Reeds

You can spend mega bucks on a top of the range saxophone, more hard earned cash on a mouthpiece and ligature but, at the end of the day, it all boils down to a bit of bamboo that may or may not do what the manufactures say it will do! Lance

Album review: Javon Jackson - "With Peter Bradley"

Javon Jackson (tenor sax); Jeremy Manasia (piano); David Williams (bass); Greg Glassman (trumpet on 7 tks); Charles Goold (drums on 12 tks); McClenty Hunter (drums on 4 tks)

Jazz and the movies have had a chequered career - Anatomy of a Murder and Lift to the Scaffold are a couple of the better ones that spring to mind. However, With Peter Bradley, going by the TRAILER, this 90 minute documentary looks to be something extra special and, even if it isn't, the soundtrack alone will be worth price of the popcorn and so much more if it ever hits your local fleapit (those were the days!)

Preview: Swinging at the Cotton Club, The Fire Station, Sunderland (June 4)

A century ago in New York City a club opened which would attract some of the greatest names in jazz and popular music. The Cotton Club in Harlem became hugely successful presenting a who's who of the entertainment industry: Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and many others. Prohibition era NYC didn't deter club owners, far from it! Clubs, speakeasies and two-bit gin joints thrived.

In Tune this bank holiday Monday (May 29) with Kitchman & Heinen

Katie Derham's guests on In Tune this afternoon include James Kitchman and Bruno Heinen. London resident guitarist Kitchman hails from the Tyne Valley and at five o'clock he will be teaming up with pianist Heinen to perform one or two tracks from their latest album Rainbow Shadows. Tune to BBC Radio 3, 5:00pm. Russell     

Sunday night @ the Globe: Matt Anderson Quartet - May 28

(© Ken Drew)

Matt Anderson (tenor sax); Jamil Sheriff (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Dave Walsh (drums).

The Globe was crowded even though it was one of those bank holidays that seem to turn up every other week. Perhaps folk are getting wise to the fact that there are better things to do than hanging around airports or being stuck in gridlocked traffic on these occasions.

Like listening to some live jazz by an ace quartet.

Sugaray Rayford @ the Fire Station, Sunderland - May 26

My first time at the Sunderland Fire Station, a nice spacious venue. I was expecting a blues artist – generally a safer bet for this type of gig – but what we got was more soul. Neither neo nor retro but the type of thing that’s just kept going quietly in the hinterland ever since soul music’s heyday.

And he could sing too, the best comparison I could come up with was Eddie Levert of the O’Jays, one of the very best, though playing an album by bluesman Lucky Peterson on the way home also showed similarities, which was a happy coincidence.

The Whitley Bay Carnival 2023 - May 28

A bank holiday weekend and for once the weather was fine. The Spanish City promenade looked a picture, the place a throng with day-trippers and locals alike 'taking the air', parading their beer bellies, tattoos, buggies and man's best friend. A fun fair, street entertainers, fast food stalls and music stages, the latter the main attraction. 

Ben Sidran Quartet @ Cafe Central, Madrid May 23

Ben Sidran (piano); Bill McHenry (saxo tenor); Billy Peterson (contrabaja); Leo Sidran (bateria)

I guess I am one of the few people who still actually buys a hard copy of the Lonely Planet guide when I am going on holiday, although I am sure it is available as an app (or something similar) for more tech savvy members of the human race. However, the title of the guides must be one of the most out of date concepts imaginable (due in part, of course, to its own success). No doubt the Sunday Times has already had articles listing the ten most ‘lonely’ places to have a wild party and I am sure if I took a Ryanair flight to the dark side of the moon the first person I would bump into would be one of the Mooneys who lived in the next street to where I grew up in Dublin.

Aycliffe Radio: Jazz Time - Sundays 6.30-8.00 pm (repeat Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

Playlist 28/05/23. (Repeated Tuesday 30/05/23)

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

Requests from the Windy City Weatherbirds Gig: Sauter - Finegan Orchestra, Nellie Lutcher, Stan Getz/Gilberto, Eddie Condon All Stars, Blind Blake, Townes Van Zandt, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Tadd Dameron Octet, Charlie Parker, Jack Teagarden, Andy Schumm,

 

Herbie Hancock.

 

What’s happening in the NE: Chris Barber, Harry Strutters.

 

Tony Eales pick: Roger Neumann Instant Heat.

 

Requests:  Stan Getz And Kenny Barron, Borealis/Joe Steels.

JazzTimes - May issue

I've been reading, saving, devouring jazz mags since the early 1950s. Each and every copy, when I dip back into them, brings back memories of concerts, records, interviews, information on instruments, playing techniques. Each one a gospel in an ever expanding bible.

Melody Maker, Metronome, Jazz Journal, Jazz Monthly, Crescendo, DownBeat, Jazzwise, JazzTimes are but some of those publications who have provided the words and the photos to the Holy Grail of jazz.

However, in all my years of reading jazz lit., not one of them comes within a bebop mile of the controversy that the May issue of JazzTimes will stir. Indeed the new regime's inaugural April issue's Wayne Shorter obituary resulted in most of the old guard being shown the door - a bit like some recent UK government shenanigans!