More from the Big Phat Pod

Thanks to Nick Mondello for this Big Phat Pod episode (14)

Album review: Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves - Dedicated to You (Blue Note)

Dianne Reeves (vocal); Branford Marsalis (tenor/soprano sax); Joey Calderazzo (piano); Eric Revis (bass); Justin Faulkner (drums).

Given that this is John Coltrane's centenary year it's not surprising that tributes are being paid both in concert and on record. One of the albums that has provided fertile fodder for the tributes is the 1963 Impulse recording Trane made with Johnny Hartman.

The original is one of the all-time great vocal albums. It can sit proudly alongside the Sinatras, Bennetts, Lady Days or any other recording artists that you care to mention. The question posed here is who takes the Hartman role? Whose voice is low enough and rich enough to carry it off?

Press release: Copasetic Foundation Programme

This amazing summer isn’t over yet, and there are plenty of Copasetic events coming as we head into September: see below for details.

Monday 31st August (afternoon)

Battersea Park In Concert, Battersea Park London SW11 4NJ: Ineza & Women’s Words, Sisters’ Stories.  Supporting the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, the dynamic Rwandan-Belgian vocalist leads a band dedicated to female-written jazz repertoire, including works by Norma Winstone, Billie Holiday,  Jazzmeia Horn, Betty Carter and many others.  With Alex Webb (piano), Charlie Pyne (bass), Sophie Alloway (drums) and Noushy (trombone).  For tickets & info:  Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra — Battersea Park in Concert

 

Press release: Rare live outing for guitar legend Louis Stewart’s Joyce Notes

First performance in over thirty years.

Dublin-based Livia Records celebrates the release of legendary guitarist Louis Stewart’s Joyce Notes with a live performance of the album featuring leading Irish drummer Conor Guilfoyle’s septet and actor Barry McGovern at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin on Thursday  September 3.

Commissioned for Cork Jazz Festival in 1982, Joyce Notes is a six-part suite based on scenes from James Joyce’s groundbreaking novel, Ulysses. It was premiered by Stewart, with an all-star Irish-American octet and narration by Irish character actor Eamon Morrissey, but was only performed twice more, once in Oslo with a local band and Norwegian text, and once in Dublin in 1993.

R.I.P. Mike Waller

Just received the sad news of the passing of Mike Waller. Mike, an all-round pianist, composer and educator, was well known as a lounge pianist at the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth circa 2015. He was a regular member of various rock and blues bands, taught music in several schools on North Tyneside and occasionally dropped in at local jam sessions. 

The above photo was taken on just such an occasion at the old Jazz Café on Pink Lane (Nov. 15, 2016). 

There was so much more.

There's quite a few clips on YouTube that give an idea of his talent. LINK.

Mike was, I think, 72 when he left us on August 22 (?).

A nice guy who will be sadly missed.

Lance

Durham Alumni Big Band & more @ Darlington Market Square - Aug. 22

Durham Alumni Big Band: Shaune Eland (MD), Ian Robinson, Jonny Dunn, Kevin Eland, Andrew Meadowcroft (trumpets); Andrew Kirtley, Terry O'Hern, Alastair White, Paul Gilson (trombones); Dan Johnson (tenor sax); Jo ? (tenor sax); Steve McGarvie (alto sax, soprano sax); Kirsty Dunn (alto sax); Danielle Drew (baritone sax); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (piano); Amy Baker (bass); Stephen Fletcher (drums)

The clouds parted, the sun shone, just what Dr Jazz ordered. In a rare outing for the award-winning Durham Alumni Big Band, MD Shaune Eland fielded a near full strength line-up at Darlington Market Square. Tables and chairs set out for the punters (lots of 'em - tables, chairs and punters), beers, coffees, teas and nibbles a-plenty, the scene was set fair.

I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (from Gershwin's stately Porgy and Bess), Bernie's Tune (from the pad of the late Al Wood), a distinctive arrangement of Sophisticated Lady (Steve McGarvie, alto sax, soloing), we were treated to a rather eclectic set list.

David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster - Aug. 21

David Gray (trombone, vocals); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass); Michael Mather (drums)

The irrepressible David Gray rocked up at Sunderland Minster with his Flextet. This evening's Flextet would comprise trumpeter Pete Tanton, pianist Alan Law, opting to play a keyboard (the venue's acoustic piano given the night off), bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Michael Mather. The venue, the promoter and the musicians were delighted to see a good turn out. 

From Walker With Love - Ralph Hutchinson

Researching for more information on Walker-born trombonist Ralph Hutchinson I came across this Storyville album on BANDCAMP of 1953/4 radio broadcasts from the Club Hangover in San Francisco by Muggsy Spanier with Ralph on trombone.

Ralph holds his own with the illustrious names surrounding him and has an extended feature on Basin St. Blues.

Album review: Sullivan Fortner - Leave That in There (Artwork)

Sullivan Fortner (Steinway D piano, synths, B3, vocals); Kayvon Gordon (drums, perc.); Tyron Allen ll (double bass, Moog Sub 37); Jack DeBoe (perc., background vocals)

Difficult for me to equate with what's going on here with all these synths and things making sounds that are barely music let alone jazz. Then, like a break in the clouds, the Fortner that I know and love from his previous album the Grammy-winning Southern Nights, bursts through and normal service is, more or less, resumed. Of course these are fragmentary moments and the electronic effects are never too far away.

Album review: Paula Jeanine Bennett & Richard X Bennett - Amaryllis 2 (Ropeadope Records)

Paula Jeanine Bennett (lyrics, vocals, perc.); Richard X Bennett (music, piano, melodica, production)

The Brooklyn-based couple, Paula Jeanine and Richard X Bennett, composed the eleven new art songs on Amaryllis 2 which are primarily about love, pain and the natural world although you don't need me to tell you. One listen or even just reading the track titles will suffice.