Sunday night @ the Globe: Leeway - April 6

© Sheila Herrick

Alan Law (piano); Jude Murphy (bass, vocals); Tim Johnston (drums)

In their own sweet way, to misquote the title of a Brubeck tune that wasn't played by the trio last night, this was as enjoyable as many an over-hyped gig played here, there and everywhere in recent years.

You can count the number of north east based jazz pianists who can (maybe) outswing Alan Law on the finger of one hand however, as that musician has now retired from public performing...

Is there a bass player who can can sing better than Jude? Is there a singer who can play bass better than Jude?

Add a driving, sympathetic drummer and the stage is set for - who knows?

Record Store Day at a shop somewhere near you (Sat. 12)

This year's Record Store Day is set for Saturday (April 12). It's the day when retailers from all over the UK and beyond step up to promote all things vinyl, CD and, quite possibly, other formats (cassette tapes?, 78s? vintage cylinder?). Some shops open early, providing hot drinks and snacks to keep punters fed and watered. From a crate of LPs priced at £1.00. a piece to shrink-wrapped new, 'must have' vinyl at eye-watering prices, there is something for every taste and pocket. 

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

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

Playlist 06/04/25 (repeated Tuesday 08/04/25)

Seasonal: Abe Lyman & His California Orchestra, Chris Barber, Clifford Brown/Max Roach, Ella and Louis, Paul Edis & Jo Harrop.

Requests: Duke Ellington. 

Memories: Carmen McRae.

Seasonal: Thelonious Monk.

Memories: Gerry Mulligan, Freddie Hubbard/MJQ, Peanuts Hucko.

Requests: Ron Carter, Billie Holiday/Teddy Wilson, Sonny Rollins, Zoot Sims.

New Release: Yellowjackets. 

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington Area. 

Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead - April 5

Kamasi Washington (tenor sax, keyboards); Rickey Washington (soprano sax, flute); Patrice Quinn (vocals); Tony Austin (drums); Brandon Coleman (keyboards); DJ Battlecat (turntables, percussion, keyboards); Ryan Porter (trombone); Joshua Crumbley (bass).

First, some demographics in the light of last week’s APPG Jazz Review: there’s a lot of people here, even up into the gods on Level 3, and a lot of them seem to be towards the upper end of the age scale. Even the mosh pit had a higher than expected level of crinklies in it, your greying correspondent included.

On stage subtlety is only an occasional visitor to the proceedings. Washington deals in ambition, big emotions, volume and energy. A rolling thunder opening on the drums leads into an ‘overture’ of short sections which serve to show off the band members’ chops before Kamasi starts to climb, knitting a solo together from short phrases to a full flowing edifice of blaring shapes and torrents of notes while the rhythm section digs in behind him. The piece, Lusana, continues with some spare keyboard phrasing over bomb-dropping funk from the back line which develops into a solid, boots-on-the-ground driving riff.

Kamasi Washington @ the Glasshouse, Gateshead (take 2) - April 5

Kamasi Washington (tenor sax, keys); Rickey Washington (soprano sax, flute); Ryan Porter (trombone); Brandon Coleman (keys); Patrice Quinn (voice); Tony Austin (drums); Joshua Crumbley (bass, bass guitar); DJ Battlecat (perc, rap, hip-hop, electronics etc.) 

It had been nigh on six years since I last saw Kamasi Washington during which time we'd had Covid, wars, plus changes of government both here and abroad. Even Sage Gateshead had changed its name - once said to be carved in stone - to the Glasshouse. 

Fortunately, Kamasi hadn't changed and the band seemed to be more or less the same as that which had rung my bell on May 21, 2019. All prestigious and prolific players who soloed at great length, although at times I felt that less would have been more - a bit like eating a dozen coffee creams when a couple would have satisfied. Nevertheless, the triple storied near full house loved it and I too applauded vociferously.

Jazz on the Tyne – What’s On & What’s New, April 2025

In the latest edition of the podcast, presenter Colin Muirhead showcases new music, looks ahead to upcoming gigs and plays a request, with tracks by Knats (feat. Anatole Muster), Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis, the Abbie Finn Trio, Georgia Mancio & Alan Broadbent, Fergus McCreadie, the Neil Cowley Trio, Andrea Vicari, Abendland, Ronan Guilfoyle's Bemusement Arcade, and Zoë Gilby.

You can listen to the show anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request music for future programmes, or pass on news or feedback by emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or by heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.

Jazz Legend George Freeman Dies at 97 | Remembering a Trailblazing Guita...

Thanks to Maurice Summerfield for sharing this sad news. Lance

Album review: Yazz Ahmed - A Paradise in the Hold

Yazz Ahmed (trumpet, flugelhorn, handclaps, programming & ululations); George Crowley (bass clarinet & handclaps); Ralph Wyld (vibraphone, marimba, handclaps); Naadia Sheriff (Fender Rhodes, piano, Roland JX-03, handclaps); Dudley Phillips (bass, handclaps); Martin France (drums, handclaps); Corrina Silvester ( percussion & handclaps); Alcyona Mick (Fender Rhodes); Samuel Hällkvist (guitars); Dave Manington (bass); Natacha Atlas (voice); Brigitte Beraha (voice) & handclaps; Randolph Matthews (voice); Alba Nacinovich (voice); Jason Singh (voice & additional programming); Samy Bishai (violin); Noel Langley (flugelhorn, handclaps & additional programming); Engineer Family (chatter & ululations).

This is another marvellous example of ‘melting-pot’ jazz and shows again the vibrancy of the UK scene. Like many others, stretching back to Joe Harriott and John Mayer’s Indo-Jazz Fusions, it turns away from the American tradition and brings in influences from the rest of the world, usually those areas that were coloured pink in the old atlases. In this case Ahmed has reached out to her Bahraini roots and bought them in a seamless melding with outstanding performances from some of the best players available on the British scene. It is dense, bold, compelling, mesmerising music.

Newcastle Jazz Festival 2025 Announces New Date and Exciting Lineup

The highly anticipated Newcastle Jazz Festival 2025 returns with a fresh new date – Saturday, 20th September 2025 – bringing an electrifying day of live jazz to the Live Theatre, Broad Chare (NE1 3DQ).

This year’s festival promises a thrilling lineup of top local and national jazz talent, delivering an unforgettable experience for music lovers. With a mix of established artists and rising stars, the festival showcases a dynamic blend of contemporary, bebop, post-bop, and genre-pushing jazz.

Lineup & Sessions

Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ the Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - April 3

Eva Fox (vocals); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass)

A couple of instrumentals to start with - My Foolish Heart and Billie's Bounce - Steve getting a good sound from his nylon strung electro acoustic with Paul his usual reliable self in support.

Eva took to the stage for Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, Embraceable You, When Sunny Gets Blue, Tenderly & Dance me to the End of Love. All were okay although I think it is only fair to say that, this being a new set of Jazz Guys, it is still a work in progress and it will be interesting to see where this promising start leads to. Lance