Sue Ferris Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - Oct. 28

Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Ben Lawrence (piano); John Pope (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

Shirt sleeves in Blyth in the last week of October. Who would have thought it? The Yamaha Music School on Seaforth Street is beginning to succeed in attracting regulars. All the indications are the place is heading in the right direction. 

This Monday lunchtime concert featured the Sue Ferris Quintet. That Shoe String Thing - Sue's debut album - would feature throughout a set of some forty five minutes. John Pope depping for Andy Champion, otherwise it was the usual line-up. 

Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ the Globe, Newcastle Oct. 27

© Patti

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocal); Mick Shoulder, Danny Lowndes (guitars); Paul Grainger (bass) + Giles Strong (guitar).

To review the same band twice in three days presents a challenge, some may say, a pointless one as it was unlikely anything was going to change over such a short period of time. Nevertheless, you never know and last night's show concluded with guitarist Giles Strong sitting in on Minor Swing.

Earlier, we had an extended first set - 65 minutes gave some of the audience itchy bottoms - nevertheless, the music, albeit predictable, was enjoyable with the maestro and his cohorts playing an impeccable programme of hot club favourites alongside some lesser known Reinhardt compositions.

Album review (take two*): Zachary Bartholomew - Balancing Act (BeMuse Records - BMR 2401)

Zachary Bartholomew (piano); Marty Quinn (bass); Rodolfo Zuniga (drums) + Benny Benack III (trumpet); David Fernandez (soprano/tenor sax)

In his debut album, Balancing Act, pianist, composer and educator, Zachary Bartholomew and an array of A-listers deliver ten unique Bartholomew originals. The fare is both eclectic and, in a descriptive sense, electric. There’s an abundance of excitement that is delivered in varied textures with an enormity of rhythmic variation and ingenuity.

Crazy Socks kicks the session off up-tempo with a hip – and vividly colorful – Tadd Dameron-like melody executed over classic bop changes. Trumpeter Benny Benack III sets off on an invigorating solo. The leader grabs the reins and offers his own statements. This is an enjoyable neo-bop take.

Preview: DJM on Railway Street (tonite! Sunday 27)

The Globe on Railway Street has hosted many, many top class gigs. This evening (Sunday) promises to go down in the annals. From Paris, Hot Club violinist Daniel John Martin concludes his tour of the region in the company of Swing Manouche. First Bishop Auckland, then Durham, Newcastle's Lit & Phil on Friday then, Hexham (this afternoon), 'DJM', as he is known, is a true virtuoso. 

Whatever you do, don't miss this final opportunity to catch him before heads back to France. DJM will be joined this evening by Mick Shoulder and Danny Lowndes (guitars) and string bassist Paul Grainger. Eight o'clock start. Book now! www.theglobenewcastle.bar. Russell      

Donny McCaslin @ the Exchange, North Shields - Oct. 26.

© Russell

Donny McCaslin (tenor sax); Jason Lindner (keys); Tim Lefebvre (bass); Zach Danziger (drums)

Another new venue for me and easily found despite the sat nav suggesting a sneaky flit past a couple of No Entry signs. In honour of McCaslin’s contributions to David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, I’m wearing my Paul Smith designer ‘Blackstar’ T-shirt. And my Paul Smith designer uncs. And my Paul Smith designer socks with the signature stripe. Your correspondent is one groovy mummy kisser. When I get there at least three others are wearing the same T-shirt. It’s like the time I went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace and there was another bloke wearing the same crown.

Of course the big question is, why McCaslin is here at all? North Shields is an unlikely stopover on a two date UK tour that had him at some place in Soho last night and nowhere else in the country. Is someone in Shields holding incriminating footage of Donny dancing to the Birdy Song like he loves it? In any case, it’s good to see and I suspect that the Bowie connection has brought a lot of people in, though how long they’ll stay for is another matter (about a quarter would leave during the gig).

Preview: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ the Westovian Theatre, South Shields - Nov. 23

Only four weeks to go before fans of big band jazz and top quality swing singing turn South Shields' Ocean Rd. into Olympic/Wembley Way as they make their way down to the Westovian Theatre for the annual appearance at the Theatre by the Paul Skerritt Big Band on Nov. 23.

This will be the band's third concert at the venue on top of an excellent concert at the Glasshouse earlier this year.

However, this upcoming concert is different from the four previous ones inasmuch as, instead of the Danny Miller Big Band from across the Pennines, this time it's Paul's own big band comprising of top north east musicians handpicked by Paul himself. 

Jack Jones (Jan. 14, 1938 - Oct. 23, 2024)

Jack Jones, who left us three days ago, was by no means a jazz singer. Nevertheless, he was a quality vocalist whose interpretation of popular songs during his peak years (1960 - 2000) added a touch of class to the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

He didn't swing like Sinatra, or improvise like Tormé, but brought an almost classical feel to the songs he recorded such as Lollipops and Roses and Wives and Lovers. In many ways his relationship to jazz, other than with the occasional big band backing, was similar to that of his equally famous father, light operatic tenor Allan Jones' was to grand opera.

The Clare Teal Five @ Gala Theatre, Durham - Oct. 25

© Patti

Clare Teal (vocals); Jason Rebello (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Simon Little (bass, vocals); Eric Ford (drums)

A Clare Teal gig is always something special. A guaranteed evening of fun, jazz singing of the highest standard, an A-list band and an ever-changing repertoire. Last night was no exception with all the boxes ticked and, of course, that essential ingredient to any jazz gig - the sound of surprise.

We got that last one in abundance.

The material, whilst still containing the bricks and mortar of those Gasbook classics that we love and cherish, has been updated to include a few of the better pop and rock songs albeit in a jazzy/bluesy vein - shades of Postmodern Jukebox.

The feature, Trailblazers was a good addition with its tribute to Annie Ross on Wardell Gray's Twisted and to Peggy Lee with A Good Day. When Clare mentioned Peggy Lee I cringed and thought 'not another version of Fever or Black Coffee!' Fortunately I was wrong and A Good Day made for a very good day indeed.

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

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

Playlist 27/10/24 (repeated Tuesday 29/10/24)

Black History Month: Big Bill Broonzy, Louis Armstrong & the All Stars (1955).

Requests from Paul Jackman’s Jazz Masters: Harry James/Helen Forrest, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Rich, Eartha Kitt, Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra.

Emma Fisk & Hot Club du Nord requests: Piccadilly Revels Band, Noble Sissle & his Sizzling Syncopators, Wes Montgomery.

Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ the Lit & Phil, Newcastle Oct. 25

©Patti

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocal); Mick Shoulder, Danny Lowndes (guitars); Paul Grainger (bass).

For once the well-oiled machine that is the Lit and Phil went off the rails - no programmes had been printed. Maybe there were leaves in the system, who knows?

So as it was, no advance set list was available meaning that I'm having to work from my not always accurate memory bank.

Nevertheless, it's the music that counts and, in that respect it was hot off the Eurostar from Paris.