Radio Jazz

Mingus at the Proms

(Ed. Apologies for the delay in posting this item from Russell!)

A live edition of Jazz Line-Up comes from George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh at five o’clock today (Saturday August 19). Performers include the Dime Notes, Gwyneth Herbert and the duo of Andy Sheppard and guitarist John Parricelli. Also on Radio 3, Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz (midnight) listens to a selection of Charles Mingus’ recordings. On Thursday of next week (August 24) live from the Royal Albert Hall there is a celebration of Mingus’ life and music with Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orkest and featured soloists Shabaka Hutchings, saxophones, Christian Scott, trumpet, and vocalist Kandace Springs. The broadcast begins at 7:30pm and, twenty-four hours later over on BBC 4, you can listen again and watch the pictures on BBC Proms 2017.

If you want more of Andy Sheppard be sure to tune in to Monday evening’s Jazz Now programme on Radio 3 (11:00pm). Soweto Kinch presents a concert set from the Dean Street Pizza Express Jazz Club featuring Sheppard in his long-standing trio with Carla Bley and Steve Swallow.    

Russell

CD Review: Julian Costello Quartet - Transitions

Julian Costello (tenor/soprano); Maciek Pysz (guitars); Yuri Goloubev (bass); Adam Teixeira (drums).

(Review by Lance/Drawing by Alban Low).

Thoughtful and compelling, that was my first reaction upon hearing Waves, the opening track. Costello's long drawn out notes convey waves of sound - not to be confused with sheets of the same. His tone is well-rounded, the sound languorous, sonorous, punctuated by a couple of jaunty notes before returning to the serious business in hand. Globe favourite Pycz -  the quartet are there on October 7, put it in your diaries now! - adds his contribution and it's no mere '2 bits' worth. There's no break between Waves and Ducks and I thought the machine was playing tricks when track 2 flashed up.

No, Ducks it was and, although the same ponderous mood was retained, Costello became more expansive, flashing the notes around the way tenor players are expected to do.

Soprano unpacked for Corners - a short opus that revealed Costello's tone to be equally attractive on the higher pitched instrument. Again, no track break - this really is cutting corners.

Mads Mathias - Be sure to catch him.

It was back in 2012 when ace Danish singer, Mads Mathias, released his debut CD Free Falling. For some reason or other, it was 2015 before it got reviewed on BSH. If you read the review you will realise it was well worth the wait and that a new star had been born. Since then I've heard little of Mathias apart from replaying the album many times.

Well, the good news is that he's once more in our midst.

Next weekend he's at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Clare Teal hosted Prom 2017 -- Swing No End. This is at 1500 hrs on August 27 (live Radio 3?) and televised on BBC Four on Sept. 1 (1930 hrs.)

However, there's a cast of thousands so I doubt if Mads will get more than a couple of numbers.

Fortunately, the great Dane is also appearing in the north (as seen by the south) with a return trip to Seven Arts in Leeds on September 21 and the following day (22) at Scarborough Jazz Festival.

If you've got your fare and just a trifle to spare then don't miss either.

He's also on YouTube.

Lance.

RIP Sir Bruce Forsyth

The death of Sir Bruce Forsyth, yesterday (August 18), at the age of 89 prompted me to recall that, among his many talents was that of jazz pianist which I think is sufficient for him to earn a mention here. Maybe Brucie wasn't in the Dudley Moore class but, nevertheless. he was a more than competent player as demonstrated in this YouTube clip.

Rest In Peace Sir Bruce, they don't make 'em like you anymore!

Obituary.
Lance.

Preview: Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017

(Preview by Russell)

One week today, at the start of the long August bank holiday weekend, the magnificent Ushaw estate will once again play host to the Ushaw Jazz Festival. Last year’s inaugural event proved beyond doubt that there is a demand for a major festival in County Durham. Jazz fans travelled from all four corners of Britain, with some making the journey from the European continent. This year’s programme is one of quality across three days – Friday 25-Sunday 27 August.

Director of Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017, Paul Edis, has assembled an array of talent beginning on Friday 25 with a performance by the Early Bird Band (6:00pm). In little more than two years, the development of this young ensemble of promising jazz musicians has been quite remarkable. To the credit of the individuals themselves one or two have already moved on to study at prestigious music schools, and this Ushaw appearance is your chance to check out the next generation.

CD (download) Review: GLOWROGUES - Live at Jazz Plus Presents

Sam Healey (alto); Aaron Dial (trumpet/electronics); Richard Forth (trombone); Ben Watte (keys); Dan Brew (guitar); Jamie Brewster (bass); Jim Molyneux (drums).

(Review by Lance).

After Chris Jones and Charles Price graduated from Durham University, the Uni Big band were left looking for, respectively, a replacement MD/trombonist and a trumpet player. The two musicians had helped the band to win a number of awards and, post graduation, they didn't intend to put music on the backburner as they made their way in the real world.

So they set up a record label - Jazz Plus Productions.

This, their first album [EP] is also the debut release of GLOWROGUES, a Manchester based group of [I quote] phenomenally talented musicians, bringing together jazz, hip hop and funk, with tight horns and serious grooves [end of quote].