Adrian Cox Trio “The Wonderful World of Bechet” @ Bollington Arts Centre - September 5

© Richard Morris

Adrian Cox (clarinet); Honey Boulton (guitar); Alex Gilson (double bass)

The trio’s second concert of a tour that took in the UK, Sweden and Belgium centred around Sidney Bechet, born 14 May 1897, died 14 May 1959, is one of Adrian Cox’s favourite clarinetists. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Bechet’s life and music which was demonstrated by his introduction to each song. Bechet left a huge canon of brilliant tunes composed by him as well as recording great versions of songs by other composers. The Adrian Cox Trio must count as one of the best exponents of Bechet’s music world wide. 

Alex joined the trio at the beginning of 2025 and already they have performed numerous concerts. They have also recorded an album of their own tunes which will be released in 2027. Adrian is one of the world’s leading clarinetists having played with some of the current top musicians such as Wynton Marsalis among others. Honey, born in New Zealand and currently based in London, is also a bandleader and one of the most active musicians sometimes playing up to eleven concerts a week. Alex is an in demand double bass player from France now based in New York.

Tonight @ the Globe - Nils Kavanagh Trio

Award-winning young pianist Nils Kavanagh launches his highly anticipated debut album, “No Expectations”. Audiences will journey through Nils’ unique upbringing, rooted in the north-west of Ireland’s mystic landscapes and joyous fellowship, while also inviting listeners to explore the sense of unity and introspection present in Denmark and broader Scandinavia. Home, joy, family, mythology, folk music, loss and longing are all key to the music, with an overarching focus on warm melody and musical storytelling.

Rising star on the UK and Irish scene, Nils Kavanagh is already making his mark with a unique compositional voice and a fearless approach to improvisation. Winner of Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year award 2022, and BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist in 2024, the pianist has already been making waves as a promising young musician. With his debut release, Nils is poised to elevate his career as an artist and bandleader.

TICKETS

R.I.P. Brian Richardson (? - August 31, 2026)

Just received the sad news that trombonist Brian Richardson passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco.

Brian, brother to north east bassist the late Dougie Richardson, was well known amongst the traditional jazz fraternity both locally and in San Francisco playing in many bands at in both localities. More details to follow when known.

R.I.P. Lance

Album review: Ross Margitza Trio - Discovery (Self-released)

Ross Margitza (pianist, composer, arranger, producer);  James Suter (bass except 6); Daniel Dufour (drums except 6) + Joel Frahm (soprano sax tk 1);

The Soha Quartet (tks 1,3,4,7): Mei Liu, Chloe Yofan (violin); Thomas Gougeon (viola); Katsuaki Arakawa (cello)

Discovery: Frahm wails away on soprano underpinned by the string quartet and the trio all working well together on Margitza's melancholic composition.

Frahm departs, his work is done. The strings take a break as the leader plays For Amelie. It's a delightful piece, reflective, a portrait painted by a pianist with bass and drums in a supportive role.

R.I.P. Harry Brown (1974 - Sept. 3, 1926)

Jazz Jamaica M.D. and trombonist Harry Brown sadly passed on Sept. 3 at a relatively young 52 sending shock waves throughout the jazz world. Heartfelt tributes have been expressed on social media by his many students and fellow musical associates including Gary Crosby O.B.E., Janine Irons O.B.E. and Tomorrow's Warriors.

Rest In Peace.

Lance

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

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

Playlist 06/09/26 (repeated Tuesday 08/09/26)

Seasonal: George Shearing.

Memories of Buddy Bolden: Wynton Marsalis.

Requests from the Graham Hardy gig: Emmet Cohen, Terell Stafford & Dick Oatts, Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet, Laura Anglade, Terence Collie.

Requests: Ella Fitzgerald, Ron Carter, Herb Jeffries/Laurindo Almeida, Paquito D'Rivera.

Rerelease: John Wadham/Louis Stewart.

Request: Dollar Brand Trio, Booker Ervin Quintet.

What’s on in the Northeast: Emma Rawicz

Swan and Chequers Big Band @ Swan and Chequers, Sandbach - August 31

© Richard Morris

Andy Scott (MD); Rob Cope, Tom Thorp, Nadim Teimoori, Jamie Gallagher, Steph Green, Emily Leavy  (saxophones); Nick Smart, Ray Butcher, Alex Thomson, Dan Farrar, Tom Spicer (trumpets); John Barber, Tom Green, Paddy Bloor, Josh Cargill   (trombones);  Gwilym Simcock (piano) ; Josh Savage (drums); Jade Serafin (double bass);  Simon Jermyn (guitar)

The final concert of the four day festival held at this venue in Cheshire over the Bank Holiday weekend. Whilst concerts on the previous three days were held indoors this concert was outside in the courtyard with the band undercover on a stage and the audience outside. Fortunately the rain of the morning disappeared and the sun roared its approval of the music on show.

Whilst I knew some of the musicians who would be playing in the big band I was not aware of them all. How pleased I was to see Tom Thorp in the lineup. One of the best saxophone players in the UK and a great composer. He and his quintet Ilumetris commence touring in the autumn. I had not seen renowned saxophonist and composer Nadim Teimoori before and he stunned me with several solos. In the trumpet section were Nick Smart and Ray Butcher who I have seen play on multiple occasions. On piano Gwilym Simcock was as usual tremendous. Mixed in with these heavyweights were very talented graduates, undergraduates and younger musicians. Musical Director was Andy Scott who is a renowned saxophonist and composer equally at home in jazz and classical contexts. He is a saxophone tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music.

TRIO-SKW @ Swan and Chequers, Sandbach - August 30

© Richard Morris

Tim Williams (guitar); Josh Savage (drums); Lucas Kelly (organ) + Rob Cope (alto sax on last two numbers)

Sunday's 8.00pm slot concluded proceedings on the third day of the festival with an organ trio which is always a treat and not always on the menu at a jazz festival. I had not seen Lucas Kelly before and what a revelation this 27 year old graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire was on his Nord C1 Combo organ. I noticed top Gwilym Simcock and Nick Smart grooving  away in the audience to the tunes of this trio in their first set after hanging around for a further hydration break after the conclusion of their own concert which immediately preceded this one.

Gwilym Simcock and Nick Smart Quintet @ Swan and Chequers, Sandbach August 30

© Richard Morris

Gwilym Simcock (piano); Nick Smart (trumpet and flugelhorn); Laurence Cottle; (bass guitar); Josh Savage (drums); Simon Jermyn (guitar) + Rob Cope (tenor sax on  Holding & Weathered)

Sunday's 5.00pm slot featured the Gwilym Simcock and Nick Smart Quintet. Gwilym and Nick had appeared with Rob Cope’s Joy Ride band on Saturday, today they were joined by three amazing musicians. 

Josh Savage , a local Sandbach lad, Simon who had flown in from Berlin where he is based and Laurence, one of the UK’s most accomplished bass players. All five apart from Laurence are also due to appear in the Gwilym Simcock Big Band on Monday. 

Album review: Jamie Safir – “Momentism” (Chill Tone Records)

Jamie Safir (piano); Conor Chaplin (bass); Luke Tomlinson (drums); Iain Ballamy (saxes)

Jamie Safir has performed with an array of notable acts that include Kyle Minogue, Emma Smith, Jamie Cullum, Annie Lennox and Claire Martin, amongst others. But, as he explained, “I’ve been writing, recording and performing properly for 15 years … but I was never the artist; I was never the focus.” This makes Momentism something of a watershed moment for Safir in that it is not just his first outing as band leader but the songs he has recorded are all originals. All the numbers are his own compositions apart from Amethyst which was co-composed with Emma Smith. Momentism also sees Safir reunited with Iain Ballamy for the first time since their collaboration with Ian Shaw on What’s New. Ballamy plays on five of the tracks, as indicated by * in the track listing.