Some of my best friends are books written by or about Ronnie Scott and the club he co-founded

Wednesday's The Ronnie Scott's Story by the Ronnie Scott All Stars at Sunderland's Fire Station, which I missed,  prompted me, after reading Russell's review, to refresh myself on all things Ronnie.

And there were quite a few places to start. My sagging bookshelves contained at least seven tomes related to the late saxophonist and celebrated club owner. Only Sinatra had more space shelf and, if I include peripheral items such as Simon Spillett's biography of Tubby Hayes, The Long Shadow of the Little Giant,  Peter Dawn's Phil Seamon Percussion Genius and Peter King's autobiography Flying High then the gap narrows - at least in my personal library it does.

I almost missed this one!

The books, like the music, are well worth checking out and, most of the time unputdownable. Lance

British Jazz Hall of Fame (11 - 20)/Living Legends (12 - 20)

British Jazz Hall of Fame (11 - 20)

11. Barbara Thompson 6 

11. Kenny Wheeler 6 

13. Don Rendell 5 

13. Ian Carr 5 

13. John Taylor 5 

13. Kenny Baker 5 

17. Alex Welsh 4 

17. Keith Tippett 4 

17. Michael Garrick 4 

17. Victor Feldman 4

The Ronnie Scott's Story @ The Fire Station, Sunderland - July 24

Polly Gibbons (vocals); Alex Garnett (tenor sax); James Pearson (MD, piano); Sam Burgess (double bass); Chris Higginbottom (drums) 

The Ronnie Scott's Story continues doing the rounds and little wonder given it attracts large attendances at venues up and down the land. Sunderland's Fire Station once again welcomed James Pearson and co, and they, the musicians, were welcomed by a full house. It's a multi-media show - still and moving images projected onto a screen above and behind the on-stage musicians - telling the story of 47 Frith Street and its predecessor Gerrard Street.

Album review: Phil Bancroft Quartet - Headlong (www.myriadstreams.com)

Phil Bancroft (tenor sax); Mike Walker (guitar); Reid Anderson (bass); Thomas Strønen (drums)

The CD arrived in a cardboard envelope along with another similarly packaged disc with no other information to guide me as to wherever it led. This was back in May and, not surprisingly, they were quickly buried under the daily avalanche of albums that are close to breaking the postwoman's back. She rarely closes the gate as she's probably thinking 'what's the point? I'll be back tomorrow unless I've got a slipped disc.'

Brian Ebbatson funeral details.

© Malcolm Sinclair

The funeral of Brian Ebbatson who passed away on July 19 will take place on Tuesday August 6 at Saltwell Crematorium, Gateshead, NE9 6DT at 11:15am.

Further details will be announced when known.

More about Brian, a highly respected figure on the north east jazz scene, can be found HERE.

To reiterate the words and thoughts of all who knew him, may he REST IN PEACE. He will be sadly missed. Lance

John Mayall RIP

In the mid-sixties John Mayall (guitar, harmonica, keyboards) emerged as a central figure in the British 'blues boom'. The Blues Breakers championed the music of American blues greats, touring with John Lee Hooker and others. The Marquee Club was home to Mayall and like-minded musicians dedicated to playing the blues. Many guitarists were employed by Mayall, notably Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Coco Montoya. Born in Macclesfield, Mayall made California his home, where he died on July 22nd at the age of 90. Russell  

(Editor's note: 2011 John Mayall review HERE.)

Duke Ellington and Malcolm Mitchell

Amazing what turns up on that YouTube thing! Maurice Summerfield sent me this clip of Duke Ellington and Malcolm Mitchell playing Take the A Train on, of all places, a Hughie Green TV show. No, it wasn't Opportunity Knocks, I think opportunity had successfully knocked for them long ago.

This was from a 1959 show Atlantic Showboat filmed on board the liner Empress of Britain. Other stars taking part included Shirley Bassey, David Whitfield and George Formby - I wonder if Duke and George did some jamming?

British Jazz Hall of Fame/Living Legends 2024

Last month BSH invited a number of its contributors, broadcasters, musicians, promoters and other jazz notables to nominate up to ten musicians in no particular order or genre to form the basis of a by invitation annual poll. Forty-five invitations were issued and thirty-five responded* with 92 names being nominated in the British Jazz Hall of Fame section (those jazz musicians who have passed)  and 105 in the Living Legends. Not everyone picked ten (some wanted more) and not everyone submitted nominations in both categories. Musicians who achieved their greatest recognition in America such as George Shearing and Marian McPartland were deemed ineligible although borderline cases such as Feldman, Holland and Temperley were considered acceptable. Below are the top ten placings. Lance

Sunday night @ the Globe: Ben Crosland Quartet - July 21

Ben Crosland (semi-accoustic bass guitar); Rod Mason (soprano/tenor/alto saxes): Dean Stockdale (piano); Dave Tyas (drums)

This year's Newcastle Jazz Festival may have been knocked back until next year but, judging by the gigs across the region these past few days, you wouldn't have thought so. 

Thursday, the choice was between American alto player Brad Linde at the Globe or his fellow countryman trumpet player Theo Croker at the Glasshouse. Two American names in Newcastle on the same night!

On Friday, another great altoist, Spain's Luis Verde, played a lunchtime gig at the Lit & Phil then hightailed it down the A1(M) to Darlington for an evening gig at Opus 4. Alternatively, you could have taken the road less travelled to Sunderland where the  Zoë Gilby Trio were spreading their message at the Seventeen Nineteen (1719).

Saturday night if you'd just got paid you could have ripped it up with Snake Davis and Helen Watson at Chopwell Community Centre then, to round off the 'festival', Sunday night at the Globe beckoned...did it not!

The Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Jazz Club Middlesbrough - July 18

Richie Emmerson (MD), Alan Thompson, Andy Devine, Barbara Fagan, Norman Scriven, (saxes); Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Dave Harrison, Colin Moore, (trumpets); Dave Brocklesby, Neville Hartley, Thomas McDonald, Al Brown, (trombones); Dave Archbold (keys), Karen McCleave (bass), Ed Maughan (guitar); Abbie Finn (drums)

Once again this band of 17 top class musicians led by saxophonist Richie Emmerson gave a good sized and knowledgeable audience a night of varied and professionally arranged big band compositions.

In true Stan Kenton style they opened with the Lennie Niehaus arrangement of On the Street Where You Live with its full big band sound, giving the night a great start. This was followed by the Count Basie number Moten Swing with a nice tenor solo from Richie and trumpet from Bill Watson.