Jeff Herr Corporation @ Jazz Cafe - Sept.29

Jeff Herr Drums; Maxime Bender  Sax; Laurent Payfert  double bass

(Review by Steve H/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew.)

Prior to attending this gig I had the rather unpleasant experience of dining in one of those all you can eat world buffets so popular with the social media generation of today. One is able to sample food from all over the planet  burgers,  burritos,  Bolognese,  black bean beef and  bhuna to name but a few which seem to have nothing in common apart from a lack in overall quality. Funnily enough there was no food on offer from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg but luckily, on the same evening, there was a gig on at The Jazz Cafe where this small European country was represented and this time the fare certainly didn't lack any quality.

Phil Woods (Nov. 2, 1931 - Sept. 29, 2015)

One of the all-time great alto players, Phil Woods, passed away yesterday (Sept. 29). Heard him live only once - North Sea Jazz Festival back in the 80's but many times on disc. The early 10" LPs with fellow altoist Gene Quill, the European Rhythm Machine with Gordon Beck and on to the various mainland Europe big bands. An ace player. However, what I think really endeared him to me and the wider public was his solo on Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are. Was there ever a more lyrical alto sax solo on a pop record? No - Baker St. doesn't even get close!

He embodied the spirit of Charlie Parker, merging it into his own creative playing to become, until yesterday, the greatest living alto saxophone player.

Phil Woods was 83.

May he Rest In Peace - sadly missed throughout the jazz world.

Obituary.

Lance.

CD Review: Carter Calvert – It’s a Man’s World.

(Review by Minnie F)

 American vocalist Calvert sings songs made famous by male artists on this album “re-imagined and sung from a woman’s point of view”.  Although this may sound like a bit of a gimmick, it is successful due to the power of Calvert’s rich vocals and arrangements by Laurence Hobgood and Joshua Bowlus.  Tracks include songs originally sung by artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, The Police and The Beatles.  Carter’s voice is strong and melodic, but some may think it would lend itself more to pop than jazz.  

CD Review: Scott Hamilton & Jeff Hamilton Trio - Live in Bern

Scott Hamilton (ten); Tamir Hendelman (pno); Christof Luty (bs); Jeff Hamilton (dms).
(Review by Lance).

What a delightful disc! In an age where every young musician is a 'composer' striving to stretch the boundaries of our music this comes as a relief to know that there are guys still minding the store.

The unrelated Hamiltons mind the store as good as anyone. They know what they're selling and Scott Hamilton is one of the very best in the quality control dept. of a store that holds musical riches beyond the dreams of avarice (misquote from The Maltese Falcon!).

Duo Gig Going @ The Caff

Normally on a Friday we'd have a full band but on December 18 we're looking for a duo. Duos already programmed for December and November need not apply thanks. It's the normal 9pm start and fee and two x 45 minute sets.

Marsden Jazz Festival 2015

This years Marsden Jazz Festival (Oct. 9-11) as well as being packed with names also has a CD available. It's a compilation of tracks donated by many of the artists appearing and sells for £7. Details can be found by following link below.
Program/tickets.
Among the bands performing are The Geordie Approach (Chris Sharkey) and Taupe as well as Evan Christopher's Django à la Créole who also play Sage Gateshead on Oct. 6.
Lance.

CD Review: Jeff Herr Corporation - Layer Cake (On at Jazz Café Tonight)

Jeff Herr (drums), Laurent Payfert (double bass) & Maxime Bender (tenor & soprano saxophones)

(Review by Russell)

Drummer Jeff Herr’s trio recorded a third CD two years ago in Luxembourg and released it earlier this year in the UK. The ‘Corporation’ line-up has evolved over time and Layer Cake features bassist Laurent Payfert and saxophonist Maxime Bender. Twelve tracks, of which five are brief sketches – ranging from fifty one seconds to one hundred and twenty four seconds – are composed by members of the trio, the oddity being The Man Who Sold the World.

Things You Can Do At The Globe For Free

This very Thursday October 1 is another of the Jazz Meets Folk open mic nights, when you can perform either sort of music and a few types of music in between as well, such as your own songs.  We usually have folk fiddle, traditional song, jazz piano and song, saxophones, drums, and I’m wondering when we’ll maybe get a visit from a poet.  Everyone who wishes to perform can do so, it’s free entry, raffle £1, starts 8pm.

Smoove & Turrell Calling

(Preview by Russell)

Tyneside’s soul-funk heroes Smoove & Turrell pitch-up at the 2015 Rugby World Cup Fanzone in the shadow of St James’ Park on Sunday October 4. The North East Calling event is one of many cultural happenings associated with the elite egg chasers’ big time global showcase. A four thousand capacity marquee has been erected on the former S & N Brewery site now known as Science Central located just off St James’ Boulevard.

CD Review: Julian Argüelles – Tetra

Julian Argüelles – soprano and tenor saxophones and celeste; Kit Downes – piano; Sam Lasserson – double bass; James Maddren – drums

(Review by Hugh C.)

British saxophonist Julian Argüelles is widely known as a member of the seminal big band Loose Tubes as well as for his involvement with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band.  He has also previously recorded with well-established musicians on the jazz scene such as Mike Walker, Dave Holland, Martin France and the late John Taylor.

In this new release he shows his respect for an eclectic range of younger jazz musicians in collaboration with Downes, Lasserson and Maddren.  Argüelles has previously worked with Downes and Maddren and joined by the bassist, Lasserson, the quartet has toured together over the last three years.

Let's Make History!

The publication of the tome recalling the halcyon days of the Redcar Jazz Club prompted Steve Andrews and Carstairs to suggest a similar publication on Tyneside Jazz Clubs to perhaps supplement the late Chris Yates' fine book Blue Horizons. There's a lot of material worthy of collating in our RH column under Pages/Memories of Jazz in the North East. In particular the first item by John Pearce gives an excellent overall picture of the scene from pre-war to early '60s.

House of the Black Gardenia @ The Globe. September 27

Bobbi Charleston (washboard & vocals), Richard Burns (trumpet), David Gray (trombone), Wayne Keith (clarinet, tenor saxophone & flute), Ben Imrye (piano), Jack Foster (banjo & guitar), Neil Hopper (double bass & sousaphone) & Kit Haigh (drums) + Katja Roberts (violin)

(Review by Russell)

September’s ‘vintage jazz’ night at the Globe presented something markedly different to the norm…the musicians on the bandstand were in their twenties with maybe one or two just the wrong side of thirty. No, your correspondent wasn’t under the influence, ne’er a drop. The House of the Black Gardenia is a band of young, talented musicians playing a music created some sixty or seventy years before anyone of them were born. Indeed few, if any, of their parents would have been born!

RIP Wilton Felder

Just heard that saxist/bassist Wilton Felder founder member of the (Jazz) Crusaders passed away yesterday (Sept. 27).

I'm not sure if I ever caught him live. I have a vague idea I saw The Crusaders at Newcastle City Hall back in the mists of time. I certainly recall hearing Street Life on disc and radio when it was charting.
He was 75.
Rest In Peace
Obituary.
Lance.

Jason Isaacs @ Bonbar, Newcastle - Sept. 27

Jason Isaacs (vcl/ten); Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (tpt); Dave Brock (tmb); Ray Dales (alt/fl); Lewis Watson (ten/fl); Stu Collingwood (keys); Neil Harland (bs gtr); Simon Ferry (dms).
(Review by Lance).
I'm running out of superlatives when it comes to Jason and the guys! As ever, the show moved along at a fast pace, the five horns sounding like fifteen, the rhythm section booting it like Basie and our man re-elected as King of the Swingers. And swing he did! Whether strutting on stage or boogieing on top of the bar, blowing tenor or telling awful jokes, he had the audience enthralled. The choicest of songs (apart from a certain Gershwin number) made this listener's night complete.

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: Bradley Johnston Quartet - September 26

Bradley Johnston (guitar); Pete Gilligan (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (no relation, drums)

(Review by Ann Alex/Photo by Roly Veitch from recent Blaydon gig.).

Many of you will have enjoyed hearing this quartet as part of the Jazz Cafe Tuesday jam sessions.  Imagine this same band, but with their performance upped by about 200 per cent, and you’ll have an idea of last night’s gig, which attracted a large audience.  A gig of standards, bop and the occasional original tune, long accomplished solos (I noticed lots of wonderfully bent notes on guitar and bass), with arresting sudden endings to some tunes, enough to make the audience sit up a bit straighter in their seats.

CD Review: Matthew Halsall & the Gondwana Orchestra – Into Forever

(Review by Russell)

Trumpeter Matthew Halsall set up his own record label as a means of getting his music heard and with any luck to attract interest from established major companies. That was seven or eight years ago. He has gone on to release five critically acclaimed albums, all on Gondwana Records. Into Forever is Halsall’s latest CD featuring several of his long term collaborators and two new, most welcome, voices.

Buddhism and transcendental meditation are key elements in Matthew Halsall’s life and music. He has travelled widely, visiting and studying in the Far East. His music extends beyond any notional jazz boundaries embracing non-Western forms. Into Forever is the first of Halsall’s albums to feature vocals. Working with lyricists/vocalists has been one of his ambitions and in being introduced to the work of Josephine Oniyama, trumpeter/ composer/ arranger/ label boss Halsall knew the time was right to embark on this project.

Stop Press!

This afternoon (Sept. 27) Paul Gowland (tenor sax) and Brian Bennett (banjo) will play a duo set on the bandstand of the recently refurbished Northumberland Park in Tynemouth. The pair, 33.333%  of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen, stomp off at 4pm.

Lance.

Swing Manouche/ The Early Bird Band @ Ushaw College, Durham - Sept. 25

Mick Shoulder, guitar, Giles Strong, guitar, Neil Harland, bass and Paul Edis, clarinet.

----- 

Matthew McKellar, drums, Dan Lawrence, bass, Francis Tulip, guitar, Ben Lawrence, trumpet (led by Paul Edis, clarinet / piano).

(Review/photos by Jerry)

Busy Friday - a new year, my 67^th, a new venue for me and a new band, Swing Manouche, on their Durham début concert.

Ushaw, an imposing former Catholic seminary ten minutes’ drive from Durham city centre, has successfully reinvented itself as (among other things) a venue for live music and entertainment.  The concert hall,  a huge, rectangular room with a bar (bottled ales) at one end and, at the other end in front of a massive panelled fireplace, the performers. A mix of tables and chairs, settees and coffee-tables give a jazz-lounge atmosphere and friendly (volunteer?) staff made the audience feel welcome.

Soundbone plays Led Zep @ Jazz Café. September 25

Chris Grieve (trombone & electronics), Graeme Stephen (guitar & loops) & David Carnegie (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley).
This was fun. A legendary rock band repackaged as a ‘jazz trio’. Led Zeppelin tapped into the National Grid to generate a trillion watts through Marshall stacks, Soundbone created a big sound of their own filtering trombone and guitar through a box of tricks.  Newcastle City Hall veterans were largely absent from the Jazz Café, oblivious to the goings on in the upstairs room, perhaps sitting at home with a curry listening to Black Dog, bemoaning the fact that things ain’t what they used to be.

CD Review: Michael Janisch – Paradigm Shift

(Review by Russell)

Does Michael Janisch ever sleep? Is he insomniac? Since arriving in the UK more than a decade ago he’s been a non-stop whirlwind of activity. Gigging far and wide, running his Whirlwind Recordings record label and raising a family, Janisch seemingly never rests. A double CD release – Paradigm Shift – focuses attention on his own musical vision and he wouldn’t be half the man he is if he didn’t take it on the road. He is in the middle of a tour taking him and his band from the metropolis to the provinces to the Shetland Islands.

Soweto Kinch @ Hoochie Coochie - Sept. 25

Soweto Kinch (alt/voice/sampling); Nick Jurd (bs/bs gtr); Jonathan Silk (dms) + Hannabiell (tmb).

(Review by Lance).

As cool looking a dude as ever strutted his stuff at Hoochie - and Warren has presented some of the coolest dudes on Planet Earth - Soweto Kinch took the crowded room by storm and didn't take any prisoners! It says much for the man's charismatic appeal when I observed that there were more musicians in the audience than I can ever recall.

With no keyboard or guitar to chain him Kinch soared off into the unknown. Technique to die for, a tone to cherish and ideas galore. I could have listened to his alto playing all night but, having witnessed previous performances, I knew there was much more to the man than sheer instrumental virtuosity.

CD Review: Tim Thornton - The Feel Good Place

Tim Thornton (bs); James Gardiner-Bateman (alt); Grant Windsor (pno); Chris Draper (dms).

(Review by Lance)

Simply superb! I could end the review with those two words without feeling I'd short-changed anyone. However, whilst that description may do for me, my loyal readers deserve more -  yes all three of you - so here we go.

Yoko Miura/Charlie Collins + Zoe Gilby @ The Lit & Phil Newcastle - September 23

Yoko Miuro (pno); Charlie Collins (perc); Zoe Gilby (voice etc.)

(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)

This was Japanese pianist Yoko Miura’s first appearance on Tyneside and on Wednesday night at the Lit & Phil - in a JNE concert - she teamed up with percussionist Charlie Collins for a fine set of improvised free jazz. Miura’s playing is of the minimalist variety verging from the free to the classical in nature. At times single notes would punctuate the silence dramatically. Miura also employed a melodica to add additional nuances to her playing.

Tomorrow Night (Sept. 25) @ Hoochie Coochie!

Award winning alto-saxophonist and MC Soweto Kinch is one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians in both the British jazz and hip hop scenes. Undoubtedly, one of the few artists in either genre with a degree in Modern History from Oxford University he has amassed an impressive list of accolades and awards on both sides of the Atlantic – including a Mercury Music Prize nomination, two UMA Awards and a MOBO for best Jazz Act in 2003. In October 2007, he won his second MOBO Award, at the O2 Arena, London where he was announced as the winner in the Best Jazz Act category- fending off stiff competition from the likes of Wynton Marsalis.

Solweig Elizabeth Grönlund

(By Simon Spillett)

It's with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Liz Grönlund, Tubby Hayes's partner for the final two years of his life, who passed away in St. Thomas' Hospital, London, in the early hours of Tuesday September 22^nd, following a fall. She was in her mid-80s.

Born in Finland, Grönlund came to the UK in the early 1960s, initially working as a translator for an English aristocrat, Lord Dundonald. Already a jazz fan, while visiting Ronnie Scott's club with a friend in late 1962, she met Tubby Hayes. “It was such a small club that I couldn't avoid meeting him. I had to go to the loo and pass him, so contact was unavoidable,” she recalled in 2008. The attraction was instant and mutual and although Hayes was married, the pair began a brief affair. After an amicable split, Grönlund and Hayes agreed to keep in touch, maintaining a sporadic exchange of letters which ended when the saxophonist’s drug habit bit deep during the mid-1960s.

CD Review: Linda Calise - La Vie My Life

I'm looking for that special girl, the one that is different from all the other women in the world, you know who I mean, that elusive creature, the one who doesn't aspire to be a jazz singer - but, like Laura, she may be only a dream.

Linda Calise is better than most and she doesn't sing Summertime although she does include Good Morning Heartache - another 'give it a rest girls' number.,The other tracks are more choice with A Sunday Kind of Love outstanding. This is a song that I've loved ever since I heard Fran Warren singing it with the legendary Claude Thornhill Orchestra. Every singer should have this one in their pad but, if they did, then it would become another Summertime so it's best they don't although I'm glad Linda did - she's moved it up from Fran Warren who was a high benchmark act to begin with!

Soloists intertwine with the voice - it's a magical experience.

Full details here.
Lance.

CD Review: David Patrick Octet - Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring.

David Patrick (pno/orchestration); Sam Coombes (fl/sop/alt); Brian Molley (sop/alt/ten); Calum Robertson (Bb/Eb/bs clt); Tom MacNiven (tpt/flug); John Kenny (various tmbs); Andrew Robb (bs); Ole Seimetz (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Yon side of Hadrian's Wall the natives seem to have become embroiled in the time old game of 'Jazzin' the classics'. The SNJO's take on Rhapsody in Blue  and their subsequent re-working of Mozart's Jeunehomme being typical examples.

RIP Ray Warleigh.

Sadly, Australian born, English based alto player Ray Warleigh died yesterday (Sept 21) aged 76.

I never actually got to hear him live but I vividly remember the late Nigel Stanger, himself no slouch on alto, waxing eloquently about working with him in London back in the late '60s/early '70s..

LondonJazzNews has posted a fitting obituary of Ray Warleigh.

RIP.
Lance.
PS: See also Sam Leak's post on Facebook.

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: Blue Jazz Sextet/Off Key - September 20

George Anyfantis (keys); Keith Barrett (guitar); Karen Rann (sop sax); Jeff Smith (ten sax); Dave Parker (bass); Mark Robertson (reader, guest drummer); Off Key (novel)

(Review by Ann Alex/Photo courtesy of Debra M)

It’s not often that a novel is part of a jazz band, but tonight it was the star of the show.  The second set consisted of relevant tunes, interspersed with readings from Mark, the author of Off Key, who hopped between the drum kit and the reading stool, even breaking into song during one of the readings, a well-sung snatch of Skylark.

Empty Shop won't be empty on these two evenings!

Firebird details.
Lindsay Hannon Plus details.

CD Review: Kai Hoffman - Luckiest Girl Alive

Kai Hoffman (vcl); Dan Faulkner (ten/bar); Liam Dunachie (pno); Simon Picton (gtr); Dave O'Brien (bs); Mez Clough (dms) + Nina Ferro (backing vcls on 3 tks.)

(Review by Lance).

I guess that when I started this blog back in 2008 I would probably never have visualised reviewing a rendition of Lucky Lips! However, this isn't Cliff Richards - no sirree! London based American Kai Hoffman eschews the bland approach of Sir Clifford and treats it in the manner it's creators [Leiber & Stoller] and Ruth Brown intended. ie a doo-wop/rock and roll/rhythm and blues approach. Ms Hoffman is a blonde, retro dressed. female Louis Jordan, totally au fait with the '50s - the era that the songs, including her own present day compositions, derive from.

Film and Jazz Talk @ Central Library, Newcastle Oct. 7

Jazzers and filmsters should like this one!
Thanks to Russell for info.
Lance.

Bradley Johnston Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. September 20

Bradley Johnston (guitar), Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Tim Johnston (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch - click for more)

Blaydon Jazz Club’s thirty two year history has hosted m
any of the best jazz musicians around – regional, national and international. Working on a shoe string budget, hoping audiences will materialise from one gig to the next, it’s largely a thankless task. On an occasion such as last night at the Black Bull there was a feeling that it was worthwhile, more than worthwhile.

Bradley Johnston, twenty-teen, or thereabouts, led his own band on an engagement at a club venue he has got to know well, a place where the regulars have got to know him. A quiet, shy young man, Johnston plays jazz guitar. He’s had a guest spot or two playing a full part in his guitar duo partnership with mentor James Birkett. Now he’s out there, his own man, calling the tunes. 

Strictly Smokin' Big Band w. Anthony Strong @ Hoochie Coochie - September 20.

(Review by Lance)

What a weekend of singers! 

Alice Grace, in the audience tonight, basking in the glory of her stupendous gig at les jazz café on Friday. Paul Skerritt, one of our top swingmen and occasional frontline crooner with this band was also on hand to give a standing ovation to the man of the match Anthony Strong.

But, first things first.

The Early Bird Band @ St. Cuthbert’s Parish Hall, Crook –September 18.

Matthew McKellar, drums, Dan Lawrence, bass, Francis Tulip, guitar (led by Paul Edis, clarinet / piano).

(Review/photo by Jerry)

Last time this group was here I missed them, owing to a bump in the car. Determined to “get the worm”, I came early this time and was rewarded with a nicely varied five tune “mini-set” including Blue Bossa, Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are and Anthropology.

CD Review: Sam Coombes Trio - Pace of Change

Sam Coombes (alt/sop); Yoni Zelnik (bs); Julien Charlet (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Sam Coombes first appeared on my radar in January 2011 when he played a Splinter gig at the Bridge Hotel. As you will gather from that original review I was impressed. This was a quartet gig with David Patrick (remember that name*) on piano. Piano has been dispensed with in this downsized ensemble making for an even tighter and, paradoxically, freer session.

Coombes remains Konitz inspired but now leans more towards later Konitz with perhaps a dash of Pepper (Art) added - the end product being pure Coombes.

This afternoon at Hoochie.

This afternoon at Hoochie Anthony Strong struts his stuff with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band.

Great band and a great singer who also plays fine piano.

Here's what  BSH's Ann Alex wrote when reviewing his debut CD - Stepping Out.

Doors 4:30pm, on stage 5:30pm. £8.
Lance

Paul Edis & Graham Hardy @ The Jazz Café. September 19

Paul Edis (piano) & Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).

It was busy in town; an Indian summer’s day, the Toon stung by the Hornets, university hopefuls by the thousand visiting our seats of learning and staying over, South Tyneside rockers the Wildhearts packing out the Academy. The ‘jazz institute’ on Pink Lane, the Jazz Café that is, offered a free course in the art of jazz playing. Lecturers Paul Edis and Graham Hardy were gratified to see their ‘students’ made the effort to be in attendance, some taking notes!

Elliot Galvin Trio @ The Lit and Phil - Sept. 18

Elliot Galvin – Piano; Tom McCreadle – Double Bass; Simon Roth - Percussion

(Review by Steve H). 

When a Newcastle jazz audience is double the size of those up there on stage then that can be a good thing providing it is a big band they have come to see. However, when it is a piano, bass and drums combo then that's not so good. Sadly, at the Lit and Phil on Friday night, the latter applied but it did not stop the Eliot Galvin Trio from producing a wonderful set which completely enthralled the select and, dare I say it?, rather discerning audience present.

Alice Grace Quintet @ The Jazz Café - Sept. 18

Alice Grace (vcl); Paul Gowland (ten/alt); Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms).

(Review/photo by Lance/photos by Mike Tilley here).

A gig of two halves. The first marred by Ms Grace being slightly undermiked although not so much that her undoubted class didn't shine through. The second, however, was the real deal. Now everyone in the crowded room could appreciate this exciting, relatively new, voice on the local scene. 

CD Review: Girls in Airports - Fables

Marten Stender (sax/comps); Lars Greve (sax/clt); Matthias Holm (keys); Victor Dybbroe (perc); Mads Forsby (dms).

(Review by Steve H).

You can imagine how I excited I was when asked to review a CD by a Danish band called ‘Girls in Airports’ however this was not quite the sensual experience one might expect from a band so provocatively named. In fact this is classic Nordic jazz, subtle understated and hypnotic.

Power Jazz Commando Team Return to the Toon

Taupe with support from Dead Hedge Trio and Waskerley Way. Friday October 9, Head of Steam, Newcastle upon Tyne, £5, 8pm door.

(Press release)

Taupe, Newcastle’s own thrashy jazz-skronk three piece, are set to fill out the Head of Steam alongside stalwart local beat merchant Waskerley Way and Liverpudlian jazz-rock wranglers Dead Hedge Trio.

This genre spanning noise buffet is served up on October 9 as part of a three-date mini-tour from Edinburgh to Marsden Jazz Festival. Taupe’s first Newcastle show in 18 months will see them perform numbers from their self-released debut album (‘one of the albums of 2014’ – Bebop Spoken Here) as well as outings of brand new material ahead of a new release in 2016.

Michael Woods @ The Lit & Phil. September 18

Michael Woods (guitar & vocals) + Charlie Woods (guitar)

(Review by Russell)

Another Friday lunchtime concert at the Lit & Phil. This one wasn’t jazz, this was folk-blues guitar from Tyneside’s Michael Woods. A return engagement at the Lit & Phil for the finger-picking left hander, his concert schedule sees him perform too infrequently in the region.

A set of classic early country blues and original material drawn from his three-CD back catalogue saw Woods standing throughout, picking his way on a Taylor acoustic and his new pride and joy, a custom made resonator by John Alderson of Leicestershire’s Delta Resonators. 

Jay Nemor Band @ Hoochie Coochie - Sept. 17

Jay Nemor (vcl/alt); Attila (keys); Dag Arne (gtr/fl); David (dms); ? (bs gtr).

(Review by Lance).

An evening of funky soul with just a hint of jazz that had the crowded room dancing and shouting for more. Texas born Nemor has a powerful voice very much in the Gregory Porter mode albeit without the funny hat. The opener with just voice and keyboard was truly impressive, an impact that increased when the remainder of the band joined in.  Nemor's alto playing was minimalistic, never playing 10 notes when one would suffice although he did have a more extended blast on, I think, Suite Soul Music.

Preview: Tonight @ Hoochie

Thursday 17 September 2015; Doors: 7pm Stage: 9pm

Once in a while an artist comes along that you just want to get behind for the love of the music. Hoochie Coochie have done this numerous times with artists like Marcell Russell & Big Brooklyn Red. We feel exactly the same way about Jay Nemor. To prove it we invite you to attend a showcase gig absolutely free of charge !

Preview: Sunday @ The Globe

On Sunday September 20 the Jazz Coop are hosting am evening of words and music – with readings from the novel Off Key by the author, Mark Robertson, and music from Blue Jazz Sextet (with Mark guesting on drums).

Mark Robertson is a talented and popular local musician and Off Key is his hilarious portrayal of the North East jazz scene (there’s even a character called Crombie). It’s described as ‘the greatest story ever told about love … and jazz (in Sunderland)’.

Blue Jazz Sextet has been working with Mark to develop a suite of jazz standards and improvisations to complement the readings.

Please note that this gig is on Sunday and the doors open at 7pm (earlier than on Saturday nights). Admission is £5 on the door.
More about The Globe and the Jazz Coop.