Album review: Tommy Flanagan - Made in Dublin (Livia Records)

Tommy Flanagan (piano); Lindsey Horner (bass); John Wadham (drums)

Ever since I heard Tommy Flanagan accompanying Ella Fitzgerald at Newcastle City Hall as part of a JATP package in 1962 I've been a fan of the Detroit born pianist.

Apart From his stints with Ella, Flanagan, who died in 2001, also played on two albums that are particularly relevant this year: Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and John Coltrane's Giant Steps. 

The tracks on Live in Dublin were recorded after a 1984 concert. They remained a well-kept secret until after John Wadham's death in 2003 when a cassette was discovered amongst his effects. Cleaned up, remastered and remixed for release by Livia Records the result is on a par with the restoration of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Trane 100 on BBC Radio (all week)

It can't possibly have escaped your notice that John William Coltrane was born one hundred years ago this Wednesday, 23 September (b. 23. 9. 1926). The jazz world and its dog will be marking the date with concerts, television and radio programmes. The BBC is getting in on the act, although radio only, no television broadcasts. 

Starting today (Sunday)Sunday Feature: The Church of John Coltrane on Radio 3 could be an interesting listen. For more than 60 years a church in San Francisco - St  John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church, to give it its full name - has venerated Coltrane. Tune in at 7:00pm. 

Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster - September 18

Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Susans (bass); John Bradford (drums)

A hint of autumn, the nights drawing in, Sunderland's 'Cultural Quarter' looked a picture. In the lee of the recently-opened Culture House, the Engine Room, the Fire Station, the Dun Cow, the Peacock, the Empire, Vesta Tilley's, the curry houses, all were doing good business. 

Up a cobbled alley, reluctantly walking past a curry house, and into Sunderland Minster. Once inside, we were a million miles from the hustle and bustle out on High Street West. The stage set, the 'jazz' congregation began to take a pew. 

The Mark Williams Trio showed one change to the regular line-up. A very-last-minute indisposed Rob Walker necessitated a phone call. Mark made the call. John Bradford was available. You could say that was a good call!

R.I.P. Jess McConnell

Sad to report the passing of Jess McConnell earlier this week. He was one of Jarrow's characters of which there aren't many left. Publican, comic, brewer, and entrepreneur he had his finger in many pies.

He wasn't a jazzer although he did once book the Vieux Carré Jazzmen into the Albion pub - on St. Valentine's Night! Neither the music nor the pub was conducive to couples holding hands unless they were arm-wrestling for keeps.

To his credit Joss did sing Hello Dolly with the band - he could hold a tune. In the photo taken by Patti in 2020 Jess was campaigning to save all pubs after the devastation to the trade caused by Covid. The Albion Gin and Ale House - to give it its Sunday name - subsequently closed after a mysterious fire although Jess had since retired.

Everyone in Jarrow knew him and they all had a variety of opinions. I liked him for his sense of humour and his interest in local history of which he is now a part.

R.I.P. Lance

Addendum to R.I.P. Jess McConnell

As stated by BSH Editor-in-Chief, LL, Jess wasn't a jazzer. However, perhaps the man was responsible for a Jarrow Brewery ceramic hand pull being wall-mounted at a CAMRA award-winning pub on Wearside (see photo). The Ship Isis in Sunderland, is the pub in question. What's more, for the last year or so, Sunderland's Old Black Cat Jazz Club has presented one or two jazz gigs at the Silksworth Row hostelry. Raising a glass to Jess. Russell     

Overture to Sinatra The Musical

https://shortstreet.co.uk/productions

Currently playing in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre, Sinatra The Musical is currently the place to be for lovers of the Great American Songbook and fans of Ol' Blue Eyes. Joel Harper-Jackson, perhaps the greatest living crooner, captures the many aspects of Sinatra's turbulent life both as a singer, an actor and a lover. 

It's apt that the show is in London Sinatra having appeared many times in the capital and other parts of the UK.

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

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

Playlist 20/09/26 (repeated Tuesday 22/09/26)

Seasonal: John Coltrane, Stan Getz

Requests from Esther Bennett's Bishop Auckland gig: Mark Murphy, Martin Taylor, Mel Tormé, Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band. 

Requests: Duke Ellington, New Cool Collective.

Memories: Oscar Peterson Trio & Dexter Gordon, Ray Charles.

New Release: Terje Gewelt.

Seasonal: Lester Young.

What’s on in the NE: Keith Nichols, Vasilis Xenopoulos Trio, Lewis Watson, Mary Lou Williams.

Jazz @ the Lit & Phil: Danny Lowndes Hot Club - Sept. 18

© Sylvia/Patti

Danny Lowndes, Shez Sheridan (guitars); Chris Lloyd (accordion); Emlyn Vaughan (bass)

Over the years I've seen many Django inspired groups such as Waso, Nany Swing and the various ensembles fronted by Emma Fisk and Mick Shoulder. It was with the latter's Swing Manouche that I'd previously heard Danny Lowndes and here he was with his own group - Danny Lowndes Hot Club - as part of yet another sold out JATLP Lunchtime Concert Series.

A last minute substitution saw Shez Sheridan stepping in for Lowndes' regular sidekick Bryan Day which meant for a change to the set list in the printed programme. Nobody complained it wasn't as if you'd ordered lobster and been served prawns - quite the opposite in fact.

Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle - Sept. 17

© Sylvia*

Jack 'Banjo' Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (flute, tenor sax); Stuart Davies (guitar); Ben Lawrence (Rhodes73); Deon Krishnan (bass guitar); Jeff Armstrong (drums) 

There were a couple of changes in the anticipated line-up but it didn't detract from the excitement generated. True, there were times when I could detect moments of uncertainty but that's going to apply to any band with a change of personnel. 

It didn't matter, if anything it ensured that the the jazz commandment, the sound of surprise, wasn't broken.

2026 being Miles' 100 year milestone the programme covered many aspects of his controversial musical journey. A notable omission was his 1949 Birth of the Cool band. However, as that band was a nonet that included French horn and tuba it would have been quite an achievement to have made a fist of it.

The  'fists' came later as will be revealed.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (Sept. 17 - 23)

Lee Morgan: PS I Love You.

Etta James: A Sunday Kind of Love.

Tommy Flanagan: ? .

Ella Fitzgerald: Let's Do It.

Dexter Gordon: I Can't Escape You.

Carmen McRae: When I Fall in Love.

Kenny Burrell: Listen to the Dawn.

Dinah Washington: What a Difference a Day Made.

Sonny Stitt: As Time Goes By.

Sarah Vaughan: Someone to Watch Over me.

Art Pepper: These Foolish Things.

Beegie Adair: Stairway to the Stars.

LISTEN 24/7.

Press release: Elliot Wong announced as winner of The Brubeck Living Legacy Prize

Brubeck Living Legacy, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Music and ECN Music, is delighted to announce saxophonist and composer Elliot Wong as the winner of the second Brubeck Living Legacy Prize.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Wong moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where he recently completed his postgraduate studies in jazz. He was unanimously selected by a panel of Darius Brubeck (Brubeck Living Legacy), Nick Smart (Head of Jazz Programmes, Royal Academy of Music) and Emma Perry (Director, ECN Music).