Durham Alumni Big Band with Al Wood @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

 (Review by Russell).

The first jazz festival to be held in Durham’s Ushaw College couldn’t possibly omit the county’s finest big band from the programme. A Saturday afternoon slot in the magnificent surroundings of the circa 1808 Exhibition Hall attracted a large crowd eager to hear the award-winning band. An indication of the commitment of band members was that few deps were required on this August bank holiday weekend. Guest MD Al Wood was booked to work with the band and two star names were to sit-in.

What is Jazz? With Alyn Shipton and Alan Barnes @ Ushaw Jazz Festival August 27. + Improvisation Workshop.

(Report by Steve T)

Pre-empting the discussion, I asked the Artist in Residence his basis for including a painting of Tom Waits among artists more widely recognised as Jazz.

He seemed surprised that the question was asked and we agreed that his music has much in common with Jazz: improvisation, innovation and outside the box, but this could equally apply to Captain Beefheart, the Grateful Dead, King Crimson and many others.

He’d either singled out Waits as a special case or recognised no difference, or perhaps more pertinently, difference (coined by French Post-Structuralist Jacques Derrida) anticipating that he will become more widely thought of as part of the Jazz lineage.

The discussion began with Alyn Shipton playing bass and Alan Barnes playing alto. So far, so good.

CD Review: Victoria Klewin And The True Tones - Dance Me To Heaven

Victoria Klewin (vocals); Sophie Stockham (sax); Paul Field (brass, harmonica); Sam Mills (keys); Paul Crawford (guitar); Mark James (bass); Tom Bradley (drums)

(Review by Ann Alex).

If I ever tire of the North East (not very likely) I’m going to live in Bristol if this CD represents the sort of music available on the ‘burgeoning Bristol music scene’, as it is described on the insert. This band produces jazz, blues, soul and funk in the form of original love songs with titles such as Not All That Glitters; Got A Question; Why Should I?. The lyrics are down to earth but well written, Ms Klewin’s voice is sweet yet gritty, with surprising depths, and the band is skilled, lively and versatile. 

Monastery of Sound: Early Bird Band @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

(Review by Steve T).

Young Russell had realised he’d bitten off more than he could chew so my meagre reviewing duties had doubled. Then they doubled again. Oh, and can you also just do…

A few empty seats for the Northern Monkey Brass Band, on with their closing number - Jackson Fives’ I Want You Back - when I stuck my head in the door, but about sixty, which still looks pretty good in this theatre.

It actually highlighted a potential problem that, if the theatre was sold out and everybody wanted to head for the lounge for Zoe, and I’d strongly recommend they should, we’d have to remove the furniture to get them all in.

Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 26

 Zoë Gilby (vocals), Mark Williams (guitar), Andy Champion (double bass) & Richard Brown (drums)

(Review by Russell/photos by John Marlor)

Plush, deep Chesterfields. Plenty of them. Wood panelling, plush, deep carpets, this is the Francis Thompson Room. Impressive, the previous occupants at Ushaw College certainly lived well! Today, the room, with its full bar service, is an ideal, informal gig venue. The Friday evening concert presented one of Britain’s finest jazz singers – Zoë Gilby.

Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 26

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of John Marlor)

A Buddy Bolden blast heralded a new jazz festival in County Durham. New Orleans, Louisiana to Ushaw College, Durham. Jazz, a common language, the music lives on!     

The inaugural Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival started in true festival style with Graham Hardy’s Northern Monkey Brass Band. The Tyneside-based trumpeter sat high in the gods of the Exhibition Hall – the site of a chapel dating from the early 1800s – poised,   ready to declare the inaugural Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival well and truly ‘open’.      

The Globe Does The Tango!

Yes, the downstairs bar at the Globe was host to the Tango Jazz Quartet and about 30 swaying, cavorting dancers on Monday Bank holiday afternoon, and a good time was had by all, including people like myself who simply watched. This was an afternoon of Tango and Milonga, which has to be seen to be believed, sensuous, deft twisting movements from the ladies and more firm, almost balletic, motions from the men.

This is danced in couples, with the men leading and the women doing the fancy stuff, and it’s all based on a square, and the woman has to somehow negotiate the movement around the square.

Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe - August 29

Gustavo Firmenich (sax & clarinet), Horacio Acosta (piano), Federico Hilal (bass) & Alejandro Beelmann (drums) + Debra Milne (vocal).

(Review by Lance).

Undoubtedly a first for the Jazz Coop and the Globe - an Argentinian Tango Jazz Quartet! I had initial reservations - I didn't know what to expect. Deliberately, I didn't YouTube them, I wanted to, hopefully, experience the 'Sound of Surprise' which is so often lacking in jazz today.

It wasn't lacking tonight - there were surprises galore!

Earlier in the day, the band had played a 'Milonga' that had tango dancers displaying their technique - and more - in the downstairs bar. (see separate review).

Tall Ships Day 4 - August 29

Who better to send off the tall ships than the Tenth Avenue Band. World Music celebrating a World Event!!

Let’s congratulate the band members for a sterling job:-

http://www.tenthavenueband.co.uk/rogues-gallery.html.Great to see such an eclectic mix of entertainment over the past four days and hope it comes along again in the future. 

JT.

Tall Ships Day 3

I think it may be four or more decades since I first heard the Mississippi Dreamboats when they had a residency in Tynemouth. I was sorry to see them give up their regular gig at The Bell and Bucket in North Sheilds a little while ago.  It was pleasing  to find them playing better than ever in Blyth today. Could not stop long as parking was difficult. 

Another guy taking snaps was non-other than Cliff Soden, bass player and professional photographer. Oliver Soden's son Cliff is back living in Blyth and  was at the gig on his cycle. A man in the style of Lance!! 

Cliff gave me a copy of the last CD he made when he lived in Germany:-

http://www.barrelhouse-jazzband.com/stage_detail.php?id=72

Review later and hopefully some pro pics from Cliff

JT.

CD Review: Philip Clemo – Dream Maps - “To sleep perchance to dream”

(Review by Steve H)).

Maybe not jazz as you know it, but nevertheless, a marvellously original piece of work transcending genres from Pink Floyd to Steve Reich.  Aided by contributions from 21 musicians, Clemo is featured on voice, guitars, keyboards, electronics, treatments (?) and location sound recordings.

The opening Liberation is a dreamlike multi-layered ambient soundscape setting the tone for the rest of the album. 

Shadow Seas, a more sombre rhythmic affair, lifted with very effective background vocals. 

Tall Ships Day Two

It's the first time I've heard the Tyne Valley Big Band. Bigger than the SSBB and unbelievably well turned out for such a hot day. A better performance than by some professional bands with some fantastic solos. 

Lost for words to say how good they were 

Sorry pic from the mobile phone does not show much of the band but just lots of happy punters.

JT.
April Joslin videoed MacArthur Park (on F/b).

Tall Ships - Day One.

Last night I went down to catch the Nick Pride Trio who came over very well - if not all jazz

Also along by the Lifeboat Station I came across some "fringe" activity. An organisation called "Tall Ship" (singular) has two sheds in which they are building a tall ship. Not mentioned in the main programme they are putting on various bands over the four days. I heard a couple of tunes from a band called Dennis. A full on sound with obvious links to the Durham Brass Band tradition 

https://www.facebook.com/dennis.co.uk/

JT.

R.I.P Rudy Van Gelder

The most iconic recording engineer in the history of jazz died on Thursday (August 25) aged 91. To attempt to list all of the albums he engineered would be a Herculean task. Simpler to just pull out a long player on Blue Note, Prestige or by Miles, Trane, Dexter - in fact just about anyone who was anyone in modern jazz and you can bet that it was Rudy Van Gelder's fingers at the controls.

He produced a distinct sound, not, he says, because it was on vinyl, but despite it being on vinyl!

There's a brilliant and perceptive obituary in the New Yorker by Richard Brody which also gives links to the authors favourite tracks on Spotify.

The legend died on Thursday and I was complaining of a nosebleed the same day - puts things in perspective!

Obituary.

Lance.

CD Review:Alexander Stewart - I Thought About You

Alexander Stewart (vcl) w. big band inc. Rob Barron (pno); Rob Anstey (bs); Andy Chapman (dms); Freddy Gavita (tpt); Andy Panayi (alt); Callum Au, Alistair White (tmb) as well as the City of Prague Philharmonic on 7 tracks.

(Review by Lance).

I've been a fan of Alexander Stewart since that night back in 2009 when I first heard him at London's The Spice of Life. I was knocked out then and I've been increasingly impressed by his progress.

This new CD - perhaps his most ambitious yet - rubberstamps my early judgement.

Yes, he's still a crooner, but he's today's crooner, albeit one who still looks over his shoulder and says, "If it was good enough then, then it's good enough now - if I do it my way!"

Coming Soon....

The film's completed - here's a short trailer.
Lance.

Latin Jazz Groove @ Hoochie Coochie - August 25

Debra Milne (vcl); Steve Summers (ten/sop/fl/perc); Alan Law (keys); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Katy Trigger (bs gtr); Mark Robertson (dms).

(Review by Lance).

A formidable line-up! After an impressive instrumental opener, Ms. Milne managed to convey a suggestion of Brazil with Antonio Carlos Jobim's Wave, although the weather outside was more related to the rain forests of that country. This really is a weekend for Latinos with Havana Club 5 at Bar Loco on Saturday and the Argentinian Tango Jazz Quartet at The Globe on Monday.

The Bookcase

Living on the west side of Newcastle I visit Carlisle quite frequently and my first point of call is always “The Bookcase” on Castle Street. Aside from the huge selection of second-hand books over several floors and at least two interconnected buildings the main attraction is the vast number of second-hand jazz albums both on CD and vinyl.

I have no idea how many there are but every style and artist involved in Jazz seems to be represented. Everything is indexed so if you are looking for “Big Band Music” say or “Sonny Rollins” there it is. So much better than buying blind off the web! The pictures give a better idea but don’t really do it justice.

Well worth a trip along the A69!

 More info.
Peter Ninnim.

All Aboard the Tall Ships!

Up to thirty tall ships will visit Blyth over the August bank holiday weekend (Friday 26 – Monday 29). The Port of Blyth is to host the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to converge on the south Northumberland port to view up close – and in some cases board – some of the biggest vessels in their class. Food and drink, stalls, nightly firework displays and live music are all part of the celebrations.

Jazz will play its part during the weekend ranging from the Dixieland jazz of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen to the Charlie Christian inspired ‘swing jazz guitar’ of local Blyth Valley guitarist Anth Purdy to the biggest of big bands, the Tyne Valley Big Band. See the right-hand column gig list for day-by-day details. It’s all free! 
Russell 

(I Cover the Waterfront).     

'Louis'- An Appreciation by JC.

Cormac Larkin put it very nicely in his tribute to Louis Stewart in The Irish Times when he said: "He had the distinction - accorded only to the very greatest jazz musicians - of being referred to by his first name only: to his fellow musicians, and to his many devoted fans, he was known simply as 'Louis'."

I first heard Louis Stewart play in 1970 in a rundown parish hall in Foxrock, a suburb of South Dublin. I was a young teenager involved in the local folk club where the usual musical fare up to that time was folk singers and ballad groups and 'local artists'. However, a couple of the club organisers were great jazz fans and had invited him to come and play one Sunday evening. It was a revelation. I was used to gentle acoustic instruments and had never heard an electric guitar live before and, at such close quarters, the effect was staggeringly powerful.

Remembering Louis Stewart (January 5, 1944 - August 20, 2016)

I was fortunate to meet Louis in the late 1970s as I had admired his jazz guitar artistry for many years.  Up to that time, with the exception of Pete Chilver and Dave Goldberg, the UK had not produced a jazz guitarist to match the leading USA jazz guitarists.  Louis, however, proved to be more than a match for the transatlantic masters.  He was a natural jazz musician and greatly admired by audiences all over the world. 

RIP Derek Smith (August 17, 1931 - August 2016)

London-born, long-time American resident, pianist  Derek Smith passed away circa August 21.

Prior to moving to New York Smith was a member of the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra as well as being an integral part of trumpet player Kenny Baker's legendary Dozen with whom he broadcast and recorded with on many occasions.

In America, he quickly became established working with top musicians in a variety of genres.

Read what the New York Times Classified Obituary had to say:

SMITH--Derek,Renowned jazz pianist, husband, father and grandfather. Originally from England, he began his career at the age of 14 on VE Day. In 1957 he immigrated to the United States, building a career that spanned seven decades. His immense talent earned the respect and admiration of everyone who knew him. Playing with every big name in show business, and performing with every major player on the jazz scene, he will be remembered as one of the jazz greats.

Derek Smith was 85. Sadly missed.

Lance.

Shiny Stockings.

CD Review: Music Soup - Cut To The Chase

Evgenia Karlafti (org/pno/vcls); Nestor Dimopoulos (gtr/vcl); Vagelis Kotzabasis (dms); Dimitris Papadopoulos (tpt); Dimitri Vassilakis (ten); Antonis Andreou (tmb) + Anastasis Gouliaris (dms - 1 track).

(Review by Lance).

In the UK we tend to think that Grecian jazz began and ended with the redoubtable Vasilis Xenopoulos. However, back in Athens, this CD indicates that there is jazz of Olympian standard going on in Vasi's home country.

Tees Hot Club becomes Thames Hot Club for one night only!

Those intrepid torch bearers of the Django legacy, the Tees Hot Club, take their Maccas down to the mecca of Djangolism in this country on Sunday, August 28.

The venue? - Le Quecumber, situated in deepest Battersea. (Details).

THC comprises Ian Bosworth, Keith Wilson, Ron Hampton (gtrs); Paul Dickerson (bs); Tim Lamb (perc). Gus Smith will be doing les chanson and Ray Dales will blow alto and wear a hat, no doubt sounding as cool as a ...

If you're in town on Sunday, this should be as good a place as any to round off your visit to the local dogs home.

Lance.

Not a Good Week For Guitarists who played with George Shearing - RIP Toots Thielemans

Hot on the heels of the death of Louis Stewart two days ago comes the news that guitarist/harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans passed away earlier today.

Both men were members of the various  George Shearing Quintets at one time or another. Belgian-born Thielemans, after 5 years with Shearing, became better known as a jazz harmonica player and was featured on many albums both jazz and otherwise. I read he played the theme music on Sesame Street and a lot of blockbuster movies.  

I remember him most for that lovely, perhaps the best ever, jazz waltz - Bluesette. I'd like to think that every band in the world, on their next gig, plays Bluesette in memory of this great musician who died today aged 94.*

Sadly missed.
Obituary.
Bluesette.
2005 interview.
Lance.
* Let me know if you played Bluesette on your next gig.

Paul Edis Trio (and a surprise visitor!) @ Blaydon Jazz Club. August 21

Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + Roly Veitch (guitar)

(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Roly Veitch.)

The Paul Edis Trio at Blaydon Jazz Club. A grand occasion. Club promoter Roly Veitch accepting an invitation to join the trio on a couple of numbers. A grand occasion. Jazz at the Black Bull. A grand occasion. Such was the exceptional quality of the music anyone could be forgiven for thinking they were at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival (clue).

Ilkley Jazz Festival. August 19-21

(Review by Steve Tulip.)

Please accept my apologies for anybody missed or names misspelt or mistook. Any errors are entirely mine.

Organiser Mark Beirne Smith told me there were two hundred people listening to live Jazz in Ilkley on Friday night. This was when the festival began for us and had a distinctly French storytelling theme.

We spent the early part of the evening in French restaurant Monkmans listening to one Emma Fisk introducing a selection of Joe Venuti/ Eddie Lang music accompanied, as ever, by the mythical gypsy guitar of James Birkett.

Sparks never fail to fly when you put these two giants of north east music together and tonight was no exception. I’m reliably told, by Dr Birkett, that the set was essentially the same one Lance reviewed at the Newcastle Jazz Café a few weeks back, with Someone to Watch Over Me the highpoint for me, Emma wringing every last ounce of emotion from her violin.

The audience were attentive and appreciative but comfortably chattering during the music, which suited the setting perfectly. 

James Peacock @ The Vermont Hotel. August 21

James Peacock (piano)

(Review by Russell)

Walking by the Vermont Hotel, it seemed like a good idea to call in to catch some of James Peacock’s solo piano set. The establishment’s Sunday afternoon piano slot has become a fixture, and a welcome one at that. Some of the best pianists around play on Sundays at the hotel, so, if you’re stuck for somewhere to go on a weekend you could visit the Vermont for teas and cakes, a glass of wine or perhaps a pint of the exclusive house beer brewed by Wylam Brewery.

More Quotes

Simon Spillett dug up a few more quotes for us:

"Listening to Benny [Goodman] talking about the clarinet was like listening to a surgeon get hung up on a scalpel."
Artie Shaw, quoted in the sleeve notes to Benny Goodman: The Complete Capitol Trios
"What I do is very superficial and very obvious. What I do takes about five minutes to figure out. How much more useful would it be to spend time analysing a Charlie Parker solo?"
David Sanborn, Jazz FM magazine 1991

Claire Kelly with Pete Gilligan @ The Globe: August 20

Claire Kelly (vocals); Pete Gilligan (piano).

(Review by Ann Alex/photo courtesy of Dave Parker).

And the BSH gold medal doesn’t go to Claire Kelly.  Lance will burst into tears when he reads that Claire rounded off her excellent performance with (yes!) Summertime. The audience of 6 or so soon became many, as Claire’s friends and admirers flocked in, so that by the end of the gig it was rather lively with a couple dancing at the front and shouts of encouragement from the audience. Pete had assisted with choosing the set list, so Claire was singing some numbers she’d not sung for a few years but you wouldn’t have guessed. Ms Kelly is soon to return to her current home in Thailand, a shame for us but Thailand’s gain, as she’s up there with the best of our ‘local’ women singers.

Painting a Picture at Ushaw

(Preview by Russell/images by Dave Barden)

Dave Barden will be working at this week’s Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. The Hexham-based artist will be on site getting an up-close view of the musicians, making preparatory sketches and taking photographs with the final results to emerge from his studio base at a later date. The former Head of Fine Art at the then Newcastle Polytechnic has had a life-long interest in music. Jazz, blues and other popular genres continue to attract the artist’s attention and it will be fascinating to observe Barden working up close to his subject.

Strictly Soakin’ Big Band @ The Tyne Bar. August 20

(Review by Russell).

Summertime down by the Ouseburn. You can bet your bottom dollar the weather will be ‘interesting’. Michael Lamb’s roaring big band played its annual outdoor gig at the Tyne Bar and, as sure as Glenn Miller is missing, the good old British weather turned-up right on cue. Clothes pegs at the ready, the Maling Street wind tunnel would surely do its best.

Make that ‘worst’. Rain, of the torrential variety, arrived ahead of the band. A raincoat, a beanie, a baseball cap…and that was the band! The audience? It would take more than an unseasonal downpour of Noah’s Flood proportions to keep them away. Wind, rain, beer, and a fantastic big band, your typical Saturday afternoon down by the river.

RIP Louis Stewart

Just heard the sad news that Irish guitarist Louis Stewart died earlier today aged 72.
Probably Ireland's greatest ever jazz guitarist Louis Stewart was world class and I have fond memories of hearing him at Newcastle's Corner House in 1981.
More later.
Lance.
Obituary.

Christmas comes but twice a year - It could only happen in America!

My dear friend Lydia Diel, out there in New Jersey, sent me this brief report on a gig by the Ocean Grove Summer Band that she'd went to last Thursday at  the Ocean Grove Pavilion on the Jersey Shore. 

Sounds like it was a hoot!

Let Lydia tell it:

Late addition to listings

This one almost slipped through the net! However, it explains why Alice Grace is singing with the SSBB at the Tyne Bar tomorrow!
It's going to be quite a day for singers with
Lindsay at the Exchange - 1pm.
Alice and F'reez with SSBB - 3:30pm.
Zoe Gilby w. Mark Williams at the Vermont - 7pm.
Claire Kelly w. Pete Gilligan at The Globe- 8pm.
Lance.

Ace Trio to play Blaydon Jazz Club

(Preview by Russell)

This Sunday (21 August) the Black Bull welcomes one of the great jazz trios of our time. Pianist Paul Edis is to play an engagement at Blaydon Jazz Club with his new trio. Edis, Andy Champion and Russ Morgan, it doesn’t get any better than this. Firmly established as one of the finest pianists on the British jazz scene, Edis juggles a number of projects – trio, sextet, MD of a work-shopping/gigging young combo, MD of a local community big band, sideman to several of his peers and a full-on teaching commitment. And then there is concert promotion across the north east of England, not forgetting the small matter of organising a jazz festival (Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival, August 26-28)!

CD Review: Fred Hersch Trio - Sunday Night at The Village Vanguard

Fred Hersch (piano); John Hébert (bass); Eric McPherson (drums).

Review by Dave Brownlow.

Hersch, rightfully acknowledged as one of today’s jazz masters is, like good wine, maturing with age! His choice of challenging material inspires himself and his cohorts to enthusiastically respond with vitality and sensitivity – especially, here, in the freer atmosphere of  this March 2016 session at The Village Vanguard NYC, scene of so many classic recordings.

CD Review: Not Now Charlie - Nostalgia Revisited

Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Richard Campbell (piano), Liam Gaughan (bass) & Dave McKeague (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Graduates of Sage Gateshead’s degree course, Not Now Charlie recorded Nostalgia Revisited at a gig in the upstairs room of the Jazz Café, Pink Lane, Newcastle. Nine tracks, written by Jamie Toms and mixed by bassist Liam Gaughan, showcase Toms’ flair for penning danceable, melodic tunes. The quintet’s cohesive, collective sound, recorded on the night by Mark Stafford, makes for a highly listenable album.

Alan Barnes is sworn to secrecy…

(Interview by Russell)

Next week’s inaugural Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival (26-28 August) presents top quality jazz over the three days of the bank holiday weekend. Zoë Gilby, the Early Bird Band, a star-studded big band and Dave Kerr’s New Century Ragtime Orchestra are just some of the attractions on offer. Ahead of the festival, Alan Barnes (Saturday evening with Bruce Adams and the Paul Edis Trio) talks to Bebop Spoken Here about fellow musicians, jazz   education and claims to know the answer to the question: What is jazz?

Indigo Voices @ The Globe: Tonight August 18: Preview

The mood is definitely indigo tonight at the Globe as the Indigo Jazz Voices sing a selection of jazz standards, blues and bossa.  In fact Mood Indigo is one of the songs that you’ll hear, as well as Night And Day, East Of The Sun and many other numbers.  We’ll be accompanied by a trio of Pete Gilligan (piano) Paul Grainger (bass) and Tom Atkinson (drums), and Ron Pattinson will also be popping up on piano. We are Jen Errington, Jenny Lingham, Carrie McCullock, Barry Keating and myself, Ann Alexander.

So to enjoy an evening of good singing and playing, get yourselves along to the Globe tonight, Thursday August 18, at 7.30pm

Ann Alex  

CD Review: California Feetwarmers - Silver Seas

Charles De Castro (tpt/acc); Justin Rubenstein (tmb); Joshua Kaufman (clt/pno/acc); Brandon Armstrong (sousa/bass); Patrick Morrison (plec bjo); Juan Carlos Reynoso (gtr); Dominique "Chief" Rodriguez (bs dm.) + Andy Bean  (steel gtr); Tom Morrison (bs); CoryBeers (bs. dm).
(Review by Lance).
Well, I'm into history and this is history, albeit not totally ancient - some of it pre-dates ancient! Having said that, it kinds of grows on you and brings to mind the various Red Hot Pennies groups that Red Nichols fronted. Hot dance music of the 1920s. Foot tapping stuff and, if you feel like shimmying like your sister does, then this is ideal.

RIP Bobby Hutcherson.

Sad to report the passing of Bobby Hutcherson - one of the all-time great jazz vibes players. Many Blue Note albums as leader and sideman - Gettin' Around with Dexter Gordon is one of my favourites. I also recall the memorable concert at Newcastle City Hall with Herbie Hancock where he demonstrated that the legacy of Norvo, Hampton, Gibbs, Jackson, Feldman was in good hands.

Hutcherson died on August 15 at the age of 75.

Sadly missed.

Obituary.
Lance.

CD Review: Barney Kessel - Live At the Jazz Mill 1954

Barney Kessel (guitar); Pete Jolly (piano); Gene Stoffali (bass); Art Kile (drums).

(Review by Maurice J. Summerfield).

In 1954 Barney Kessel was only 31 years old yet he had already had been, in the late 1940’s, the featured guitarist in the Artie Shaw, Charlie Barnet and Benny Goodman bands.  In 1947 he was a member of Charlie Parker’s All Stars and, in 1952 -1953, toured the world with Norman Granz’s JATP package both as a soloist and as an integral part of the Oscar Peterson Trio.  

Quadrant 4

This photo appeared in today's Shields Gazette. Taken in June 1984 we're told it's a Hebburn based band - Quadrant 4. Centre of the picture is Ronnie Pearson (drums) and far right is pianist Stu Collingwood. The others are listed as, Ken Walker (bass and vocals); Rob Javan and Les Javan  (guitars and guitar synths.)

Any further details of this band?

The late Ronnie Pearson we remember from Last Exit whilst Stu Collingwood is still  going strong and playing better than ever.

Lance.

CD Review: Ben Bryden - Glasgow Dreamer - The Music of Ivor Cutler

Ben Bryden (tenor, harmonium), Reinier Baas (guitar, piano, harmonium), Mark Schilders (drums), Tom Berkmann (bass).

(Review by Steve T)

According to the notes this is Indie Jazz and I may have been better prepared had I read it first and may not be the ideal person to review it.

The instrumentation is largely sax, guitar, bass and drums which several sources have told me is the new frontline of choice instead of trumpet and sax, which may be bad news for trumpeters and pianists. I personally think the sax and guitar play well off each other and I like the space created as the guitar switches from comping to soloing. 

And you see Laura - and then you don't!

Apologies for drifting away from Jazz but, as a cycling fanatic, Laura Trott's performance in the Rio Olympics was the equivalent of a Basie swinger, a Ring -a- Ding - Dinga, a John Coltrane!
Laura and all the other cycling medallists too!
Back to the Velodrome.
Lance.