Lewis Watson Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Sept. 21

© Roly Veitch

Lewis Watson (tenor/soprano saxophones); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

In the week of John Coltrane's centenary (b. 23. 9. 1926), Lewis Watson made a welcome return to Blaydon Jazz Club to play 'Trane'. The Black Bull's recent refurbishments impressed and as Lewis (tenor and soprano saxophones) took to the stage with his A-list band - Mark Williams (guitar), Andy Champion (bass), John Bradford (drums) - it was odds on everyone in the room would be more than impressed with what they would be hearing. 

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes for starters, Lewis stating the theme, guitarist Mark Williams straight in with the first of several fluent solo contributions. Equinox featured more from Mark and an ace solo from bassist Andy Champion. 

Album review: Joe Lovano Paramount Quartet ft. Julian Lage, Asante Santi Debriano, and Will Calhoun (ECM)

Joe Lovano: (tenor/G mezzo soprano saxes, tarogato); Julian Lage (guitar); Asante Santi Debriano (double bass); Will Calhoun (drums). All compositions by Joe Lovano unless otherwise stated.

First Song (Charles Haden): A dreamy, plaintive, esoteric exploration on, I presume, the mezzo sop sax. followed by Lage in a similar mode.

Amsterdam: Lovano sticks with the soprano enjoying some interplay with Lage. Debriano has his say on bass and Calhoun paradiddles. Lage produces some harplike sounds on guitar. 

The Call: The soprano sounds eerie, almost phantasmagoric. I checked that all the doors and windows were closed. A shot of the 'cup that cheers'* calmed me and I found myself drawn into the mysterious aura surrounding the track.

Album review: Jimbo Ross - Beyond the Groove. (Bodacious Records)

Jimbo Ross (5-string viola); Stuart Elster (piano); Joe Gaeta (guitar); Peter Marshall (bass); Ron Wagner (drums)

Ross is surely the world's greatest 5-string jazz viola player. That he may be the only 5-string jazz viola player doesn't detract from his ability to swing the oft maligned instrument. Those who rank the viola alongside the banjo, oboe and accordion obviously hadn't heard Jimbo. He gets a mellow sound that doesn't grate like violins sometimes do. The extra string means he can stray into violin territory should he wish to do so. Perhaps if children began learning on a suitably sized viola rather than a violin the parents would be more tolerant towards their early strivings. Just a thought.

Album review: Alekos Vretos – Mediterranean Jazz (ThinkbabyMusic)

Alekos Vretos (oud); Gianni Diskos (clarinet); Dimitris Verdinoglou (piano); Kimon Karoutzos (upright bass); plus Quintarco - The String Quintet of the Athens State Orchestra

Aah! The Med. Given the title I assumed it would be something to accompany the clink as the neck of the first Amstel of the Summer comes to rest on the top of a frozen glass while the sea riffles the pebbles, in and out. But no! This is not an album of Ibiza Chillout. Instead we have a deeper dive into the music traditions of those communities that surround the sea, mainly Arabic. Led by Vretos on oud and more than ably supported by, especially, Verdinoglou on piano. It’s rich in melody and mood, with the four instruments revelling in the space available. The distinctive voice of the oud is wrapped in the other instruments, often singly, but occasionally all together to create brief dramatic moments. Much of the mood is melancholic with either the clarinet or viola providing the groundwork for Vretos’ light fingered single note explorations.

In the beginning JC said ...

Back in the day, October 16, 1958 to be precise, in a DownBeat interview the yet to be 'canonised' John Coltrane made the following statements which I feel are still relevant today:

"You can only play so much of another man." 

"Music is the means of expression with strong emotional content."

"Jazz used to be happy and joyous. I'd like to play happy and joyous"

"Never become so self-important that you can't listen to other players." 

"By the time I run up on something, I find that Miles or Monk has done it already". 

Here endeth the first lesson - Amen. Lance

Album review: Tommy Flanagan - Made in Dublin (Livia Records)

Tommy Flanagan (piano); Lindsey Horner (bass); John Wadham (drums)

Ever since I heard Tommy Flanagan accompanying Ella Fitzgerald at Newcastle City Hall as part of a JATP package in 1962 I've been a fan of the Detroit born pianist.

Apart from his stints with Ella, Flanagan, who died in 2001, also played on two albums that are particularly relevant this year: Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and John Coltrane's Giant Steps. 

The tracks on Made in Dublin were recorded after a 1984 concert. They remained a well-kept secret until after John Wadham's death in 2003 when a cassette was discovered amongst his effects. Cleaned up, remastered and remixed for release by Livia Records the result is on a par with the restoration of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Trane 100 on BBC Radio (all week)

It can't possibly have escaped your notice that John William Coltrane was born one hundred years ago this Wednesday, 23 September (b. 23. 9. 1926). The jazz world and its dog will be marking the date with concerts, television and radio programmes. The BBC is getting in on the act, although radio only, no television broadcasts. 

Starting today (Sunday)Sunday Feature: The Church of John Coltrane on Radio 3 could be an interesting listen. For more than 60 years a church in San Francisco - St  John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church, to give it its full name - has venerated Coltrane. Tune in at 7:00pm. 

Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster - September 18

Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Susans (bass); John Bradford (drums)

A hint of autumn, the nights drawing in, Sunderland's 'Cultural Quarter' looked a picture. In the lee of the recently-opened Culture House, the Engine Room, the Fire Station, the Dun Cow, the Peacock, the Empire, Vesta Tilley's, the curry houses, all were doing good business. 

Up a cobbled alley, reluctantly walking past a curry house, and into Sunderland Minster. Once inside, we were a million miles from the hustle and bustle out on High Street West. The stage set, the 'jazz' congregation began to take a pew. 

The Mark Williams Trio showed one change to the regular line-up. A very-last-minute indisposed Rob Walker necessitated a phone call. Mark made the call. John Bradford was available. You could say that was a good call!

R.I.P. Jess McConnell

Sad to report the passing of Jess McConnell earlier this week. He was one of Jarrow's characters of which there aren't many left. Publican, comic, brewer, and entrepreneur he had his finger in many pies.

He wasn't a jazzer although he did once book the Vieux Carré Jazzmen into the Albion pub - on St. Valentine's Night! Neither the music nor the pub was conducive to couples holding hands unless they were arm-wrestling for keeps.

To his credit Joss did sing Hello Dolly with the band - he could hold a tune. In the photo taken by Patti in 2020 Jess was campaigning to save all pubs after the devastation to the trade caused by Covid. The Albion Gin and Ale House - to give it its Sunday name - subsequently closed after a mysterious fire although Jess had since retired.

Everyone in Jarrow knew him and they all had a variety of opinions. I liked him for his sense of humour and his interest in local history of which he is now a part.

R.I.P. Lance

Addendum to R.I.P. Jess McConnell

As stated by BSH Editor-in-Chief, LL, Jess wasn't a jazzer. However, perhaps the man was responsible for a Jarrow Brewery ceramic hand pull being wall-mounted at a CAMRA award-winning pub on Wearside (see photo). The Ship Isis in Sunderland, is the pub in question. What's more, for the last year or so, Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club has presented one or two jazz gigs at the Silksworth Row hostelry. Raising a glass to Jess. Russell     

Overture to Sinatra The Musical

https://shortstreet.co.uk/productions

Currently playing in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre, Sinatra The Musical is currently the place to be for lovers of the Great American Songbook and fans of Ol' Blue Eyes. Joel Harper-Jackson, perhaps the greatest living crooner, captures the many aspects of Sinatra's turbulent life both as a singer, an actor and a lover. 

It's apt that the show is in London Sinatra having appeared many times in the capital and other parts of the UK.