Album review: Brandon Goldberg - In Good Time

Brandon Goldberg (piano, Rhodes); Josh Evans (trumpet); Stacy Dillard (tenor, soprano sax); Luques Curtis (bass); Ralph Peterson (drums) + Antoine Drye (trumpet - 1 tk).

Brandon Goldberg was 15 when he recorded this, his second album, just under a year ago. He also arranged most of the tunes as well as composing some originals. What an amazing talent. Not only does he swing like a hardened pro but his sensitivity on a ballad whether soloing or accompanying has to be heard to be believed. His unaccompanied rendition of Someone to Watch Over me is up there with the gods. Tatum, Peterson, Garner and co may be long gone but there is no shortage  of would be successors and Goldberg is surely high among them.

Nik Svarc Trio @ the Lit & Phil, Newcastle - Sept. 17

Nik Svarc (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Steve Hanley (drums)

An interesting session that was quite different from your average trio gig. Whether it's piano, bass and drums or, as was the case this afternoon, guitar bass and drums trio gigs can be formulaic - particularly when you have a ringer in the band. However, when that ringer is bassist Andy Champion, filling in for organist Martin Longhawn, you soon realise that he is better than your average dep. Champion is rated among the best bass players in the UK so, no worries there.

Exclusive! Autumn international jazz events announced

(Press release)

JazzLeeds autumn programme is a complete festival of music in itself. We are presenting more than 30 concerts to help people come back to live gigs again. Jazz is attracting a lot of interest these days from a new young audience – our programme includes all types of jazz with something for all tastes. We have some superb international evening concerts the Chief highlights are two women who have set the jazz world by storm – pianist and composer Nikki Iles who will be bringing her Nikki Iles Big Band to Seven Arts for two performances on October 7th, and jazz vocalist Liane Carroll who will be playing a rare date with top Scottish pianist Brian Kellock on December 2nd. 

George Mraz (1944 - Sept. 16, 2021)

I was in the bar (surprise!) at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Den Haag when I encountered Muriel who was a friend of Margaret Barnes and a rather special friend of  Fred Hunt. Muriel had a way of latching on to musicians and, on this occasion, she'd latched on to bassist George Mraz.

"Hey Lance, say hello to George Mraz - Lance plays sax". 

We shook hands and George, who I knew from listening to him on record with Art Pepper said. "we're trying to get a jam together bring your horn along."

I beat a hasty retreat.

George Mraz was one of the great modern jazz bassists and the iconic list of those whose rhythm sections he enhanced in Wikipedia is phenomenal - and to think I shook his hand!

He was 77 and, on the strength of that fleeting handshake, I'll  never forget him.

Sadly missed - Lance

Nicola Farnon Trio @ J's & B's - Sept. 16

Nicola Farnon (double bass, vocals); Richard Wetherall (piano); Phil Johnson (drums).

When I was relatively young, my parents took me to hear the Glasgow Orpheus Choir in a Newcastle Church - it may have been the Brunswick Methodist
Church down that back alley between Fenwicks and Waterstones.

Although I was somewhat reluctant about going, when I heard the choir in full voice I couldn't but fail to be impressed by the sound that reverberated around the room and, in later years, it made me realise how churches had been built to accentuate and enhance the choir's acoustics. Hearing, say, The Easter Hymn from "Cav" in a church or a cathedral is one of those experiences that can turn committed atheists into becoming, at least, agnostics. 

Jazz trios don't fare quite so well in God's house.

Rendezvous Jazz gigs.

Rendezvous Jazz have a couple of gigs next month apart from their regular Friday lunchtime gigs at the Monkseaton Arms:

Saturday Oct. 9: Forest Hall Constitutional Club, 5 Park Drive, Forest Hall NE12 9JN. Admission is free and is a fund-raising event for Blood Cancer - UK. 8:00pm - 10:30pm. Please wear something red.

Saturday Oct. 16: Memorial Hall, Darras Rd., Ponteland NE20 9NX. 7:00pm - 10:00pm. £16 per person. Tickets from Stuart Blair 01661 822367. Ponteland Rotary Club event. Special guest, pianist Ian Wynne.

Preview Nicola Farnon Trio @ J's & B's - Sept. 16

Nicola Farnon (double bass, vocals); Richard Wetherall (piano); Phil Johnson (drums).

Tomorrow night promises to be something rather special at J & B's - a session by the Nicola Farnon Trio. I last heard Nicola at the Ushaw Jazz Festival a couple of years back and I look forward to hearing her again - this time with Richard Wetherall on piano and Phil Johnson on drums. It will be well worth getting the number 63 from Blackett St (opposite a branch of a well known bakery chain) at 6:39pm or 7:08pm.

Paul Hartley Quartet @ The Railway, Stockport - Sept. 14

Paul Hartley (guitar); Andrzej Baranek (keys); Ed Harrison (bass); Dave Walsh (drums).

Paul’s guest tonight was Andrzej Baranek. A man well known in these parts as a hard-driving pianist who can handle any jazz situation - particularly hard bop. However, the ten tunes chosen were mainly standards, two of which were on Suzanne Fonseca’s set list when she played this venue two days ago, Misty and Honeysuckle Rose. Andrzej gets a great sound from his keyboard so the house upright was not utilised.

BOISDALE MUSIC AWARDS 2021

(Press release)

On Tuesday 14th September 2021, Boisdale’s Patron of Music Jools Holland and Ferne McCann hosted The Boisdale Music Awards on the Yamaha Music London stage at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, in celebration of the greatest musicians in jazz, soul, blues, reggae and pop.

 

The evening began with a VIP cocktail reception where the star studded guests including Emeli Sande, Birdy, Kenney Jones, Naughty Boy, Tallia Storm, Suzi Quatro, Omar and Paul Young enjoyed Tequila Codigo 1530 Rosa Paloma cocktails before a three course gala dinner of Boisdale classic dishes served with incredible wines from Terrazas de los Andes.  

Album review:: Thomas Clausen Trio - Back2Basics

Thomas Clausen (piano); Thomas Fonnesback (bass); Karsten Bagge (drums)

This is my kind of album. A top class piano, bass and drums trio playing a choice selection of standards - brilliantly.

That most of these tunes have been recorded in one form or another by just about every modern jazz legend poses the question as to why? It also poses another question - why not?

Andy Hudson remembers George Wein

GEORGE WEIN 1925-2021

(George Wein (r)  on his 90th
birthday w. Andy Hudson)

As the Americans say…"Way to go" and to learn that my old friend and business partner had died in his sleep at 95 was still a shock as he had an indestructible air about him.

I met him first whilst putting together the Jazz Festival in Middlesbrough, of which most say "Oh that one with Ella and Oscar in it".  Paradoxically the only 2 acts on that enormous bill that were not George’s were Ella and Oscar, All the rest were from the "Newport" stable for that summer. As I have said before in this excellent publication, it was George that took me out of the North East to work with him on festivals elsewhere.

George Wein

Received the sad news that pianist and promoter George Wein died yesterday (Sept. 13) aged 95. A tribute from his good friend and long term business partner Andy Hudson will follow shortly. 

Photo taken at Blaydon Jazz Club on Tyneside when he visited with Andy Hudson in 2016.

May he Rest In Peace. Lance.