Bill Gallon drew this item to our attention - Louis Armstrong Desert Island Discs Archived On-line.
Thanks Bill.
Lance.
For the last twelve years we've been updating the world about jazz in the north east of England and updating the north east of England about jazz in the world. WINNER of the Jazz Media Category in the 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Contact lanceliddle@gmail.com
Bebop Spoken There
Clare Teal: "If you're brought up in a working-class family, you haven't got money for records so everything you get hold of, you treasure, learn to love, and I loved those Ella tapes." - (Radio Times 23-29 January 2021)

The Things They Say!
Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.
Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

Postage
12,399 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 12 years ago. 118 of them this year alone and, so far, 118 this month (Jan. 25).

Saturday, January 31, 2015
Dead Hedge Trio @ The Jazz Café. January 30

(Review by Russell/photos by Kath Jobes - left - and Mike Tilley - Right.)

Gig of the Month (January)
I haven't been to very many gigs this month so perhaps my colleagues Russell, Steve, Ken, Ann, Kath etc can add their choices.
For me the Paul Skerritt Band at Hoochie Coochie stood out as did The Allsorts Band at The Globe, The DB Project at the Jazz Café and, of course, the two jam sessions at the latter venue.
I look forward to your choices.Lance.
PS: Of course tonight's gigs at the Jazz Café or The Globe could well join the above list!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone. January 29
(Review by Russell)
The Strictly Smokin’ session at
the Millstone is fast becoming the ‘must get to’ gig on the local scene, second
only to the band’s all too infrequent appearances at Hoochie Coochie. Word of
mouth has ensured all seats are taken in advance of the seven o’clock start in
the upstairs room of the Haddricks
Mill Road hostelry. Arrive early to bag a seat.
One or two deps (to be expected
in a band of this size) spiced it up a bit and MD Michael Lamb went to and fro
– trumpet section to rostrum – keeping an eye/ear on developments. For openers – Song for My Father and the sing-a-long Sweet Georgia Brown.
CD of the Month (January)
As usual there has been no shortage of CDs for review this month and, in any other month, just about each and every one could have got the nod.
As it is, my choice goes to
The Jeff Hamilton Trio - Great American Songs (Capri Records).
Closely followed in no particular order by
Kenny Wheeler - Songs For Quintet (ECM).
Tom Green Septet - Skyline * (Spark).
Alex Garnett - Andromeda (Whirlwind).
Wildflower Sextet - Wildflower. (Jellymould).
These are purely my choices, I'm sure our other reviewers/readers will have their own ideas so please let us have them.
Lance.
* The Tom Green Septet are at the Jazz Café (Newcastle) on Tuesday Feb. 24.
As it is, my choice goes to
The Jeff Hamilton Trio - Great American Songs (Capri Records).
Closely followed in no particular order by
Kenny Wheeler - Songs For Quintet (ECM).
Tom Green Septet - Skyline * (Spark).
Alex Garnett - Andromeda (Whirlwind).
Wildflower Sextet - Wildflower. (Jellymould).
These are purely my choices, I'm sure our other reviewers/readers will have their own ideas so please let us have them.
Lance.
* The Tom Green Septet are at the Jazz Café (Newcastle) on Tuesday Feb. 24.
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs!
Jason goes down a storm wherever he appears, be it at Newcastle City Hall, Bon Bar or Boisdale down in London's trendy Canary Wharf.
He blows good saxophone too and has a band of aces backing him up.
The occasional Sunday Afternoon Swing Sessions at Hoochie with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band and The Paul Skerritt Band have pulled in the fans and I'm sure Jason Isaacs and the Ambassadors of Swing will do likewise.
£15 - sale of the century!
Lance.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
EP Review: The Hot Wok - I Have to Peas

(Review by Lance).
I'm not quite sure how to pigeon-hole this disc from Spain
- Spanish Funk? (Spunk!). It's dancy, it's jazzy and I'm not surprised that
Hoochie offered them a gig if they came to NEUK (North East United Kingdom) -
they're that kind of band - NUKE them they would!.
Take it to the Bridge @ The Chillingham. January 28
Dave
Weisser (trumpet & vocals), Don Forbes (trumpet), Rachel Richman (alto
saxophone), Barry Ascroft (keyboards), Ray Truscott (electric bass), Norman
Redhead (drums) & Matthew MacKellar (drums).
(Review by Russell)
Snow flakes skirting the Chilli,
someone called a couple of Jobim tunes – the wonderful juxtaposition wasn’t
lost (a chilly Chillingham to a cooking Copocabana). Jobim didn’t proceed
without discussion: Nah, scrap that, come
in last beat, fourth bar. You couldn’t make it up! Drummer Norman Redhead
had seen and heard it all before, taking it in his stride. Weisser decided to
opt out of Joy Spring and Redhead willingly vacated
the drum stool to the late arriving Matthew MacKellar (detention at school? – “Not
quite my tempo Matthew”).
The Globe in February...
Some good things happening at the Railway Street HQ of the Jazz Co-op next month - check them out here.
Lance
Lance
CD review: Jack DeJohnette – Made in Chicago
Jack
DeJohnette (drums), Muhal Richard Abrams (piano), Larry Gray (double bass &
cello), Roscoe Mitchell (sopranino, soprano & alto saxophones, baroque
flute, bass recorder) & Henry Threadgill (alto saxophone & bass flute)
(Review by Russell).
Made in Chicago was made at the 2013 Chicago Jazz Festival. Five
veterans of the scene on Chicago’s Southside united after fifty years
travelling the globe in their own and other bands to open the thirty fifth
edition of the Windy City’s annual parkland jazz jamboree.
Jack DeJohnette accepted an invitation
to put together a group entirely of his choosing to play music of his/their
choosing. The legendary drummer made a few calls to friends and the project was
on.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Laura Jurd Septet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. January 27
Lauren
Kinsella (voice), Laura Jurd (trumpet), Chris Batchelor (trumpet), Colm O’Hara
(trombone), Mick Foster (bass saxophone), Alex Roth (guitar) & Corrie Dick
(drums)
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
Last Tuesday in the month, Jazz
North East’s Schmazz strand, upstairs at the Jazz Café. The ‘Caff’ was closed,
the shutters down. Had Laura Jurd’s gig been cancelled? Ah! Of course, the gig
had been scheduled in the Black Swan around the corner!
The Newcastle Arts Centre on Westgate Road was
open for business. The Black Swan – a basement bar and performance space – is a
large venue. Jazz North East anticipated a larger audience than usual for the
visit by the much talked about trumpeter and, indeed, a larger than usual
audience turned up.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
CD Review: Zhenya Strigalev's Smiling Organizm - Robin Goodie

(Review by Lance).
Russian saxist Strigalev describes Robin Goodie as a mixture of Robin Hood and Boogie Woogie - what the Friar Tuck is that all about?
Strigalov confesses that he hasn't read The Adventures of Robin Hood but that he has seen the film! Which one? Robin Hood films probably outnumber James Bond's epics!
Monday, January 26, 2015
Diachronicx @ The Bridge Hotel. January 25
Gabriele Heller (voice & electronics)
& Steve Glendinning (guitar).
(Review by Russell/photos
courtesy of Ken Drew).
Arriving near the end of the
first set (delayed train from Darlington ),
this is, effectively, a brief review of Heller and Glendinning’s second set.
Ascending the stairs with a tip-top pint of Schiehallion, Ms Heller could be
heard on stage in blues to bossa mode (guitarist Glendinning seated, fleetingly
recalling Joe Pass ). Honey Bee (a sailing blues said Heller) wailed Sail on, sail on my little Honey Bee, sail on, Hmmm. Excellent
blues feel.
Darlington Jazz Club: It’s a New Dawn, It’s a New Day
(Report by Russell)
Darlington Jazz Club has issued a
statement to inform all supporters of the regular jazz nights at the Forum
Music Centre of important forthcoming changes. Sunday March 22 will be the
final gig at the Forum (featuring the Darlington Big Band). The good news –
Darlington Jazz Club will continue at the Quakerhouse, Mechanic’s Yard, Darlington .
Durham University Big Band @ Darlington Jazz Club. January 25
Dan Garel , Felicity Evans (alt); Matt McKernan , John Somerton(ten); Naomi
Tansey (bar); Noah Lawrence, Sam Clark, Rasmus Borowski, Charles Price (tpt);
Nat Jackson, Chris Jones (MD), Joshua Harper, Luke Bentley
(tmb); Matt Jacobs (pno); Ollie Farley (gtr); Jonathan Berry (bs); Tristan
Bacon (dms); Laura Paul,Will Lavelle (vcl).
(Review by Russell)
Two big occasions are on the
horizon for Durham University Big Band – a showcase gig at the Pizza Express, Dean Street , London
and the little matter of the defence of their title at the Great North Big Band
Jazz Festival. Darlington Jazz Club extended an invitation to the band to make
a first appearance at the Forum Music Centre and it was duly accepted.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Don Forbes & Alan Law @:Jazz Café - January 24
Arrived at The Jazz Café just in time to bag 2
comfy seats at the front with some jazz buddies as the exquisite tones of Don’s trumpet was rising, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Don seems to like to set the
standard as he has in the past by starting off with this lovely tune . What’s
New and Sonny Rollins’ The Bridge,
were followed by a delightful Don Forbes
original called Little Blue Eyes, and
a beautifully played, I Remember Clifford.
Jazz.coop @ the Globe: The Allsorts Band: Saturday January 24

(Review
by Ann Alex).
The members of this band
hail from studies at the renowned Leeds College of Music and they play an
interesting and exciting mixture of neo-prog rock, pop, jazz and free jazz, all
well bound together. The audience was
small, which surprised me as I thought other young musicians would have been
interested.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
You’ve really gone an’ done it this time
Words from Gordon Phillips:
You’re talkin’ to someone but you don’t know who.
You’re talkin’ to someone but you don’t know who.
You’re
callin’ another it turned out they knew.
Oh, you’ve
dropped yourself right in it.
Oh, you’ve
put your foot right in it.
Oh, you’ve
really gone an’ done it.
You’ve really
gone an’ done it this time.
The Hokum Hotshots @ The Dun Cow, Sunderland. January 23
Hokum
Hotshots: Jim Murray (guitars & vocals) & Pete Mason (guitars &
vocals) + George Shovlin (guitar & vocals) & George Lamb (guitar &
vocals)
(Review by Russell)
Sunderland Blues Club meets
fortnightly in the upstairs room at the Head of Steam’s Dun Cow on High Street West . The
club’s lynchpin George Shovlin was mighty pleased at the turn-out; the small
drawing room-style layout with a trademark Head of Steam twist to an impressive
Edwardian building, a photographic still of Stan and Ollie (the legendary duo
performed at the adjacent Empire Theatre) at the bar.
CD Review: Jeff Hamilton Trio - Great American Songs through the years.

(Review by Lance).
Glory be! Hallelujah! A standards album! CD of the month? Surely all bets are now off!
Whilst I recognise the need of young players to produce original material which, unfortunately (or in some cases fortunately) will never enter other bands' pads, I do question as to why they think their material is better than that of the Gasbook? Or, come to that, more contemporary composers such as Cohen, King, Mitchell? At the end of the day, a familiar theme is much easier for the jazz newcomer to latch on to. Then, once the head is played, reprised, they are off on solos that the listener can more easily relate to.
Friday, January 23, 2015
RIP Ervan Drake
Ervan Drake isn't a name I normally associate with the
great lyric writers and yet, maybe, he should be. Drake provided the words to
numbers such as Perdido; Tico Tico;
Quando, Quando, Quando and the quasi religious hit I Believe which seemed to be top of the charts forever in 1952, on
either side of the pond.. There was also Sinatra's It Was a Very Good Year and Good
Morning Heartache - associated with Billie Holiday and every jazz singer
since!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
CD Review: Wildflower Sextet - Wildflower

(Review by Lance).
Although Leeds based, all the above guys are well known on the Newcastle scene having appeared with each other (and others) in various formats - indeed trumpet player Jurd is at the Black Swan next Tuesday (Jan 27) with her own septet. So, listening to this Wayne Shorter inspired CD, I knew what to expect - or did I?
CD Review: Casey Golden Trio - Outliers

(Review by Lance).
Contemporary trio of young Australian musicians based in Sydney playing original pieces composed by Golden. The pianist began studying classical piano at the age of 5 and much of that early knowledge seems to have stayed with him even though by the time he was 17 he'd won a BBM (Big Brother Movement Youth Support) Award enabling him to study in London with various jazz musicians. This was in 2005 and his teachers included John Taylor, Kit Downes and Gwilym Simcock.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Durham University Big Band Prepping Pizza Express on Palace Green
Great North Big Band Jazz
Festival title holders Durham University Big Band warmed-up for their
forthcoming appearance at the Pizza Express, Dean Street London, with an
express (half hour), midday performance at the Music School, Durham University.
Blanco returns to make Celtic connections
In July 2013 Leo Blanco gave an astonishing solo recital at Sage Gateshead that was truly a virtuoso performance. The good news is that he's back in the UK with his Blue Lamp Quartet which comprises Blanco with Paul Towndrow (alto); Mario Caribe (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums) plus award winning singer Christine Tobim.
That's the good news.
The not so good news is that the nearest he gets to Gateshead this time round is the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh.
Press release:
Jazz Café Jam Session - January 20.

(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Mike Tilley.)
The jams at the "Caff" on the first and third Tuesdays continue to draw more and more people in. That they, the punters, are noisy and not necessarily all jazz fans doesn't matter - as long as they aren't too intrusive on the music. I'm not one for listening to jazz in sepulchral silence - if the music is good enough those who want to will be down front listening oblivious to the noise behind. My theory is that if the audience is sitting in deathly silence the musicians play safe, aware that every bum note will be seized upon and never forgotten till the listener or the player go to their respective graves.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
CD Review: Kenny Wheeler - Songs For Quintet

(Review by Lance).
I think this is going to be my CD of the month. Not just because it was Kenny Wheeler's final recording and he deserves to have this minor accolade amongst the many major ones he achieved in his lifetime. Truth is he would have probably got the nod had this been his first recording, a lot of years ago, when he came over from Toronto and added both his trumpet and his pen to the Dankworth band.
CD Review: Chris Potter Underground Orchestra – Imaginary Cities
Chris
Potter (tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet), Adam Rogers (guitar),
Craig Taborn (piano), Steve Nelson (vibraphone & marimba), Fima Ephron
(bass guitar), Scott Colley (double bass), Nate Smith (drums), Mark Feldman
(violin), Joyce Hammann (violin), Lois Martin (viola) & David Eggar (cello)
(Review by Russell).
Chris Potter has augmented his
regular quartet – Adam Rogers, Craig Taborn and Nate Smith – with two bassists,
a string quartet and former sparring partner Steve Nelson on vibes and marimba
to record Imaginary Cities. The CD
comprises a four part suite (the title composition) and four other pieces.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Stretch Trio @ The Bridge Hotel. January 18
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
A young award-winning trio rocks
up at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle
in the middle of January and a half-decent crowd turns-out. Two sets of
original music composed by the trio (principally Andy French and Calvin
Travers) opened with The River followed
by a drum ‘n’ bass infused Hectic Metric.
The latter wasn’t so hectic. Similarly, Travers’ In the Open made every effort to deny the band name!
Chris Standring Quartet @ The (Jazz Co-op) Globe Jazz Bar - January 17
(Review/photo by
Ken Drew).
Chris Standring attracted a large audience to the Globe –
30+ in pre-sales - with many coming from as far afield as Durham ,
Teesside and Edinburgh
eager to see this popular LA guitarist. The trio supporting him are from SE England and what a Band they form! As solidly tight
and polished as Clark Tracey’s quintet which performed here in November.
Paul Skerritt Band @ Hoochie Coochie. January 18.
Paul Skerritt (vcl); James Harrison (keys); Anth Ord (bs); Tom Chapman (dms) + Josh Bentham (alt); Michael Lamb (tpt).
(Review by Lance).
The fans turned out - the men delivered! A cracking session across the genres with pop and rock and classic swing. Skerritt did the business ably abetted by band and guest instrumentalists.
Harrison - as ebullient as last night but in a more controlled environment - gave his usual 110%, Ord, laid back, cucumber cool, the maypole around which it all evolved. Chapman, for today at least, was King of the Swingers. Bentham and Lamb leapt in and out, sometimes individually, sometimes in tandem. They both provided pithy solos.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Opus 4 Full House Greets the Darlington Big Band
(Report by
Russell/Tony).
Tony Eales, Bebop Spoken Here’s Deep South (Tees Delta) correspondent reports a full
house at the Traveller’s Rest, Cockerton on Friday night to hear local heroes
the Darlington Big Band. Andy Bennett (alto/soprano) led the band, allowing
tenor man Ritchie Emmerson the luxury of being ‘one of the boys’ in the
saxophone section.
First Whiplash, Now Selma
Director Ava DuVernay’s 2014 film
Selma
is coming to a screen near you. David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King at
the time of the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches. Mid sixties Alabama , institutional
racism, the ensuing struggle led to the Voting Rights Act. DuVernay’s
Oscar-tipped film features a soundtrack composed by Jason Moran.
Russell.
Jazz Improvisation Workshop @ Jazz Café January 13.
(Review by Steve H.)
Although always interested in what went on at the Jazz
Improvisation Workshop, being a non musician I had never summoned up the
confidence to actually attend. However, an experienced rock guitarist friend of
mine said he fancied coming along so off we went to the upstairs room of the
Jazz Café. Assorted musicians were there some I knew - Zoe, Gabi, Andy and Wes
- and apologies to those I didn't.
James Harrison/Alex Saxon @ Jazz Café January 17

(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
How shall I put it? Got it! An "entertaining" evening. Regular blog visitors will know the high esteem with which I hold James Harrison's playing in. I've also waxed eloquently over Alex Saxon both on sax and on flute so I truly anticipated this to be a titanic meeting - and it was, but with a capital T!
Don't get me wrong, the duo played great but with, perhaps, a tad too much self-indulgence. It was hilarious, then funny, then mildly amusing, and then - well imagine you open a box of chocolates and find they're all coffee creams - love the first couple but you don't finish the box!
Saturday, January 17, 2015
RIP Derek Hunter
From the late '40s up to the early '70s there was an abundance of good pianists in and around South Shields. Just about every pub, club and dance hall had one. Names such as Ronnie Callaghan, Alan Bulley, Ray Tones, Kenny Goodall, Chic Cole, George Laing were just some of the players who could be heard in various watering holes most weekends.
Another was Derek Hunter.
DB Jazz Project @ Jazz Café January 16.
David Keighley (saxes); Thomas MacMillan (gtr); Adrian Sander (bs gtr); Ben Grant (dms).
(Review by Lance).
After watching the film Whiplash I was on a high and I wasn't sure if I wanted anything to temper my mood. However, it was mid evening and the Jazz Café but a brisk short walk away, so I strode purposefully forth arriving just in time for the DB Jazz Project's first set.
I wasn't disappointed indeed if Whiplash hadn't been big band orientated this quartet could have provided the soundtrack!
Whiplash - The Film!
Miles Teller, JK Simmons - Directed by Damien Chazelle
Remember those tales of piano teachers who would rap you across the knuckles with a ruler if you played a wrong note? My piano teaching parents never did that to me which is possibly why I became a mediocre saxophone player rather than the next Oscar Peterson (Remember that name - Oscar - it could/should have a lot of relevance re Whiplash!)
Terence Fletcher, played magnificently by Simmons, had no truck with knuckle wrapping rulers - he showed his displeasure by throwing pieces of furniture at any of his student band members who didn't perform up to his unreachable standards. Young drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) is the main butt of Fletcher's attention subjecting the talented student to the most virulent verbal abuse imaginable in his attempt to drive the boy ever upwards and onwards.
A totally compelling film dominated by two characters - everyone else, even the slight love interest, are bit players - that held my attention from the start to the final credits.
The big band music is excellent and the drumming incredible - although not incredible enough for Fletcher!
JK Simmons - prepare your acceptance speech now!
Lance.
CD Review: Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble - The Whistle Blower

(Review by Lance).
It's not for me to comment on anything other than the music - not even the title! Gilad's political views have long caused controversy but - freedom of speech, Je suis, and freedom in music too. Gilad represents freedom in music without losing qualities that are music. The Whistle Blower is an emotional release that contains excitement alongside the most romantic saxophone playing I've ever heard in contemporary (ish) jazz. Maybe if Hodges or Webster had been born on the day they died they could have found in Gilad a soulmate.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Pilgrim Street Set @ Hoochie Coochie. January 14
Richard
Burns (trumpet), Gary Turner (tenor), Paul Edis (keyboards), Paul Susans (bass)
& Rob Walker (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Mid January, credit card max-out,
blowing a gale, raining – every excuse/reason not to get out to a gig. Hoochie
Coochie, one of Newcastle ’s
classier music venues, was open for business. A few turned-out to hear the
‘house band’, five of the north east’s busiest and best musicians calling
themselves the ‘Pilgrim Street Set’.
CD Review: Troyka – Ornithophobia
Kit
Downes (Hammond, synthesizers), Chris Montague (guitar, loops) & Josh
Blackmore (drums)
(Review by Russell).
Ornithophobia is Troyka’s third studio album and their first for
Naim. Petter Eldh, producer and musician (bassist with Marius Neset), is on
board, reaffirming recent investigation of the dance/ trip-hop scene. Eldh’s Berlin base – influential
in dance, electronica, visual arts – contributes to the trio’s ambitious reach;
part mixed in the capital city, re-sampling two of the nine tracks.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Djangologie sell out Gala!
If you were planning to attend Djangologie's gig at the Gala Theatre, in Durham City, tomorrow lunchtime and haven't bought a ticket in advance - forget it! The concert is sold out. This isn't unusual, most of the Paul Edis promoted lunchtime gigs invariably are and when it's a popular band like Djangologie you can bet on it!
Lance.
Lance.
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) directed by Tommy Smith proudly presents The Jazz Genius of Billy Strayhorn
(Jazz in Scotland - Press release.)
2015 marks the twentieth birthday
of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the stars are already in alignment
for a very special year of celebrations, beginning with our February concerts
and the marvellous music of the remarkable Billy Strayhorn.
Strayhorn was born in 1915 and
his name is synonymous with Duke Ellington’s finest work. The hugely prolific
Strayhorn composed and arranged literally hundreds of pieces for Duke and wrote
many of Ellington’s greatest hits, often un-credited for his efforts.
Radio Russell: The Sound of Cinema, Somerset Blues and Car Horns
Film of the moment Whiplash is included in Matthew Sweet’s
selection of ‘jazz-inspired film music’ in Sound of Cinema (Radio 3, Saturday 17
January, 4:00pm). Justin Hurwitz, composer, is in good company with
Alex North’s score for A Streetcar Named
Desire on the playlist.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Whiplash!
The film, Whiplash, which opens at the Tyneside Cinema on Friday is, even in January, being talked about as the Film of the Year! From the trailers and clips that I've seen it looks to be one you'll either love or hate but not one you would want to miss!
Russell picked up these two quotes -
Damien Chazelle,
director Whiplash: “I never regret
not being a drummer. I never wanted to be a professional drummer. Even though I
was obsessive with it for so long.” – (Sight
and Sound February 2015).
Susan Jeffreys,
reviewing Whiplash: “You hate him [the
character Terence Fletcher] from the get-go.” – (Saturday Review Radio 4, 10 January 2015).
I'm going to the early evening showing then on to the Jazz Café for the DB Project.. This could be a night to remember!
Lance.
CD Review: Verneri Pohjola - Bullhorn

(Review by Lance).
I hold my hand up and confess that Jazz and Finland - cool as the air may be 'up there' - have never quite been on my radar. I recall Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion raving about a Finnish trumpet player they'd encountered on one of their Scandinavian jaunts - the same Finn later played at Gateshead International Jazz Festival.
Is this the same guy, I wonder?
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Secret Love's no secret any more.

However, if you live in Crewe, Kettering, Skegness, Newark, Croydon, Bury St. Edmonds, Buxton, Radlett, Worthing, Hastings, Stevenage, Horsham, Hunstanton, Camberley, Wycombe, Edmonton - to mention but a few then you're in luck!
Tour details.Video samples.
Highly recommended.
Lance.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival
Tickets are now on sale for the 9th Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival. Set in possibly the most idyllic setting of any festival, a host of jazz events take place over the weekend of July 3 - 5.
It's important to book early as tickets go fast and accommodation nearby goes even faster so much so that many camp out in the grounds of this most palatial of settings.
For more details...Lance.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Jazz Courses With The WEA
You’ve read
about Steve Glendinning as a musician in the latest Jazz Coop review, so why
not come to the Workers’ Educational Association jazz courses and have the
benefit of Steve as Tutor? I learned
loads last term from the Jazz Appreciation. You can also learn improvisation on
your chosen instrument. The courses
resume this coming Thursday January 15; Improvisation is at 1-3pm and Jazz
Appreciation is at 3-5pm. You can attend
either course or both and you don’t have to have attended last term. The courses are at the Unitarian
Church in Saville Place in the centre of Newcastle . We need more people to attend in order to get
full benefit from the courses. So I hope
to see more jazz colleagues there on Thursday – don’t miss out!
Ann Alex
Jazz Coop @ The Globe: Steve Glendinning Quartet: Sat Jan 10
Steve
Glendinning (guitar); Chris Jelly (vibes); Mike Clarke (bass); Mark Robertson
(drums)
(Review
by Ann Alex)
The Jazz Coop gigs are
definitely on the up if last night was anything to go by, both musically and in
the size of the audiences. Thirty two
paying customers on a cold January night isn’t half bad, and a quartet playing
jazz/fusion music, with the sound of the vibes to add something a bit unusual
and interesting. In fact on seeing the bass player I thought for a moment that
I was listening to French jazz – Mike
Clarke was bearded, bespectacled and wearing a black beret, looking every inch
as if he should be playing on the left bank of the Seine.
Alter Ego @ Ashington Jazz Club Jan. 7

The attraction for me as a Jazz fan for almost
65 years is not only the music but also the manner in which it has evolved and
developed over time and the creativity of the musicians who have pursued their
ideas in changing the direction of the music. Each trend and style has appealed
to many who have adopted each innovation
to their particular taste, whether this
be classic, swing, bebop, trad. modern or whatever label is put on it.
This has been good for the music and given variety to the followers. The
colourful and often crazy life styles of the musicians has also been of great
interest.
Jazz Café Chronicle
The duo gig on January 24 at the Jazz Café featuring Graham Hardy and Neil Harland has been rearranged and that date will now showcase Don Forbes (trumpet and flugel) and Alan Law (piano).
Start time is 9pm and admission is free.
Meanwhile, attractions at the Café this week are:
Start time is 9pm and admission is free.
Meanwhile, attractions at the Café this week are:
Saturday, January 10, 2015
R.I.P. Billy Mordue

(Obituary by Lance).
Sad to hear of the death of drummer Billy Mordue who passed away yesterday (Jan. 9) aged 86.
Sad to hear of the death of drummer Billy Mordue who passed away yesterday (Jan. 9) aged 86.
Billy played with the legendary George Evans Orchestra at Newcastle's Oxford Galleries during the 1950s then later, after leaving the Oxford, at the Blue Parrot (now the Potter's Wheel) in Sunniside. The Blue Parrot, one of the first out of town nightspots in the north east, featured the Ken Maddison Trio (Maddison on piano, Eric Dobbing on bass and, of course, Billy on drums along with singer Ethna Campbell) and were very highly regarded.
The Pannonica Three, Summertime in Winter and Etta All Through the Night
(Preview by Russell)
On Friday night (January16th) as
you head out to your gig of choice (you are going out aren’t you?) you’ll need
to remember to set your recording device(s) of choice. BBC 4 (television)
demands your attention for fully four and a half hours. Sounds of the Sixties (7:30pm) dips into the ‘60s beat boom, then
at eight, Gershwin’s Summertime: the Song
That Conquered the World is about that
song. At nine pianist Neil Brand looks at Sound of Song, an exploration of the writing, recording and
performing of hit songs. The Irving Berlin classic Cheek to Cheek is examined in some detail. An hour later archive
material of a motley crew of performers interpreting Porter, Berlin , Mercer and Arlen could be an
interesting experience! Hang in there because at 11:00pm Blues at the BBC features Son House, BB King and others.
Friday, January 09, 2015
CD Review: Tom Green Septet - Skyline.

(Review by Lance).
Imagine the Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool band 65 years on, having discovered the elixir of youth, and selectively absorbed many of the innovations that had taken place along the way. That would bring you close - but nowhere near close enough to describe this album!
Thursday, January 08, 2015
Tonight at Cluny 2.
Tonight looks good at Cluny 2 with the Slowlight Quartet + Guests.
7.45pm - Laurie Shepherd.
8.30pm - Not Now Charlie.
9.15pm -Slowlight Quartet + Guest.
You get the whole lot for a 'deep sea diver' (£5) + the band's new CD!
Is that a deal or is that a deal?
Lance.
7.45pm - Laurie Shepherd.
8.30pm - Not Now Charlie.
9.15pm -Slowlight Quartet + Guest.
You get the whole lot for a 'deep sea diver' (£5) + the band's new CD!
Is that a deal or is that a deal?
Lance.
Durham University Big Band to Première 2014 Durham Distillery Composition Prize Winning Composition at Pizza Express
The Durham University Big Band are not only popular local favourites but they also flex their chops further afield as on Sunday February 15 when they appear at the prestigious Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean St, London.
It's a particularly important gig as it includes the première of the winning entry in the 2014 Durham Distillery Composition Prize, Homage, by JJ Wheeler. The competition is sponsored by the distillery in association with the University Big Band and was judged by Pete Churchill and Stan Sulzmann.
It's an afternoon gig kicking off at noon through till 4pm.
If you're going to be in the vicinity of the capital that day put it in your diary now.
Admission £15
Thanks to Peter L. Bacon of the Birmingham based blog, The Jazz Breakfast, for the info. More details can be found on his excellent site.
Lance.
- Tickets for the gig can be purchased here or by calling 0845 6027 017.
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
John Altman on James Harrison
We've known about James Harrison for a long time now, thanks to John Altman, so does the world!
Thanks also to John Taylor for sharing this with us.
Nice one!
Lance.
Thanks also to John Taylor for sharing this with us.
Nice one!
Lance.
Tune In To In Tune
Hot Club style guitarist Remi Harris is live in the studio on In Tune today (Radio 3, 4:30pm).
Russell.
Russell.
Jazz Café Jam January 6, 2015
(Review by Lance).
Even in the absence of piano supremo Gilligan this was a jumping jam - Hartley's couldn't have done better!
Mark Williams set the ball rolling before fellow guitarist Johnston joined him. Williams, who'd recently done 15 rounds with Steve Glendinning found a worthy opponent in young Bradley who's spent much time sparring with James Birkett. The two guitarists went for it on Things Ain't What they Used to be. Solos all round then the inevitable slugfest of fours as they traded, counter-punched and took it to the bell for a split decision in favour of ?
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
CD Review:Jerry Kalaf - Welcome to Earth

Trio (3 tracks): Leonard Thompson (pno); Ryan McGillicuddy (bs); Kalaf (dms).
Trio (2 tracks): Rich Ruttenberg (pno); Domenic Genova (bs); Kalaf (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Music For Trio & Sextet is the subtitle of this enjoyable album featuring the compositions of drummer Kalaf.
Monday, January 05, 2015
Celebration! The 20th Anniversary of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Now this is what I call a celebration! Woo Hoo!
THE
JAZZ GENIUS OF BILLY STRAYHORN
Sunday
22nd February 2015 Royal
Conservatoire Glasgow 0141 332 5057
KURT ELLING SWINGS SINATRA
Saturday 23rd May 2015 Usher Hall, Edinburgh 0131 228 1155
Saturday 24th May 2015 City Halls, Glasgow 0141 353 8000
All concerts start at
7.30pm
Lance.
Nigel Kennedy on BBC
Just watched an enthralling program on Nigel Kennedy covering his career from when he was 7 year old. As well as the inevitable Four Seasons there's also rare footage of a very young Kennedy duetting with Stephane Grappelli at Ronnie Scott's, playing an original composition with John Etheridge, a surreal time spanning duet with Harpo Marx and a frenetic session with a Polish Folk Band.
The old adage Jack of all trades, master of none goes out of the window when applied to Nigel!
Watch for yourself - it's on until January 29.
Another NK program features the full version of the Four Seasons with each season interspersed with his own Orchestra of Life improvising jazzier/folkier items including It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing.
Again available until January 29.
Lance.Another NK program features the full version of the Four Seasons with each season interspersed with his own Orchestra of Life improvising jazzier/folkier items including It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing.
Again available until January 29.
PS: Thank you Flore for drawing this latter program to my attention and, by default, the former!
Sunday, January 04, 2015
A Bit of Irish Jazz History
Never mind small audiences and cuts in grants, jazz in Ireland had to survive shipwrecks and the wrath of the Catholic Church!
JC.
Read.
JC.
Read.
Debra Milne/Steve Glendinning Duo @ Jazz Café - Jan. 3
Debra Milne (vcl); Steve Glendinning (gtr).
One thing you can guarantee at a Debra Milne gig - whether it be with her Ensemble or her Latin set up - is that you will hear a fine selection of songs, both original and GAsbook, sung word perfect in her own distinctive style.
Tonight the material included Stella By Starlight; Just You, Just Me - this latter number had an imaginative take on a Lester Young solo. Chick Corea was represented with 500 Miles High and Spain. The unison passages between guitar and voice on Spain were spot on. Born to be Blue, Mel Tormé's emotive lyric came from the heart and Love Me or Leave Me - done at the currently fashionable up tempo - failed to capture the essence of the song. Don't worry Debra, Anita O' Day and every other singer sees it that way - except of course the Day, Doris!
A few originals - Stay; Blame Game being two that stood out - suggested that, whilst Milne and Glendinning may not be the next Lennon and McCartney, song-writing could still be another string to their bow.
Talking strings, apart from Stevie's ace solos, equally impressive were the bass lines he laid down.
Circumstances decreed I couldn't stay as long as usual but it was good to see the Caff's Saturday night's duo policy being supported.
Lance.
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Bill Watson on TV!
Bill Watson, trumpet player, band leader and organiser of the Sunderland Big Band Festival is one of the judges on tonight's BBC1 program - Frank Sinatra: Our Way.
So, if your fave doesn't win then put the blame on Bill (and ten others!)
Lance.
So, if your fave doesn't win then put the blame on Bill (and ten others!)
Lance.
CD Review: Tomoko Omura - Roots

(Review by Lance.).
Described as "One of the most important...jazz albums produced by a violinist in recent history" - a description by fellow violinist Christian Howes that sets the bar at a very high level - Roots is an album well worth checking out and whilst I might be tempted to temper that assessment it's certainly one of the more unusual albums comprising, as it does, songs that are Japanese standards which, says Omura, everyone in Japan from child to adult can sing by heart. These include two takes of the Japanese National Anthem composed in 1888 by Hiromori Hayashi.
Friday, January 02, 2015
Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. Dec 31
Barry
Soulsby (clarinet & vocals), Paul Gowland (tenor saxophone), Lawrence
McBriarty (trombone), Brian Bennett (banjo & vocals), Bill Colledge (double
bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + Teresa Armstrong (vocals),
Derek Fleck (clarinet) & Paul Thompson (drums.)
(Review by Russell).
The Crescent Club, for once,
wasn’t bursting at the seams. Tea and biscuits the popular order of the day
(regulars no doubt saving themselves for a bit of first-footing), a pint of
Northumberland Brewery’s Secret Kingdom the choice for some, Wednesday
residents the Vieux Carré Jazzmen took to the stand and appeared to be sober…it
was early days.
CD Review: Alex Garnett's Bunch of Fives - Andromeda. -

(Review by Lance).
The two tenor front
line has long been a classic combo format - Think Sonny Stiit/Gene Ammons; Teddy Edwards/Dexter Gordon; Gordon/Wardell Gray; Zoot Sims/Al Cohn; Lockjaw
Davis/Johnny Griffin and, of course, the Jazz Couriers in the form of Ronnie
Scott and Tubby Hayes. This latest combination is a logical continuation of the
Couriers and hints at where they might have been at had Scott and Hayes lived and
re-formed. However, comparisons are odious or, in this case, melodious, and
this quintet can stand up and be counted alongside any of their predecessors.
Thursday, January 01, 2015
CD Review: Quadraceratops - Quadraceratops
Cath Roberts – alto saxophone,
compositions; Tom Ward – tenor saxophone ; Henry Spencer –
trumpet;Magnus Dearness –
trombone; Dave O’Brien – keyboards; Jason Simpson –
bass; Olly Blackman –
drums.
(Review by Steve H.)
This is composer and band leader’s Cath Roberts
debut album with her septet Quadraceratops named after a fictitious dinosaur
who, like the band, has four horns.
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January
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- Desert Island Discs
- Dead Hedge Trio @ The Jazz Café. January 30
- Gig of the Month (January)
- Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Millstone. January 29
- CD of the Month (January)
- Jason Isaacs
- EP Review: The Hot Wok - I Have to Peas
- Take it to the Bridge @ The Chillingham. January 28
- The Globe in February...
- CD review: Jack DeJohnette – Made in Chicago
- Laura Jurd Septet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. Jan...
- CD Review: Zhenya Strigalev's Smiling Organizm - R...
- Tubby Hayes - A Man in A Hurry.
- Diachronicx @ The Bridge Hotel. January 25
- Darlington Jazz Club: It’s a New Dawn, It’s a New Day
- Durham University Big Band @ Darlington Jazz Club....
- Don Forbes & Alan Law @:Jazz Café - January 24
- Jazz.coop @ the Globe: The Allsorts Band: Saturday...
- You’ve really gone an’ done it this time
- The Hokum Hotshots @ The Dun Cow, Sunderland. Janu...
- CD Review: Jeff Hamilton Trio - Great American Son...
- RIP Ervan Drake
- CD Review: Wildflower Sextet - Wildflower
- CD Review: Casey Golden Trio - Outliers
- Durham University Big Band Prepping Pizza Express ...
- Blanco returns to make Celtic connections
- Jazz Café Jam Session - January 20.
- CD Review: Kenny Wheeler - Songs For Quintet
- CD Review: Chris Potter Underground Orchestra – Im...
- Stretch Trio @ The Bridge Hotel. January 18
- Chris Standring Quartet @ The (Jazz Co-op) Globe J...
- To a Drummer
- Paul Skerritt Band @ Hoochie Coochie. January 18.
- Opus 4 Full House Greets the Darlington Big Band
- First Whiplash, Now Selma
- Jazz Improvisation Workshop @ Jazz Café January 13.
- James Harrison/Alex Saxon @ Jazz Café January 17
- RIP Derek Hunter
- DB Jazz Project @ Jazz Café January 16.
- Whiplash - The Film!
- CD Review: Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensembl...
- Pilgrim Street Set @ Hoochie Coochie. January 14
- CD Review: Troyka – Ornithophobia
- Djangologie sell out Gala!
- The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) direct...
- Radio Russell: The Sound of Cinema, Somerset Blues...
- Whiplash Screen Times at Tyneside Cinema
- Whiplash!
- CD Review: Verneri Pohjola - Bullhorn
- Secret Love's no secret any more.
- Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival
- Jazz Courses With The WEA
- Jazz Coop @ The Globe: Steve Glendinning Quartet: ...
- Alter Ego @ Ashington Jazz Club Jan. 7
- Jazz Café Chronicle
- R.I.P. Billy Mordue
- The Pannonica Three, Summertime in Winter and Etta...
- CD Review: Tom Green Septet - Skyline.
- Tonight at Cluny 2.
- Durham University Big Band to Première 2014 Durham...
- John Altman on James Harrison
- Tune In To In Tune
- Jazz Café Jam January 6, 2015
- CD Review:Jerry Kalaf - Welcome to Earth
- Celebration! The 20th Anniversary of The Scottish ...
- Nigel Kennedy on BBC
- A Bit of Irish Jazz History
- Debra Milne/Steve Glendinning Duo @ Jazz Café - Ja...
- Bill Watson on TV!
- CD Review: Tomoko Omura - Roots
- Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. D...
- CD Review: Alex Garnett's Bunch of Fives - Androme...
- CD Review: Quadraceratops - Quadraceratops
- A Tea Pad, a Copper Bottom and Ms Lauren Bacall
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