Leeds Update

Steve Crocker has sent me details of some Leeds happenings.
Chapel Allerton Festival.
Seven Jazz Autumn Programme.
Lance.
PS: There's also a Jazz Jam on Sunday afternoon (August 5 - 1-4pm) - Details.

CD Review: Funkengruven - The Joy of Driving a B3 - Kevin Coelho.

Kevin Coelho (Hammond B3); Derek DiCenzo (gtr); Reggie Jackson (dms).

(Review by Lance Liddle).

Coelho is 16 years old! So what? Lots of kids are 16. The difference here is that this 16 year old can drive a B3 like McGriff, McDuff and Dr. Lonnie!

The young Californian started on piano aged 6 becoming hooked on the B3 sound after hearing Booker T's Green Onions when he was 11 and has progressed, via the 2011 San Jose Jazz Festival, to this, his debut album. As a point of interest, Coelho's back at this year's San Jose Festival on August 12

Ray Dales w. The Jeremy McMurray Trio @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant

Ray Dales (alt); Jeremy McMurray (pno); Peter "Tubby" Ayton (bs); Mark Robertson (dms).

(Review by Lance.)

The Cherry Tree was very well booked tonight and the diners were in for both a gastronomical treat and a musical one too. What more could one ask for - don't answer that!

Ray Dales was minus his trade-mark hat tonight, opting for a rather flamboyant shirt that complemented his scintillating alto playing which had a piquancy comparable with my starter - Continental Charcuterie, Caponata and Grilled Ciabatta - which I ate to the tune of It Could Happen To You. Both went down a treat.

R.I.P. Don Bagley.

West Coast bassist Don Bagley passed away on July 26. A member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the early fifties he later became a well-known figure of the emerging 'Cool School' recording with Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper and all the usual suspects of that place and era.

Check out this particularly effective recording by the Don Bagley Trio with Jimmy Rowles on piano and Shelly Manne, drums.
Don Bagley was 85.

Obituary.
Lance.

Sophie Milman - My Heart Belongs To Daddy

At last night's Jazz Café gig, Claire Kelly enthused about Russian born, Israeli raised, Canadian citizen Sophie Milman. So, when a talented singer such as Claire raves about another singer - albeit one 5,000 miles away - I just had to check her out. Judge for yourself.

Lance.

Claire Kelly @ The Jazz Café - Newcastle. Saturday July 28.

Claire Kelly (vcl); Steve Glendinning (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs).
(Review by Lance)

From the moment Claire swung into Tiptoe Gently I relaxed. This was going to be good. With Paul Grainger laying down the pulse on bass and Steve Glendinning providing key and sympathy the mood was set for a nicely balanced trio.

Tubby Hayes meets Sal Nistico

Steve Owen drew this vintage piece by Les Tompkins to my attention. Tompkins, brings the late and legendary tenormen Sal Nistico and Tubby Hayes together to talk about jazz and saxophones and music in general. It is fascinating stuff and reminds us of the great loss the jazz world suffered when these two died so young.

The article first appeared as part of Crescendo Magazine's Anglo-American Exchange series.back in the 1960's.

Read it here.

Lance.

CD Review: Ellington Saxophone Encounters. Mark Masters' Ensemble

Gary Foster, Don Shelton (alt/clt); Gene Cipriano, Pete Christlieb (ten); Gary Smulyan (bar); Bill Cunliffe (pno); Tom Warrington (bs); John La Barbera (dms).
(Review by Lance).

The idea was to take compositions by five of Ellington's major sax players - Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Ben Webster, Jimmy Hamilton and Harry Carney and arrange them for a sax section comprising of five of today's leading players. The result, to put it mildly, is sensational!

A memory from the '80s

Thanks to Ernie Jackson for this memory of a rather remarkable event.
Lance.

The Honey Bop Trio @ Hoochie Coochie

Hannah Rickard (vcl/gtr/vln); David Patten (gtr); Johnny Kavanagh (bs).

(Review by Lance).

Carrying on from The Sage's Americana weekend The Honeybop Trio - the name comes from a Wanda Jackson song - were themselves one of the outdoor stage attractions at that event, gave a performance that went from Country to Western Swing to Rockabilly to Rock 'n Roll with perhaps just a hint of jazz along the way.

Well more than a hint as Rickard has the kind of voice that adjusts to the genre and has been heard in jazz situations in the past.

A Ship Without a Sail by Gary Marmorstein

A Ship Without a Sail by Gary Marmorstein (Simon & Shuster) is a new biography of Lorenz Hart - one of the greatest of all Broadway lyricists. It's not just the music - it's also a tale of law suits and litigation. Of chicanery and contested wills - compelling.

He was the son of hustler and grafter, Max Hart. At Columbia University, Lorenz Hart met a younger student, Richard Rodgers. They would eventually write 26 Broadway musicals over a period of roughly 20 years, as well as several Hollywood film musicals. A sometimes exuberant, sometimes troubled artist, Hart wrote the lyrics to hundreds of songs, many of which have become standards in the American Songbook.

Read an extract here.

Lance.

Sneak peek of a school visit at the PizzaExpress jazz club in Soho, London

C
Catch 'em young is the motto here - Who knows there maybe a future Pizza Express Star here - either on stage or in the kitchen!
Lance.

CD Review ‘METROPOLIS’ Peter Cincotti

Peter Cincotti (vocals, piano, keyboards); various musicians on guitar, bass, programming, drums, strings, percussion, spoken word.
(Review by Ann Alex.)

This is a very good listen, but not at all jazz, rather what I would call ‘intelligent rock’.  The lyrics are  interesting and skilled with many of the songs telling a story, and every word is crystal clear, even though there is lots of instrumentation and technology involved in the accompaniment.  This is the cd you’d play at parties and some tracks wouldn’t be out of place as rock anthems in a stadium concert.

Jilted!

The Sage have just informed me that the Wedding Dress Ball - scheduled for August 25 - has been cancelled. So alas, ladies, the opportunity to give that exclusive gown by Marcus Spenceri a final twirl is gone - flog it on eBay instead. 

Lance.

Record Review from December 22, 1939 Jazz Information magazine

COLEMAN HAWKINS’ Orchestra (SB 10523)

Body And Soul - Fine Dinner.

Tommy Lindsay, Joe Guy trumpets; Earl Hardy, trombone; Jackie Fields, Eustis Moore, alto saxes: Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Gene Rodgers, piano; Oscar Smith, bass: Arthur Herbert, drums.

Coleman Hawkins’ second record has been released, and again we are compelled to report that his improvisations on the slow tunes are sterile and meaningless, and his tone on the fast side forced and unpleasant. In reply to Mr. Caughren, who criticized our stand on Hawkins in the December 8 number, we might observe that the point at issue is not the roughness of Hawkins’ tone, but its quality. A tone can be rough - - like Pee Wee Russell’s - without being strained. A good jazz tone on any wind instrument,we insist, must combine force with restraint in some degree of balance. The finest and hottest intonation comes when great power is firmly controlled. When the control slips, you have the kind of tenor Hawkins plays on Fine Dinner. And not only the tone fails, but the phrasing, which becomes stiff and a bit sloppy.

On Body And Soul the trouble is different. No forcing here, and the tone is immensely better, even if a little sentimental. But Hawkins plays almost entirely without inspiration: his variations are mechanically constructed of cliches and without much logic.

Hawkins' talent in his Henderson days was undeniably fine, and we don’t doubt that he can do much better than the new records show. His present band is certainly uninspiring.

Jazz Information December 22, 1939.

A Very Long Splinter @ The Bridge Hotel. Sunday July 22

(Review by Russell).
Splinter at the Bridge’s season-ending all day festival enticed a good number of folk, some were in it for the long haul - from noon ‘til late - and one keen jazzer made the journey from the west coast (Cumbria not California). The Lindsay Hannon Plus got things under way with a set of tunes drawn from the standard repertoire and beyond including Anais Mitchell’s Old Fashioned Hat and Billy Joel’s Where’s the Orchestra? Hannon’s sensitive interpretation of a lyric and her self-penned lyrics to Joshua Redman’s Wish held the attention. The band - Alan Law (piano), Andy Champion (bass) and Mark Robertson (drums) - went for a lazy saloon bar take on So long, Big Time as Hannon closed a good opening set.

Montreux Jazz Festival 2012. Triple Bill July 11.

Fourplay:: Bob James - Piano, Nathan East - Bass, Chuck Loeb - Guitar, Harvey Mason - Drums.

(Review by Ron Ainsborough).

I recently checked out Fourplay on Spotify and most of it was classed as 'smooth jazz'! But, when you see them live in a festival situation, forget 'smooth jazz', they played the most exciting 'straight-ahead jazz' as good as you're likely to hear. Tight arrangements, musicianship and improvising were out of this world, and the exchanges between all four 'players' were exceptional. Wonderful improvising constantly going on. In other words, I think they are a 'fantastic band' to see live, playing everything you would want to hear at a Jazz Concert.

I didn't catch the titles of the pieces played, although some of them were quite familiar. A great start, and Herbie Hancock on next!

Wanda Jackson at the Sage Summertyne Americana Festival.Saturday July 21

Wanda Jackson (vocals); Simon ? (keys); Graham ? (drums); John? ( bass guitar); Derek? (guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).

Wanda Jackson entertained us mightily, even though she was troubled by laryngitis on this final performance of her three week tour, which had covered such far flung places as Spain, Portugal and Holland.  Her warm personality and the interesting tales of her life were as good to hear as the

full-throated rock and roll that she performed.  Did you know that she had dated Elvis Presley, or that she became a born-again Christian in 1971?  Confessing that last fact takes some courage in this day and age.  Anyway, what about the music, you ask me?

Doctor John and the Lower 911 @ The Sage Americana Festival.

I should have gone to the Splinter 'All-Dayer'. at The Bridge, I could have looked in on the Americana 'Outdoor Stage". There were other gigs too but, for me, the only game in town was in Paris and on the Champs Elysée. What a finish to Le Tour! Mark Cavendish burst from the pack like 'El Gato' in the finale of a Duke Elington suite to blow everyone away. As for Duke, call him Bradley Wiggins with second placed Chris Froome as first lieutenant, Billy Strayhorn. The greatest ever day for British Cycling

Over at The Sage, Doctor John produced a rockin' set that deserved and got a standing ovation. Apart from the dirty low down blues laid down by the good doctor on piano, organ and vocals, there were yellow jersey performances from Jon Cleary on keys, Raymond (Weber?) on drums, I didn't catch all the names but Sarah, a young trombone player and Darren on baritone sax made a good horn section whilst the Fenders were used effectively by Dave (bass) and John (lead).

Sarah and The Doc had a great vocal duet on Makin' Whoopee and overall the show was a tonic to watch and listen to. I prescribe it to anyone  - heap good medicine.

Earlier, support band, Phantom Limb provided  a solid opening set.

Lance.

Lover Man by Keith Armstrong

A blurred blue evening sky,
an exhausted sun
propped up by the rooftops.
A vision
of the wracked shrieking body
of Charlie Parker
running a losing race
with his music,
the man reenacting
his bitter tortured love.

The Puppini Sisters @ The Americana Festival, The Sage, Gateshead.

Marcello Puppini, Stephanie O'Brien, Kate Mullins (The "Puppini Sisters"); Blake Wilner (gtr); Henrik Jensen (bs); Pete? (dms).

Irrespective of what's been and what's to come - This Was It! 

Immaculately gowned and coiffured, the girls gave a stunning performance that, for me, was absolutely outstanding. 

The opener, Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, was inspired by - and possibly even eclipsed - the original Andrews Sisters version. That's how good it was. Was I In Love? (that was the tune's title and also the question I posed myself as these three lovely ladies strutted their stuff), Mr. Sandman (a fifties hit for The Chordettes) led to a take on Kay Starr's version of Side By Side. Kay did a multi track duet with herself back then and the girls simulated it superbly.

It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing - the first show-stopper.. The inspiration this time was provided by the greatest of all the early girl groups - The Boswell Sisters. If Connie Boswell had been around to hear this I swear she'd have leapt out of her wheelchair and joined in. Changes of mood and tempo plus snatches of Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby and Mambo Italiano made this something else!

I Feel Pretty and True Love eased the way for another Boswellian epic - Heebie Jeedbies. Was this the closer? No we had Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B as an encore. Wow! this was another classic. These girls don't just sing - they move and how! They can shake their butts better than almost anyone I know.
The accompanying group were absolutely right on the money and the girls themselves had some instrumental moments with Marcello playing accordion, Kate, glockenspiel and melodica and Stephanie, flute.

Next time let's have them back as headliners.

Lance.

Jenny O - The Sage Summertyne Americana Festival.

Another lone guitarist singer/songwriter (see Peter Molinari below), facing the problem of starting the show.  This young lady is quite a skilled guitarist and I’d have liked to hear some acoustic guitar solos, rather than some of the songs, which were reflections of love.  The trouble with this style of song is that it lacks the ‘hook’ that make many jazz and pop songs memorable.  The voice was sweet and bubbly, and more spirited when using the electric guitar.  Jenny appeared to be nervous and she perhaps needs to connect with the audience a little more.

Ann Alex  

The Sage Outdoor Stage @ the Summertyne Americana Festival

Performance Square was crowded at 4pm when I arrived, the sun shone, and the glorious fug of BBQ smoke was hanging in the air at the east entrance.  For the next two hours or so I relished 2 really good bands, not jazz, but great music, with some jazzy elements.

The Pine Hill Haints had a general rock and roll/country sound, but they covered many types of song, and I lost count of the instruments.  Guitars, drumkit, tea chest bass, a lady on washboard, banjo, bluegrass fiddle, and even something that sounded like a theremin, to get a ghostly effect.  And of course vocals, and songs including blues, folk songs about following your lover’s coffin, humorous Mexican songs, Where The Soul Never Dies, (which sounded as if it belonged to the Sacred Harp religious song collection), and the lovely religious folk song Will The Circle Be Unbroken.  And all delivered with aplomb and good humour.

Then came Mary Jean Lewis and the Starlight Boys (pictured above), with a more conventional set of instruments but no less aplomb.  Mary Jean on keys and vocals, two guitars, double bass, drumkit and saxophone.  The band stomped out the tunes, blues such as Mama You Treat your Daughter Mean, love songs (Lovin’ Fever) songs of American life (Cruisin Down the Strip).  All enjoyable, especially for the many dancers in front of the stage.  What fun!

Ann Alex 

More on the Magnolia Club

I was still at school when I first discovered jazz at the Royal Arcade. It was early 1952 and you had to become a member. The card I was given was titled the Club Magnolia. As a 16 year old schoolboy I was more interested in listening and jiving to hot music than who was running the club. I remember that it was unlicensed and the 1st band spot was normally The High Society New Orleans Band (This outfit was a bit too traditional for me) The second spot featured the Bernicia Jazz Band which copied the Eddie Condon sound. Finally the evening would end with the Panama Jazz Band - I always loved to hear Joe McMullen on trumpet as he was a great admirer of Freddy Randell, and attempted to play similar trumpet/cornet licks. This club was my favourite place for jazz until national service in 1954. The club during that period may have changed it's name, although I never had any problem being admitted or asked for a new card. When I came out of the army in 1956, the jazz scene had changed radically; I was now married and so I lost touch with club attendance. You may be right in your assertions. It was a long time ago. I kept the original card in my wallet for years until it finally crumbled away. At 76 years I still love most styles of music except contemporary jazz. It must be my age. I should imagine most of the fans who could corrorobate my story have all passed on by now.

Newton Cleghorn.

John Hiatt & The Combo - Americana Festival, The Sage, Gateshead.

John Hiatt (gtr/vcl); Nathan Gehr (bs); Kenneth Blevins (dms); Doug Lancio (mand); Brandon Young (vcl).
(Review by Lance)

Every so often I leave my jazz hat  behind and step into a different genre - most noticeably at The Sage's annual Americana Festival which imports country, rock and blues performers from "across the pond" as well as providing a platform for home grown talent to perform at Gateshead.

The sun shone and Performance Square was rocking to the Honeybop Trio when I arrived.. Hannah was in good voice.

Pete Molinari, The Sage Summertyne Americana Festival

Pete Molinari (vocals, acoustic guitar, mouth organ)

I hope I have this artist’s name correct.  I missed the first song because I lingered too long, drinking the excellent wine at the Press Reception.  I entered to find a lone figure on stage, singing love songs in a high, haunting voice, accompanying himself with a gentle guitar sound and a rather Dylanesque mouth organ on some of the songs.  The support act is a difficult role to fulfil, as most of the audience are just waiting for the real action to begin.  This musician entertained us as well as he could with what I assume were his own songs, one about ‘Helene’; another stating ‘farewell to you my love’.  The singing and playing were competent and pleasant to listen to, but the lyrics were somewhat clunky, with some hackneyed phrases.  I guess this performer will develop further, with more experience.

Ann Alex  

BBC Under Fire in York.

Those fans of quality music living in the York area may be interested in this letter from BSH regular Liz to The York Press re the axing of popular presenter Sandie Dunleavy.

I am shocked to learn Sandie Dunleavy is being axed by the BBC in the new year. She plays  the most pleasurable music on Radio York most evenings of the week, and it is the sort of mix which appeals to most ages, all quality stuff catering for those of us who appreciate a good tune and a good lyric. 

Once again the BBC is seeing fit to target those people over a certain age who rely on the radio for company and, in her case, quality. She has such a pleasing manner, chatting in between her choices, and generally creating a feeling of well being. Sandie, you are valued and it will be a sad day when you are no longer there to brighten up our evenings. Shame on the BBC, who I had hitherto always looked up to.

Elizabeth Harris.

The Funkalleros @ Hoochie Coochie

Graham Hardy (tpt); Paul Edis (keys); Neil Harland (bs); Rob Walker (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Graham Hardy, last seen at Hoochie four days previous with Hannabiell and Midnight Blue (Graham also played with NCRO at Tynemouth earlier that same day), fronted 3 fellow A - Listers for a pulsating couple of sets of pure funk.

When did the Magnolia Club blossom?

I wonder if any of our older visitors can recall the Magnolia Club? It was reportedly in the Royal Arcade, site of the original Newcastle Jazz Club. As the Newcastle Jazz Club was also known as Mahogany Hall maybe someone's memory is playing tricks on them!

Any thoughts?
Lance.

Anna Luca and her band, Library Theatre, South Shields, Wednesday July 18.

Anna Luca (vocals/keys); Christian Moorhen (percussion); Johans ? (electric bass guitar)

(Review by Ann Alex.)

This gig was a real bargain at £7.50 per ticket, which included a finger buffet, wine and the company of the Mayor of South Tyneside (Eileen Leask, my cousin, I couldn’t help mentioning that), and also a raffle ticket for an extra £1. The event was in aid of the Mayor’s charities so we were supporting good causes as well. The music was very enjoyable, not really jazz, but mostly sweet-voiced original songs from this very talented singer.

"...and you Shake(speare) it all about"

Django Bates drew this to my attention on Facebook - Lance.

From the Washington Post Style Invitational contest that asked readers to submit "instructions" for something (anything), but written in the style of a famous person. The winning entry was The Hokey Pokey (as written by William Shakespeare).

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.
        -- by "William Shakespeare"

---

Written by Jeff Brechlin, Potomac Falls, Maryland, and submitted by Katherine St. John.

Power Cats Organ Trio @ The Cluny. Tuesday July 17.

Gilad Atzmon (alto saxophone & clarinet), Ross Stanley (Hammond organ) & Asaf Sirkis (drums)

Gilad Atzmon has visited Newcastle several times over the years, latterly with the Orient House Ensemble. Middle Eastern musical influences have preoccupied the exiled Israeli for quite some time… until now. Atzmon has recruited the dynamic Hammond virtuoso Ross Stanley to work alongside long time drummer Asaf Sirkis

in a blues drenched bop trio. Standards flowed, one after another, from Ellington to Bird and beyond. Atzmon’s alto playing was up there with last week’s vsitors to Tyneside Greg Abate and Alan Barnes. Ross Stanley’s smokin’ Hammond and Asaf Sirkis’ forward momentum produced music of the highest level sustained across two sets. The sizeable Jazz North East audience in the Cluny – most of them absent from the Abate/Barnes’ gig at the Corner House some six days earlier – hollered, whistled and cheered after each solo. The applause at the end of the night was of a greater magnitude! The Cluny was a beboppers paradise, so too the Corner House. The fact that two almost entirely different audiences could frequent two venues little more than a mile apart will forever remain a mystery.

Russell

GFA to Honour Maurice Summerfield

The Board of Trustees of the Guitar Foundation of America has voted to honour Maurice Summerfield (pictured left with Martin Taylor) with its ‘Industry Leadership Award’ in recognition of Maurice’s extensive career as a proponent of music which has influenced generations of guitarists worldwide.

This award is part of the GFA’s ‘Hall of Fame’. It’s Industry Leadership Award is given to entrepreneurs and artisans that have made significant or visionary contributions to the advancement of the classical guitar and its community.

Maurice has been invited to receive this prestigious honour at the 2013 Guitar Foundation of America International Convention’s Award Ceremony which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on 30 June 2013.

Vieux Carré Jazzmen Going West

We've only 4 seats left on the coach for our Jazz Weekend in The Lake District at Bowness on Windermere. 

We're travelling there by luxury coach and staying in The Burnside Hotel (one of the Lake District's premier hotels) and it's only a few minutes walk to the town centre and the lakeside piers. 

Coach departs Whitley Bay at 10.30am on Friday 3 August, picks up at The Corner House, Heaton at 10.50am and returns Sunday 5 August around 6.30pm

Cost includes:

Luxury Coach Travel 

3 jazz sessions with the Vieux Carre Jazzmen (Friday & Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon) 

2 nights with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast in a Superior Room 

Sunday Dinner with Jazz  

On Saturday 4 August we are also having a cruise to Ambleside on a Lake Windermere 'steamer'.

Twin or double room: £245 per person 

Single room: £295 

Brian 

0191 252 9429 or 07710 528413

CD Review: Hannabiell and Midnight Blue. With Us.

After their recent gig at Hoochie Coochie I intended to review Hannabiell and  Midnight Blue's superb CD With Us but, after reading Ann's review of the disc written after the CD launch party, it occurred to me that no way could I improve upon this so instead I've re-posted her original review.
Lance.

Hannabiell Sanders ("Tyler" the bass trombone, percussion,mbira, vocal); Yilis Suriel (djembe, mbira, percussion); John Pope (bass); George Magrath (drums); Nate Shaw (keyboard); Mark Edwards (vibraphone); Helen Papaioannou (saxophone); Nuala Kennedy (vocal, penny whistle); Thuli Mazwi (vocal); Ali Gillies (Nintendo DS Sampler).

(Review by Ann Alex)

Carrying Cole To Newcastle - Daryl Sherman @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Daryl Sherman (pno/vcl); John Hallam (ten/clt); Roy Percy (bs).

If John Hallam and Roy Percy hadn't turned up. If Daryl had never sung a note or touched the piano keyboard this would still have been a great gig. Just listening to her talk about Cole Porter, The Waldorf Astoria and the various tit-bits were in themselves fascinating.

The fact that Hallam and Percy were there and that the now blonde Daryl sung and played Cole Porter as only she can made this a cut above most gigs you've heard or are likely to hear.

The eternal debate as to what is a Jazz Singer was well and truly answered tonight. No need to scat - scatting is just so so yesterday. It's all in the phrasing, the unusual interval, the slight re-working of the lyric or the tune, the hanging that fraction behind the beat, the anticipation of the next one. Sinatra and Billie did it to perfection and so does Daryl Sherman.

Tonight's Cole Porter tribute featured most of the songs from her latest album Mississippi Belle (see cd review) and once again gave credence to Digby Fairweather's assertion on Daryl's last visit that she was the greatest living jazz singer. The lady plays fine piano too.

John Hallam slotted in easily blowing lots of Ben Websterish tenor and some nice clarinet on Night and Day and Rosalie - which may be the tune we were trying to remember during the interval - and Roy Percy played some solid bass albeit, on occasion, a little too much slap for my personal taste.

One of the things that impressed me tonight (there were too many to list 'em all) was Lady D's pitching when singing with just double bass accompaniment - ne'er a quarter tone went awry!

Loved every moment and only sorry time didn't allow me to have a longer chat with her afterwards and to grab a few photos.

Come back soon.

Lance.
PS: Daryl Sherman is at the Green Man, Norwich tomorrow (July 17) and at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival  Friday and Saturday (July 20/21).

Alter Ego @ The Bridge Hotel. Sunday July 15.

Keith Robinson (alto saxophone), Niall Armstrong (tenor saxophone & flute), Alex Leathard (trombone), Andy Hawking (keyboards), Andy Champion (bass) & David Francis (drums)

Splinter at the Bridge booked bop sextet Alter Ego to close the current season of gigs prior to next week’s all day big bash finale. Blakey Blue Note bop, Latin and sambas formed the basis of two well balanced sets. Trombonist Alex Leathard, standing in for   the indisposed Dave Hignett (trumpet), handled the material with ease and made the  most of several solo spots. Johnny Griffin’s Nice and Easy featured contributions from Leathard, Niall Armstrong on tenor and Andy Hawking (keyboards). Armstrong impressed on flute, notably on Zee Kay 30. Andy Champion’s new five string fretless bass was given a good work-out with one or two most impressive solos thrown in for good measure. The set list included Art Blakey material and sure enough David Francis excelled, not least on the closer ETA. Alter Ego’s ensemble playing is a strength and each member of the sextet is a more than competent soloist. The audience appreciated their efforts…a shame therefore that so few people bothered to turn up. Next week get ready for a ten hour marathon. Arrive at noon, ensure the bar does good business, feel free to come and go throughout the day and enjoy some of the very best jazz you’re likely to hear in a month of Sundays. 12 noon, Sunday 22 July. All for £6.00.

Russell                 

ACV and Zoe at Swanage Jazz Festival.

(l-r); Andy Champion, Adrian Tilbrook, Paul Edis, Zoe Gilby (Champion); Mark Williams; Graeme Wilson.

Photo courtesy of Adrian Tilbrook who tells me "Both bands went down great - ACV sold loads of CDs during an early morning gig in the Methodist Church - Hallelujah".
Lance.

Hannabiell and Midnight Blue @ Hoochie Coochie

Hannabiell Sanders Tyler (Tmb/perc.vcl); Yilis Suriel (perc); Graham Hardy (tpt/flg); Stu Collingwood (keys); David Mabutt (bs); George McGrath? (dms); Mark Barfoot (perc); ? (vcl)..
(Review by Lance).

Hannabiell sells excitement by the djembefull and the customers buy it with enthusiastic applause. The routine, as always, begins with the bubbly Afro/American/Adopted Geordie pounding away on the djembe creating the most complex and compelling, frenzied, rhythmic, patterns then, just as we think the ultimate has been reached, on comes Suriel to increase the tension! 

OMG! this is unbearable!

Pete Gilligan Trio @ Jazz Café

Pete Gilligan (pno); Ray Truskett (bs); Ian Forbes (dms); ? (gtr).

Pete and Ray kicked off, and I use the verb advisedly, with A Foggy Day (in London Town) perhaps an ominous choice given the news that PG may soon be experiencing it, the fog, first hand. - no he's not in the Olympics!

However, the duo gave a performance that, were there a Jazz Olympics, would be in contention for a medal. Things got even better when veteran stickman Ian Forbes made it three (in 3/4) for Up Jumped You With Spring. Other tunes included Straight No Chaser, Desifinado, Time Remembered and Stella By Starlight.

A young guitarist sat in and showed a willingness to learn from the masters unfortunately, hunched over his guitar, his long hair dangling in front of his eyes made it difficult for him to communicate with Pete or see the chords!

Would have stayed longer but Hannabiell and Hoochie Coochie beckoned.

Lance.

Of Mice and Jazzmen. July 14, 2012

(Review by Russell - Photo by Oliver Soden).

Plan A. Monument Metro station mid-morning. Take the leisurely route through South Tyneside, explore South Shields market, catch the Shields’ ferry to the north side, jump on a train to Tynemouth and stroll along to the jazz stage to hear the first of two days of  classic-era jazz. 

Plan B. Take the leisurely route then minutes into the journey hear the train driver announce that due to a truck hitting a road bridge further on up the line the train would terminate at Hebburn. Take the bus or walk? Walk. Half a mile along the road it rained. Connect with another train down the line at Jarrow. Arrive South Shields. King Street. 

The end of Jazz North East as-we-have-known-it?

The next gig on 17/7 may well be the last - at least, that is, with Jazz Action funding. Jazz Action, jazz development agency for the North East and our core funder for many years, will cease to exist at the end of September due to the Arts Council's decision to re-direct their funding to a new agency covering Yorkshire, the North West and the North East. So the gig, of which details are given in the RH column, is the last we will mount with their funding for mainstream jazz. We do still have a very small amount of City Council grant aid in hand for events until the end of March 2013 but this is for what might be termed very low budget free improv gigs - not to everyone's taste and certainly not featuring the international names with which JNE's 'On the Outside' programme has become synonymous.

So from here on it's a matter of chasing project funding and commercial sponsorship and, ironically, cash from abroad in the form of overseas bands funded to tour in the UK. Keep your fingers crossed for us and support the gig on Tuesday!

Dave Clarke.
Jazz North East.

WIN TICKETS FOR - The remarkable new musical Jazz at Cafe Society

WIN two tickets to Jazz at Cafe Society next Tuesday 17 July, courtesy of our friends over at Tricycle Theatre. All you have to do is drop us an email at seriouscompetitions@gmail.com with your name by midnight tonight to be in with a chance of winning. (Be warned, if you don't enter by midnight your coach will turn back into a pumpkin).
Updated info on show.

Jazz at Cafe Society is a new musical starring Gwyneth Herbert, China Moses (Daughter of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Alexander Stewart, narrated by Max Reinhardt and written and directed by Alex Webb. 

From 1938 to 1947 Cafe Society played host to some of the finest musical talent of the 20^th century, including Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and many others. It was also the first New York music venue to racially desegregate both the audience and the bandstand. Jazz at Cafe Society tells the story of this historic club and the quiet hero who founded it, Barney Josephson.

The Times gave it a four-star rave ("a genuine treat") on its London Jazz Festival premiere.

The Tricycle Theatre 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR 

Monday 16 July – Saturday 21 July 2012  Tickets £15 - £21

Tickets from www.tricycle.co.uk/ Box Office tel 020 7328 1000.

If you're in town next week - forget the West End - this looks to be a must see show.

Lance.

Mike Durham update on Daryl Sherman - only 3 days to go!

I just had to bring this concert to your attention, as I think it deserves to be well-supported - in the first place because it will be an evening of great music, and in the second place because we need to encourage The Sage to book more of this kind of straight-ahead jazz, as well as their more avant-garde programming. 

The concert in question features New York singing and piano star Daryl Sherman in a programme of songs by Cole Porter, rather wittily entitled "Carrying Cole To Newcastle". Daryl has been a mainstay of the New York jazz scene for some time now, in fact she has been appearing at the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan for some fourteen years, playing Cole Porter's very own Steinway Grand piano. In her early days as a professional musician, she was the pianist and vocalist with the very last version of the Artie Shaw Orchestra, and since then has played and recorded with a host of U.S. jazz stars.

Clark Terry Donations

Steve Voce has kindly updated me on the best way to donate to the Clark Terry Care Appeal (See previous post by Derek Cogger).

Steve tells me a PayPal account enables a donation to be sent to Gwen Terry's Email address which is gterry9994@aol.com. To do this simply Google 'PayPal' and follow the 'send money' link.
There is a small charge of just under £3 for any donation big or small. Clark's money for care runs out in September so time is of the essence.

Lance.

Greg Abate/Alan Barnes w. Stu Collingwood Trio @ Corner House, Newcastle.

Greg Abate (alt/fl); Alan Barnes (alt); Stu Collingwood (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms).

(Review by Lance.)

Jazz North East was rewarded for presenting this imaginative line-up by a near capacity audience and deservedly so.

American, Greg Abate played a great gig here a year ago - pairing him with his UK counterpart Alan Barnes promised to be something special.

CD Review: Anna Estrada - Volanda.

(Review by Lance).

Anna Estrada isn't a name I'm familiar with although this is in fact her third album. Nevertheless, it is a name to remember - particularly if you like your jazz on the Brazilian side. Surprisingly, because the feel is distinctly Jobim, there aren't any numbers by Antonio Carlos proving he doesn't have the monopoly!

Instead we get The Beatles (Happiness is a Warm Gun), Nillson (Everybody's Talking), Cole Porter (Begin the Beguine sung in Spanish); Bowie (Wild is the Wind), Tony Newley (Pure Imagination) to mention but a few of the excellent tracks on this attractive album..

Help – I can’t get to the Daryl Sherman gig – she must return soon!

And if you can’t make it either, then you are invited to the Jazz Cafe in Newcastle’s Pink Lane next Monday, July 16th, from 7 to 10 pm. This is an all-comers jam session, hosted by Lindsey Hannon and the Blue Jazz Quintet, with singers from Lindsey’s Sage jazz-singing class. Expect to hear a tango version of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise; the swing of They Can’t Take That Away from Me, and many others, maybe even a bit of blues, or an original composition. So come along and bring your axe, your voice, and anything else that you can make music with.

Ann Alex.

PS: And if Daryl finishes early she’s welcome to drop by.

Remembering Eric. The Jazz Esquires @ The Porthole, North Shields.

Miles Watson (tpt/vcl); Terry Dalton (tmb); Tony Winder (ten/sop/clt); George Laing (pno); Robin Douthwaite (gtr); Stan Nicholson (bs); Laurie Brown (dms). Brian Lynam (hca/vcl), Derek ? (dms).
(Review by Lance.)

I've never made an entrance quite like it! I strolled casually into The Porthole with seven women in attendance. Allen Eager? This was Peter Stringfellow and counting!

Central among this bevy was Eileen - close friend of the late Eric Delaney and this week was the anniversary of the great drummer's death.

International Jazz Talent To Perform South Shields Concert

An exciting new discovery on the international jazz scene is making a special appearance at a one-off concert in South Shields next week.

Swedish-German Anna Luca is performing in support of the Mayor's Charity at 7.30pm next Wednesday (July 18) at the Central Library Theatre, Prince Georg Square.

Anna is visiting the Borough with her husband Christiane Mohrhenn and his band Knapp Daneben from South Tyneside's twin town of Wuppertal.

The band is playing a number of gigs as part of the South Tyneside Summer Festival.

Two Mighty Gigs in Store

I can't help it but I'm getting excited - potentially two gigs of the year within 4 days of each other! 

Thursday at The Corner House - Greg Abate and Alan Barnes with Stu Collingwood (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms). Abate played a mind-blowing set here last year and this time he's with Alan Barnes! This is going to be the instrumental gig of the year! These two guys are going to make the sparks fly and the adrenaline flow. Don't miss it.

Then on Monday it's the fabulous Daryl Sherman at The Sage! Ask anyone who saw her two years ago at The Saville and at Trinity and they will tell you you are in for a great big treat. Singing Cole Porter (Bringing Cole to Newcastle!) as part of a UK tour that includes Pizza Express, various Festivals and major venues it is unbelievable that anyone who loves jazz singing (and piano playing) would even miss this for their grandma's funeral! John Hallam's on sax/clt and Roy Percy's on bass.

If this were Wimbledon I'd be camping out for both of these gigs! 

Lance.

RIP Lol Coxhill

Sad to learn of the death of saxophonist Lol Coxhill, one of the UK's first genuine free improvisers. In truth his music didn't always quite got through to me but I appreciated his earlier blues based work, his dedication to his beliefs and the high regard he was held in by his followers. 

Lol Coxhill died earlier today. He was 79.

Obituary.
Lance.

CD Review - “Benoit Viellefon Hot Club live at the Quecumbar“

Benoit Viellefon (vcl/gtr), Pedro Velasco (gtrs); Geoffrey Threadgold (dbl bs); Dave Shulman (sax/clt); Peter Horsfall (tpt); Peter Watson (acc).

(Review by Lance).

The Quecumbar is London's and possibly Europe's most renowned Gypsy Jazz venue so it was a natural place for the Benoit Viellefon Hot Club to record this, their most recent CD.

In a field that has no shortage of competition both at home and abroad it says much for Benoit's ensemble that they can bear comparision with any of them. There is an authenticity about the sound and the solos that make it hard to believe that this isn't an actual pre-war recording - which for this type of band is the ultimate accolade. (This effect was obtained by the use of a single recording mic.)

Art Pepper: Tastes from the Widow's kitchen

More gems from Laurie Pepper including a track and links to her memoir.
Keep 'em coming Laurie we love you.
Lance.

The Bridges Festival 2012 Jazz Boat: West Jesmond Rhythm Kings

Saturday 4th August, 7pm (Boarding 6.30pm by The Pitcher and Piano)

Listen to 1920’s hot jazz and 1930’s swing with the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings. This boat trip will finish with a perfect view of the fireworks display on the River Tyne at 9.30pm.

The West Jesmond Rhythm Kings are a premier 20s/30s jazz group, much in demand at home and in Europe and beyond. Expect hot dance tunes from King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bix Beiderbecke and many more! www.wjrk.co.uk

Tickets £18 – includes a great view of the evening firework display

Book Tickets

Presented as part of NewcastleGateshead Bridges Festival – a trail of discovery around our bridges produced by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative. Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th August.

Sounds like a good way to pass the Tyne.

Lance.

Welcome aboard Desmond.

Where do I begin to thank you?

Our exchange re Peter Fielding was just the start! The link with back copies of the dear 'ol 'Melody Maker' triggered even more memories - memories I shall share with old ex musician friends I have --and who are still around!

I randomly brought up the 16th February 1952 edition, and on the front page noted that George Evans was 'reorganising at Newcastle' and that Lena Horne was to tour 'in June'.

With regard to Lena's tour (with husband Lennie Hayton), her backing band was, the Teddy Foster Orchestra, whose line up included my pal and best man, trombonist Eric Noble (now 82) who I still see each year in Tenerife, to natter about 'the old days'!

I guess finding your website means that I shall be shutting myself away for the duration. Happily, my long suffering wife of 56 years (whom I met whilst at the Astoria, Charing Cross Road, London) knows of my passion for music and those good days gone by!

Desmond.

"The Pope's" Birthday.

Happy Birthday John from Bebop Spoken Here.

CD Review: Joe Jackson - Duke.

(Review by Lance).
Described as an unconventional salute to Ellington it is certainly that! Nevertheless, it isn't an album to dismiss out of hand irrespective of whether you're in the "Duke who?" camp or the "Was he a DJ who had a cat called Tiddles?" care home. 

This is an intriguing album featuring a host of contemporary rock/pop/jazz musicians discovering the greatest jazz composer of them all.

CD Review: Sleepers - Keith Jarrett.

Keith Jarrett (pno/perc.); Jan Garbarek (ten/sop/fl/perc.); Palle Danielsson (bs); Jon Christensen (dms/perc.).
(Review by Lance)

A previously unreleased double CD recorded in Tokyo during Jarrett's 1979 tour Sleeper is a welcome addition to the Jarrett discography by what was referred to at the time as his "European Quartet". In many ways it's a typical Jarrett excursion with lots of wildly exciting charges displaying the man's phenomenal technique as well as showing the range of beautiful moods he could create in between . No less animated is Garbarek. He puts the boot in forcefully and imaginatively a far cry from some of his later more ethereal meanderings - in 1979 he did the business. Not that this is all crash, bang, wallop! There are many tender and lyrical moments not least the evocative interchanges between  Jarrett and Garbarek.

Manchester Jazz Festival News

Some  jazz fans may be interested in this aspect of Manchester Jazz Festival.
Lance.

Czech These Sites Out.

Prague, I'm told, has a thriving jazz scene as these two sites indicate. http://praguejazz.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://www.lowcostholidays.com/prague-guide/jazz.htm.
If you have any questions about Jazz in Prague let me know and I'll forward them on.
Lance.

Peter Fielding Lives with Little Lady Make Believe

More Peter Fielding! Thanks to Desmond Jones for this collectors item. Note the reference to Oxford Galleries, Newcastle.
Lance.
Original item.

Jesus just left Chicago headed down Ouseburn way. Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars, Tyne Bar July 8.

Ray Stubbs (vocals & harmonica), John Hedley (guitar), Ray Snowdon (keyboards), Max Whitehouse (bass) & Brian Ferry (drums)

Godfather of the blues Ray Stubbs possesses the sixty-a-day vocal chords of which other blues vocalists can but dream. Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy, Albert King and Sleepy John Estes provided the inspiration for the veteran bluesman’s set. Harp ever at hand, his sound is straight out of South Side Chicago (with just a little bit of ‘south of the Tyne’ Gateshead!). The Tyne Bar was busy, the regulars knew what they were going to get and Stubbs’ band didn’t disappoint. John Hedley’s guitar ghosted Hubert Sumlin then Kings Albert and BB as Ray Snowdon rattled the keys atop blues beat engine boys Max Whitehouse (bass) and Brian Ferry (drums). Stubbs does what he does as well as anyone and he plays exactly what he wants to play. The crowd loved it. The set list will be similar next time out and next year and the year after. That is exactly as it should be.

Russell         

Mark Williams Trio w. Zoe Gilby. Bridge Hotel, Newcastle.

Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs); Richard Brown (dms); Zoe Gilby (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)

This was one of those gems that kind of sneak up on you. A "Celtic Jazz" ensemble had cancelled - so, rather than cancel, Mark Williams and co stepped in.

The mood was set by Mark with an evocative rending of Darn That Dream. Solo guitar never sounded as good as this - Colin, our man from Hong Kong, drew comparisons with Martin Taylor and justifiably so. This was guitar playing at the highest level.

Great Website For Django Fans

Received this link from site regular Liz and her son Kevin. It is without doubt the definitive Django site with lots of chronological details, rare video clips and photos of the great guitarist and his musical accomplices.

Well worth checking out.

Thanks guys.

Lance.
http://www.patrus53.com/django-bio-english

From the archives

A few names not unknown to North East readers in this Crescendo (October 1965) article by Brian Hartness a.k.a. Brian Fisher.
Lance.

CD Review: Træben - Push.

Soren Ballegaard (ten/bar, most notably on We'll Let you know); Jens Larsen (gtr); Olaf Meijer (bs);  Haye Jellema (dms).

(Review by Lance).

I have to be honest, when it comes to contemporary European jazz ensembles I am a Euro-sceptic. Too often the sounds are beyond my conception of what jazz is - often beyond my conception of music - so it was with some trepidation that I tentatively slid this CD on to the player.

My misgivings were totally unfounded!

Bradley Wiggins in Yellow

Early days I know but it is good to see Bradley Wiggins wearing Le Maillot Jeune in Le Tour - whether he can hold the jersey all the way to Paris is another matter but we wish him well - Sky's The Limit!
Of course we also wish Andy Murray - a tennis player - well in the hope that we may finally see him smile.
Lance.

The Golden Highway - The Grand Union Orchestra

The Grand Union Orchestra is one of those organisations that are totally impossible to categorise - they cover so many genres even during the course of one piece.
The Golden Highway is a brilliant example of this 'multi-tasking' with splash of grand opera intermingled with latin/motown/jazz and funk plus a few more. Click on the link to learn and hear more.
Oh yes then there's a terrific lyric by Colin Sell:

Chapeaux Colin Sell! and thank you Andrea Picton for bringing this to my attention on Facebook.
Lance.

Caption wanted.

Colin sent me this great photo of his dad, Hughie Aitchison and sax player Martin Simon. What, we wonder, is Hughie trying to tell Martin?
Lance.

Djangologie @ Ashington Jazz Club. July 4

James Birkett (guitar), Emma Fisk (violin), Giles Strong (guitar) and Mick Shoulder (bass)

(Review by Peter S.)
Our Guest group for this evening attracted a very good audience of enthusiastic members and new faces. With the musicians warming up like athletes before the concert it was obvious that we were about to experience a superb evening.  

From the first bar we were transported imaginatively back in time to the sounds of Paris bars and night clubs. The music rekindled the ambience of Montmartre with the basilica of the Sacre Coeur towering above.  One could imagine the artists gathering up their easels and heading for the nearest café to enjoy good food and wine to the melodies of Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli.  Djangologie do just that in the most professional and masterful performances.  The audience responded to the energy of brisk rhythms while listening intently to the beautiful melodic arrangements . The Quartet have formed a unique combo who are so well integrated in the pleasures of playing this most popular music format  I’m sure Django and Stephan would applaud the contribution Dajangologie make in continuing our love of this Jazz form.