Simon Woolf’s Young Masters @ Spice of Life, Soho - October 12

© Richard Morris

Simon Woolf (piano); Alex Clarke (alto sax); Jim Davison (trumpet, flugelhorn) Simon Read (double bass);  Richard Pite (drums)

An early start (12.30pm) for this lunchtime concert in the basement of the well appointment pub in the heart of Soho where the regular Monday lunchtime jazz is curated by Richard Pite who this week was on drums.

Richard, in addition to being a renowned jazz drummer and multi-instrumentalist, is a jazz historian. Simon is better known as a double bass player, composer and arranger. However, he led this band from the piano at which he is also very adept. The repertoire comprised of tunes composed or arranged by Simon plus well known jazz standards.

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

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

Playlist 18/10/26 (repeated Tuesday 20/10/26)

Seasonal: Carl Saunders.

John Lyons talks about Durham Jazz Festival:

SwanNek, Pete Roth Trio, Janette Mason

Requests from Bishop Auckland: Frank Zappa, Sammy Davis Jr, Billie Holliday/Buddy DeFranco

Memories: The Marsalis Family, Jelly Roll Morton.

New Releases: Tommy Flanagan, Ruta Di Onwards & Upwards.

Requests: Terry Gibbs, Sonny Red.

What’s on in the NE: Sara Oschlag.

Requests: Paul Desmond, Miles Davis/Kenny Garrett.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (Oct. 15-21)

Lady's Night

Sarah Vaughan: Key Largo.

Ella Fitzgerald: In my Solitude.

Dianne Reeves: Embraceable You.

Etta James: Don't go to Strangers.

Della Reese: Call Me.

Bette Midler: P.S. I Love You.

Diana Krall: I'm Just a Lucky So and So.

Dinah Washington: Call me Irresponsible.  

Lee Wiley:  Any Day, Any Time, Any Where.

Keely Smith: You go to my Head.

Billie Holiday: I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.

?: I'll be Seeing You.

Norah Jones: I've Got to See You Again.

Patti Denham: Flamingo.

LISTEN 24/7.

Album review: Frank Morelli & Keith Oxman - Classicool (Capri Records)

Frank Morelli (bassoon); Keith Oxman (tenor sax); Jeff Jenkins (piano); Gonzalo Teppo (bass); Todd Reid (drums)

An appealing album that takes me back to those halcyon days when so much jazz was being played and recorded on America's west coast. Musicians such as Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers, Lennie Niehaus, Howard Rumsey, Gerry Mulligan and many more, worked days in the film studios and played the jazz spots in the evening.

There was much innovation particularly in the use of instruments not generally seen in a jazz setting. Bob Cooper frequently recorded on oboe and at least once on cor anglais. I don't know if he ever dabbled on bassoon. 

Preview: Donna Hewitt @ The Chapel, Middlesbrough TS5 4BY Nov. 1

Next month (Nov. 1) our regular, first  Sunday in the month jazz afternoon at the Chapel, 16 Whitehouse St, Middlesbrough TS5 4BY, will again be the superlative saxophonist Donna Hewitt.  This is the second time this year that  Donna has been our guest and is joining us again by public demand.  The afternoon runs between 1.00pm and 3.00pm. The Chapel was voted Cleveland CAMRA Pub of the Year in both 2024 and 2026.  Entry is free. Adrian B 

Album Review: Event Horizon Jazz Quartet – Consternation (GRB Records)

Jim Kaczmarek (tenor/ soprano saxes); Scott Mertens (piano, keyboards); Donn DeSanto  (string bass); Rick Vitek (drums, cymbals, doumbek); Victor Garcia (trumpet) + Raphael Crawford (trombone tk 6)

It has been six years since the release of their first celebrated album, Event Horizon (GRB Records, 2020). Now with Consternation the quartet is back on the scene and is locked and loaded. The album offers thirteen original selections from the pens of Jim Kaczmarek and Scott Mertens. The fare here is eclectic and enjoyable with both straight-ahead jazz and more textural offerings. The puckish spirit of the quartet is vividly apparent throughout the entire recording.

Album review: Nishla Smith - The Things We Did Last Summer

Nishla Smith (vocals, artwork); Aaron Wood (trumpet, flugel, arrangements); Anna Chandler-King (saxes, arrangements); Bim Williams (guitar, arrangements); Tom Harris (piano); Josh Vadiveloo (double bass); Kai Chareunsy (drums); Elly Hanson (violin); Triele Tat (cello)

The first of the festive season albums to arrive features Nishla Smith, an Australian born, Manchester based vocalist who has plenty of BSH form via album reviews, gigs and jam sessions etc.

Supported by a stellar group of instrumentalists Nishla applies her  appealing vocal chords to four seasonal standards as well as one of her own compositions - all exquisitely performed.  Blossom Dearie crossed my mind.

 

Album review: Giacomo Smith Quartet - Artfullness (Stunt Records)

Giacomo Smith ( clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano/alto sa); Joe Webb (piano); Anders Fjeldsted (bass); Snorre Kirk (drums)

Having heard Smith with SSBB earlier this year (LINK) and Joe Webb at Bonner's Music Store in Kingston Park just under a year ago (LINK) it was good to hear them together on this album of six originals by Smith and one by Ellington.

It's quite a session with all four at the top of their game. Smith, at times romantic and lyrical, on other occasions it's as if Benny Goodman had formed a relationship with John Coltrane. Webb swings, stomps meditates captures the moment whatever the mood. Fjeldsted and Kirk add their own drive to an excellent album.

Bonnie Raitt + Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, CA - Oct. 14

Bonnie Raitt (vocals, guitar); Jon Cleary (piano, vocals)

After losing so much time with live music after Covid, tonight was a beautiful reintroduction to what music can do for the soul by two great artists.

Bonnie hasn’t lost her ability to reach her audience and tonight was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute she was on stage and felt grateful for the experience - she had everyone in the auditorium captivated!

Album review: Darius Brubeck Quartet - Live Again (Gathering Forces/ECN)

Darius Brubeck (piano); Dave O'Higgins (tenor sax); Matt Ridley (bass); Wesley Gibbens (drums)

Following on from the quartet's album Live in Poland, Live Again takes them to Italy  - these jazz musicians do get around!

It's a worthwhile trip. Darius has undoubtedly inherited his dad's talents as composer, pianist, improviser and bandleader with all four musicians given their moment in the sun.