Afternoon
Jazz
Precarity John Akomfrah’s film (2017, 46 mins) about Buddy Bolden (see above).
Classic Swing - Jesmond Royal British Legion Club, West Jesmond Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 3EX. Tel: 0191 281 0736. 1:00pm. Free.
Rendezvous Jazz - Monkseaton Arms, Front Street, Monkseaton NE25 8DP. Tel: 0191 251 3928. 1:00pm. Free.
Evening.
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things - Forum Cinema, Market Place, Hexham NE46 1XF. Tel: 01434 601144. 7:00pm. £8.30. - £5.80. Film (2019, 89 mins) directed by Leslie Woodhead. Swing Bridge Trio in Café Bar following screening.
Dave O’Higgins & Colin Oxley - Great Broughton Village Hall, Ingleby Road, Great Broughton TS9 7ER. 7:30pm. £20.00. ‘O’Higgins & Oxley Play Monk & ‘Trane’. Oxley replaces Rob Luft.
Paul Taylor - Ushaw College, Durham DH7 7DW. Tel: 0191 334 5119. 7:30pm. Free (donations). An Ushaw Piano Festival event.
Jazz Lads - Saltburn Cricket Club, Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn TS12 1HJ. Tel: 01287 622761. 8:00pm. £5.00.
Guisborough Big Band - Saltburn Golf Club, Guisborough Road, Saltburn TS12 1NJ. Tel: 01287 622812. Time TBC.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool - Tyneside Cinema, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle NE1 6QG. Tel: 0191 227 5500. Time 8:30pm. Screening of Stanley Nelson's documentary film (2019, cert. 15, 1hr 55mins).
Blues/Soul etc.
Ray Stubbs R & B All Stars - Billy Bootleggers, Nelson St, Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free.
To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.
3 comments :
Sad to hear this. He was one of the greats. Some pals saw him at the Wales Guitar Fest a few years back and said he was amazing and a perfect gentleman too, and very humble. His vertically stacked, close voiced chords were a trademark of his and something new at the time. They are very difficult to finger (big hands help) and in that respect he pushed the existing boundaries of jazz guitar playing. He had immaculate technique. Also he played a key role in guitar development and design both with Gibson and Guild. A truly nice guy who became a legendary figure and a member of jazz guitar royalty.
Roly
Although I never met Johnny Smith – I did have had mail contact with him over the years and found him to be a perfect gentleman. He was always totally modest about his enormous talent and about the extent of his influence on so many other guitarists.
I first heard his distinctive lush chording and crystal clear single-note soloing on the historic 1952 recording of ‘Moonlight in Vermont’.. This recording, with Stan Getz, gained great popularity even outside the regular jazz audience – and enjoyed very large sales. I soon began collecting every available Johnny Smith recording – and I still have and enjoy them all to this day.
Many people do not know that although the guitar was his first instrument, Johnny Smith began his professional career in the late 1940's as a trumpeter with the New York Philharmonic. However once Johnny’s mastery of the guitar in his inimitable and unique style was recognised he became staff guitarist with the NBC in the 1950s.
All the great jazz guitarists I have known have always spoken of their great admiration of Johnny both as a person and as one of the most influential jazz guitarists of all times.
Maurice Summerfield
Lance - you are the bearer of the bad news. As you know Johnny Smith was a major influence in my style of chordal playing. I also have everything he ever recorded. I had some fascinating conversations with him at a guitar seminar in Wrexham when he recalled some of his memories of recording with Jerri Southern and Ruth Price among others. He was a true gentleman who in recent years enjoyed game fishing in the gulf of California.
He was totally surprised by the reception he received from the guitarists at the seminar. I went to the seminar simply so I could meet him and a great moment for me was to have my photograph taken with the great man which was published in the Just Jazz Guitar magazine.
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