Album (EP) review: Samara Joy & Her Septet - Live! at the Blue Note L.A. (Verve)

Samara Joy (vocals); Jason Charos (trumpet, arranger); Eli Feingold (trombone); David Mason (alto sax, flute); Kendric McCallister (tenor sax, arranger); Cameron Campbell (piano); Marty Jaffe (bass, arranger); Evan Sherman (drums)

Just to hear her name sets my heart a-flutter. Samora Joy has that effect on anyone within earshot of her gorgeous contralto (give or take a couple of octaves either way!). It's no coincidence That her EFG concert at the RFH is SO!

However, all is not entirely lost in the form of this live EP recorded at the Blue Note in L.A.

An introductory powerhouse fanfare from the octet mingled with rapturous applause announces the arrival on stage of jazz's number one vocalist who promptly goes into ...

Neil Yates Quintet @ Llandudno Jazz Club - October 19

Neil Yates (trumpet); Alex Clarke (saxophone); Andrzej Baranek (piano); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

Llandudno Jazz Club welcomed star saxophonist Alex Clarke for this concert. It was the third time I had heard Alex play in eight days at venues in London and Liverpool. British Jazz Awards “Rising Star” in 2019, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Finalist 2020 and Nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021. A very busy and much sought after musician.

Neil Yates curates the jazz that’s held here each Monday and the other musicians on show are also regular players at the club. All top notch jazz musicians. Such a talented ensemble brought a large and knowledgeable audience out on a coolish autumn evening.

Album review: Daisy Houlder - Creature of Habit

Daisy Houlder (vocals, compositions); Jack Greenslade (piano); Josh Vadiveloo (bass); Matt Holmes (drums); Joel Marten/David Birnie (guitar)

Difficult to classify, once again the question regarding singers and jazz pops up along with the answer reportedly attributed to Fats Waller by some and Louis Armstrong by others - "If you gotta ask don't mess with it!"

By and large I think it's the jazz box that gets ticked. At the end of the day, its all music.

Houlder has a sweet voice that attunes well with the songs on the album which all relate to the end and the aftermath of a relationship.

As a recent graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and a vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, this is an artist fast building her profile on the UK jazz scene. 

Sinatra The Musical @ Aldwych Theatre, London - Oct. 14

The Aldwych Theatre in London's West End is currently hosting Sinatra The Musical. As the house lights went down on a balmy mid-October evening, almost all of the seats - stalls, dress circle and grand circle - were occupied. 

We were there to relive the story of Frank Sinatra, to 'relive the story' as there couldn't have been many in the audience who didn't have a fair grasp of the life and times of Francis Albert Sinatra. 

Taking on the role of Sinatra must be a daunting prospect. Step forward Joel Harper-Jackson. Throughout the production (two hours with an interval) the man would dominate almost every scene. The supporting cast and orchestra would more than play their part. 

The One Show @ the Globe

Last night's gig at the Globe by the Ben Crosland Quartet with Steve Waterman (see previous post) also had roving BBC camera men from the One Show filming ahead of Thursday's Mercury Prize ceremony at the nearby Utilita Arena.

The  One Show is at 7:00pm on BBC1 and BBC iplayer. 

The Globe was chosen as a Mercury Fringe venue not least because it was where the Mercury Prize shortlisted band Knats played their first major gig.

More Mercury Fringe for Knats tomorrow (Oct. 20) at the John Marley Centre where they take part in 'An Evening with Knats.' It's a listening party. Details and tickets HERE.

Meanwhile, as the award is being handed out down Arena Way (Howay the lads!) the Olly Styles Trio will be dishing out their brand of jazz at the Globe. Thursday looks to be a good night. Lance

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Ben Crosland Quartet w. Steve Waterman - Oct. 18

© Sheila

Ben Crosland (bass guitar, composer); Steve Waterman (trumpet, flugel, compositions); Rod Mason (soprano/tenor/baritone saxes); Dean Stockdale (piano); Dave Tyas (drums)

It was May 2025 when Ben Crosland last showed his bass (guitar) at the Globe although he had been seen and heard at other locations throughout the land both live and on disc including a  concert a couple of rivers away in Sunderland.

The well-attended room suggested the audience were up for more and they weren't disappointed. From Dean Stockdale's opening few bars we knew the groove was in.

The big difference was that last night it was the Ben Crosland Quartet with Steve Waterman - Steve Waterman - one of the all-time great British trumpet players!

What I'm (re)reading

A favourite Philip Marlowe quote from Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye (1953):

"At three a.m. I was walking the floor and listening to Khatchaturian working in a tractor factory. He called it a violin concerto. I called it a loose fan belt...

I know it's not jazz, but it could be... Lance

Preview: Chasing the Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (Sunday evening)

Chasing the Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary airs on Sky Arts tonight (Sunday). Directed by John Scheinfeld in 2016, there is a long roll call of starry names playing 'self' and other characters. In the centenary year of the birth of John William Coltrane, be sure to tune to Sky Arts this evening at 10:45pm. Russell    

Preview: Tonight @ the Globe - Ben Crosland Quartet w. Steve Waterman

Ben Crosland (elec. bass); Rod Mason (saxes); Steve Waterman (trumpet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Dave Tyas (drums)

Ben Crosland always goes down well at the Globe and tonight looks to be no exception particularly as the quartet is augmented by trumpet ace Steve Waterman.

Centred around Crosland's recent album Wooltown Reflections, a take on his memories  of Bradford and the surrounding area, an enjoyable evening is in store.

Not to be missed. Lance

More Info.

Album review: Corey Weeds - Hip to be Square Plays Huey Lewis & the News (Cellar Music)

Corey Weeds (tenor sax); Chris Hazelton (B3); David Rourke (guitar); Rudy Petschauer (drums)

Huey Lewis and the News isn't a band that's been on my radar very often if indeed at all. Nor had Corey Weeds and Chris Hazelton paid much attention to the band either. However, a long trip as passengers in van with a Huey Lewis CD jammed in the stereo meant they were subjected to constant replays of the album.

This wasn't the torture they expected and this multi exposure opened up the idea of  adapting, or 'reimagining' to use a current buzzword, the music for Weeds' organ quartet. This they duly did although, over the years, it was on and off the backburner several times before arriving at the finished product late last year and let me tell you it worked out well'