Andrea Vicari Trio @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - May 20

Andrea Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass, bass guitar); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Earlier in the day Andrea Vicari played to a capacity audience at the Lit & Phil up the road in Newcastle. Here at the Traveller's Rest in Darlington, Vicari, Andy Champion and Abbie Finn were greeted by an enthusiastic Opus 4 Jazz Club crowd. The lack of a piano at the venue - upright or grand - pressed into action Vicari's well-travelled keyboard. Bassist Champion brought along his electric as well as his trusty double bass. From Think of One to Blues on the Spot, the set list would mirror that of Newcastle plus a whole lot more.

Jazz on the Tyne welcomes Fergus McCreadie and “Forest Floor”

Ahead of his trio gig in Barnard Castle on May 27, award-winning pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie is the special guest on the latest edition of Jazz on the Tyne.  He’ll be talking with presenter Colin Muirhead about his chart-topping new album “Forest Floor” and more.

Andrea Vicari Trio @ the Lit & Phil - May 20

Andrea Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

A stunning one hour set by a trio that gelled as if they'd spent a lifetime playing together which was far from the truth. Their paths had all intertwined over the years but, until this afternoon, never as a tight unit with all three working as one.

I first heard Andrea at Scarborough in 2010 at that year's jazz festival. She referred to that gig today although she didn't mention me - how remiss! - however, she did mention a Croatian guitarist called Elvis.

mjf news - festival starts tomorrow

mjf (manchester jazz festival) kicks off tomorrow (May 20) - all ten days of it and there's some mouthwatering stuff. Too much indeed for me to go into chapter and verse. For that you need to visit the mjf website which you can access right HERE.

Lots of major players including the northeast's ABBIE FINN TRIO who are planning to motor west getting their kicks on the A66.

I counted about 50 gigs and many are free (+ booking fee which seems to be somewhat contradictory!) So, if you're at a loose end over the next ten days, Manchester (or manchester) is the place to be - Lance

Book review: John Altman - Hidden Man: My Many Musical Lives.

Hidden Man, huh? Well, no longer will this be the case as the remarkably versatile and talented John Altman outlines a potted history of jazz and popular music as well as film scores from 1970 to the present day. In both the UK and USA he was there as a saxophonist, arranger, composer, conductor and producer. His prodigious memory and healthy photo archive provide the reader with an entertaining and fascinating collection of anecdotes of the behind the scenes' antics therein.

Album preview: Raynald Colom - A Million Dreams.

(Press release)

Trumpeter Raynald Colom immediately captivates with the hauntingly beautiful dream-like opening notes of his new live recording, A Million Dreams. Colom demands the listener’s attention throughout the cohesive eight-track outing, alongside pianist Tony Tixier, Joe Sanderson double bass and Francesco Ciniglioon drums. French-born and Barcelona-based, Colom is a seasoned musician inspired by many genres and artforms, but with firm roots in flamenco.

Jazz Festival Memories 7: Alan Barnes and Scarborough Jazz Festival

Mention Scarborough and, after the Candy Floss and the Kiss Me Quick (or a more contemporary phrase) hats, the first thing I think of is the Scarborough Jazz Festival and, by association, Alan Barnes who has compered the festival, since it began in 2003, longer than most of our 'beloved' Prime Ministers have held office.

Over the years (2007 - 2012) I made many friends (Hi Annie, hello Will and Liz Smith) and was amazed at Alan Barnes' versatility. Alto, tenor, baritone or clarinet it didn't seem to matter - he just slotted into the action.

A few of those moments:

Fundraiser

You may be aware that Nigel Price has been in a debate with the Government, lobbying to get money for grass roots jazz clubs (particularly clubs that don't own their venues). He's been unsuccessful in getting the Government to listen. He's launched a fundraiser - seeking to get £1 million to distribute directly to the grassroots clubs that form 95% of the UK jazz scene.

To donate or to learn more, HERE IS THE LINK.

Trefor Owen Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - May 17

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Trefor Owen (guitar); Andy Hulme (guitar); Ed Harrison (bass); Liam Byrne (tenor/soprano sax).

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Most of the tunes played will be familiar to  jazz fans and if you like to hear guitars then you will be well satisfied with what this group has to offer. Tonight the numbers were mainly taken from the Great American Songbook and were familiar items to those of us who have heard Trefor’s band during their frequent appearances at this venue.

Liam Byrne has a major role in Trefor’s quartet and tonight he played mostly tenor sax although he brought his curved soprano into play on East of the Sun and his solo made me want to hear more from Liam on the smaller horn.

Jammin' @ the Black Swan - May 17

A fortnight ago, I bemoaned the absence of the horn players (Where have all the blowers gone?). This time it was Where have all the guitars gone? and, apart from Esther who was impressive on clarinet and David Gray who blew the room apart with his cutting edge solos and a croony vocal on Just Friends this was indeed predominantly a singers session - almost a jazz Go As You Please at the Wheeltappers and Shunters!