's not what you know but how much dosh you've got. Full credit must go to Liddle ole Lance who has all but single-handedly turned this blog into a "Thing".

It was months ago when Lance asked me for suggestions for the blues and soul categories. I can't remember my suggestions for blues but I'm sure I'd have included Lucky Peterson (nominated), who played one of the best gigs Sage Gateshead has ever had. I consulted big brother, who grudgingly went for Robert Cray, a fine soulful voice and unique guitar stylist, who gave blues a much-needed shot with a brilliant second album in the early eighties, but the next album brought him within the sphere of Clapton etc and he's just brought out a similar album every year or two and toured it at various venues every other year ever since. 

That Was The Year That Was.

Amazingly, no one has come up with their Gig of the Year or their CD of the Year apart from Liz who plumped for Seth McFarlane's début album.
So I'm going to give you my favourites - in no particular order.

CD Review: Vimala Rowe/John Etheridge - Out of the Sky.

Vimala Rowe (vcl); John Etheridge (gtr); Dudley Phillips (bs).
(Review by Lance).

Those who attended the Café Society Swing show at GIJF 2016 came away with their head in the clouds. This was one outstanding event - for me the highlight! It was maybe the first time most of us had encountered Vimala Rowe and, just as we'd been hit for six when we first heard Cecile McLorin Salvant at Whitley Bay a few years back, Vimala Rowe also hit a few that didn't touch the ground!

All-Star Line-Up For 25th Cheltenham Jazz Festival

(Press release)

Following a two-year break, Cheltenham Jazz Festival makes a much-anticipated return to the  picturesque spa town of Cheltenham this spring for six days of live music featuring its trademark mix of international stars, jazz icons and trailblazing up-and-coming talent. Celebrating its milestone 25^th edition, the Festival will take place from Wednesday 27 April to Monday 2 May incorporating large-scale concerts, intimate club shows, world premieres, masterclasses, family-friendly shows and an array of free events.

A Great Day In Whitley Bay

The photo, courtesy of Jim Murray and the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, recreates the famous 1950s photo A Great Day In Harlem in the localised setting of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival. If you are on the photo or can identify those who are please let me know at lanceliddle@gmail.com to enable your name to be added.

More Whitley Bay Photos.

Lance.

1:Alice Fleck. 2: Derek Fleck. 3: Enrico Tomasso. 4: Mike Durham. 8: Jean-Christophe Minati. 9: Laurence Bridard. 10: Paul Asaro. 15: Keith Nichols. 17: Jacob Ullsberger. 18: Martin Wheatley. 20: Cecile McLorin Salvant. 21: Jean-François Bonnel. 32: John C. Hallam. 39: Patti Durham. 45: Jim McKeown 46: Brian Chester. 47: Gérard Gervois. 48: Jean-Pierre Morel. 51 : Pierre Reboud. 52 : Bernard Thévin.

Merci Jean-Pierre Morel for additional names added.

Aycliffe Radio: Jazz Time - Sundays 6.30-8.00 pm (repeat Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen/

Playlist 12/02/23. (Repeated Tuesday 14/02/23)

Valentine Requests: Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Timmins, Carmen McRae, Beatles, Bill Evans Trio, Ruth Lambert.

Alligator Gumbo Requests: Jeff Beck Band, Nellie Lutcher, Buddy Rich, Kenny Wheeler, Clark Terry/Coleman Hawkins.

Valentine Cont. Tina May.

What’s On in the NE: Georgia Cecile, Julia Titus and her Pigfoot Band.

Valentine Cont.: Chris Barber, Jeff Barnhart/John Hallam, Jazz Messengers.

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party 2018 @ Village Hotel, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle (ish) - November 4.

(Review by Lance)

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party rose, Phoenix-like from the ashes of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival which, due to funding issues, finished some 20 years after its 1990 beginning. However, trumpet playing leader of the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, Mike Durham didn't allow this to deter him. Inspired by the various 'jazz parties' in America such as the legendary bash held in Denver Colorado, under Mike's guidance, the Classic Jazz Party came about. Over the years it has seen many famous names, not least Daryl Sherman and Cecile McLorin Salvant (pictured here w. Jean Francois Bonnel) who performed a memorable duo set a few years back.