Preview: Groove Crusade (The Cluny, March 20)

The Jazz Crusaders formed in the early sixties, later morphing into The Crusaders. The word 'Jazz' was dropped in the hope of winning a broader following. To a great extent it was a good move. Some fifteen years later, touring the world, the band rocked up at Newcastle City Hall. 

Playing to a full house that night, Wilton Felder (tenor sax), Wayne Henderson (trombone), Joe Sample (keyboards), drummer Stix Hooper were there, as was the band's new recruit, guitarist Larry Carlton. Perhaps at the height of their fame, Put It Where You Want It was, possibly, the jazz-funk masters' signature number.

Alex Clarke with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster - Feb. 20

© Ken Drew

Alex Clarke (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Earlier in the day, Alex Clarke was up the road in Newcastle and it made sense for all concerned that our alto saxophonist make the short trip to Sunderland to play a second gig of the day. The Old Black Cat Jazz Club was celebrating its second anniversary with a special concert presentation. The booking of one of the UK's busiest musicians, with the support of Sunderland Music City, would pay off in spades.     

Sunderland Minster is one of the region's bigger buildings and it was gratifying to see a large turn out for the award-winning Ms Clarke's first appearance on Wearside. A dj spinning jazz vinyl isn't what you might expect at a place like the Minster but that's exactly what we got. Volunteer run, as so many similar events are, the friendly 'congregation' (audience, photographers, videographers) generated a sense of community.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (Feb. 19 - Feb. 25)

Diana Krall: Bésame Mucho.

Donald Byrd: Someone to Watch Over me.

André Previn: I Only Have Eyes For You.

Edward Hart: ? .

Ella Fitzgerald: In My Solitude,

Nat 'King' Cole: Sweet Lorraine.

? : At Last.

Django Reinhardt/Stéphane Grappelli: St Louis Blues.

Frank Sinatra: The Summer Wind.

? : Stairway to the Stars.

Norah Jones: I Can't Help Myself.

LISTEN 24/7

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

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

Playlist 22/02/26 (repeated Tuesday 24/02/26)

Mardi Gras: Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Harry Connick Jr.
Black History Month (USA) Billy Strayhorn, Nina Simone.

Memories: Count Basie Alumni Band, Buddy Tate.

New Releases: Brian Molley Quartet, Five-Way Split.

Seasonal: Jo Harrop/Paul Edis.

What’s On in the NE: Alan Barnes.

Requests: Keith Jarrett, Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band, Lizz Wright.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area or via your smart speaker

Single review: Jo Harrop If Ever I Would Leave You – Live in London (Wolf Star Records)

Jo Harrop (vocal); Paul Edis (piano); Jamie McCredie (producer)

There are moments in an artist’s life when a song, long associated with another era or another voice, becomes entirely reborn—claimed, reshaped, and inhabited so completely that it feels as though it always belonged to them. Jo Harrop’s new live single, If Ever I Would Leave You (from the musical Camelot), is one of those rare, alchemical transformations.

Harrop has made a career of taking well-worn material and revealing the emotional architecture beneath it—her critics have praised her “late-night hush,” “smoky intensity,” and “Ella-meets-Peggy Lee phrasing”—but nothing quite prepares you for the sheer depth she brings to this Robert Goulet classic. Recorded live in London, the performance captures what she does best: bending time, caressing lyrics until they glow, and honouring the song while gently rewriting its emotional grammar.

Knats to release A Great Day in Newcastle on Gearbox Records

Stanley Elvis Woodward (writer, arranger, bass guitar, synth bass, words & lyrics); King David Ike-Elechi (drums, percussion, arranger); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn, co-writer, arranger); Cooper Robson (poetry reading); George Johnson (tenor sax); Sandro Shar (keys); Geordie Greep (producer) + assorted horns and strings)

This is way beyond my perception of jazz but, that is no criticism of Knats, it's more a criticism of my own inability to move with the times - I still play original vinyl, have a petrol driven car and watch black and white movies. I even read books! 

Knats has been given coverage in influential magazines such as DownBeat, Jazzwise, Jazz Journal and the Guardian among others which isn't bestowed upon just any group so whatever they're doing they're doing it right.

JATLP: Alex Clarke with the Dean Stockdale Trio - Feb. 20

© Sylvia

Alex Clarke (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

The stars didn't change in their courses and the planets continued to orbit around the rarely seen Sun. The audience at the Lit and Phil's monthly lunchtime session wouldn't want it any other way. Even the Sun shone as if to say "I'm not going to spoil this one". Other than a busted reed, nothing could.

Opening with How Deep is the Ocean? Clarke's warm sound, rich toned deep vibrato  filled the body of the saxophone before emerging to reach every corner of the room. 

Body and Soul, surprisingly, was played over a bossa nova rhythm that didn't do any harm whatsoever.

Single review: Tony Adamo and the New York Crew - General T (from Tony Adamo in New York) (SanJaz Records)

Tony Adamo (voice/spoken-word); Tim Ouimette (trumpet); Donald Harrison (alto sax); Michael Wollf (piano); Richie Goods (bass). Mike Clark (drums)

One of the words ad hucksters frequently use, probably from their in-house shrinky-dinks - is “experience.” Examples are many: “Experience the luxury of fine leather,“ or “Experience that feeling of owning the road.” The suits have turned the word bland. Now when this reviewer tells you that listening to vocalist/spoken-word artist, Tony Adamo is an experience, I’m telling you that what you will hear covers a spectrum that will surprise, startle, and paint pictures, and in doing so, creates vivid experience.

Album review: Julie Benko - Euphonic Gumbo (Club44 Records)

Julie Benko (vocals); Jason Yeager (piano, B3 tks 1, 2, celeste tk 6, arranger); Andy Warren (trunpet, flugelhorn); Ron Wilkins (trombone); Linus Wyrsch (clarinet, tenor sax); Michael O'Brien (basses); Jay Sawyer (drums) + John Manzari (vocals tk 8, tap dance tks 4, 8); Evan Arntzen (tenor sax tk 10); Sasha Papernik (accordion tks 5, 9); Justin Poindexter (guitar, banjo tk 9); Gabe Terracciano (violin tk 9); Jim Caruso (announcer)

Benko, a renowned Broadway star and enthusiast of things New Orleans, leads an exuberant ensemble through a variety of genres making for an enjoyable 38 minutes.

Down in New Orleans Medley takes us on a Tuba Skinny style romp incorporating Bourbon Street Parade; Go to the Mardi Gras; and Basin Street Blues. Benko is au fait with the idiom and the band sound authentic.

Stockport Jazz

This week Stockport Jazz welcomes the Carole Williams/Helen Pillinger Counterpoint Quintet. The band comprises Helen Pillinger (tenor saxophone), Carole Williams (trombone/piano), Paul Hartley (guitar), Peter Hartley (bass) and Tim Franks (drums).

Sunday February 22nd 8-10pm, doors open at 7.30pm

£5 entry on the door, all welcome

The Moor Club, 35 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport SK4 4PB  (next to the Elizabethan PH)