The return of Daniel John Martin!

(Preview by Russell)

Earlier this year Djangologist Mick Shoulder put together a short tour of northern venues working with Daniel John Martin. The County Durham-based Shoulder was taking a new venture on the road – Swing Manouche – and the opportunity to share a stage with Martin wasn’t one to be spurned. Swing Manouche goes from strength to strength and once more DJM will link up with Shoulder, Giles Strong, guitar, and Paul Susans, double bass.

 A run of three dates in the northeast will see Paris-based Martin entertain audiences in an archway, a café and a rural music centre. The violin virtuoso will renew acquaintance in a Gateshead speakeasy with Shoulder on Tuesday (4 October). Prohibition Bar is all things decadent; a converted railway arch space located at the Gateshead end of the Tyne Bridge exudes ‘Jazz Age’ chic. Its discreet entrance belies the 1920s’ delights hidden therein. At eight o’clock sharp guitarists Shoulder and Strong will set the rhythm. Martin will amaze those hearing him for the first time – ‘virtuoso’ scarcely does him justice. An ‘entertainer’, that’s DJM. A brilliant violinist, a singer too, and, perhaps, a whistled tune or two!

SeeNine @ Hoochie Coochie - September 29.

Stephen Wetherall (bs. gtr); Dan Butterworth (dms); Scotty Handy (keys); Ciaran Jasper (alt/ten); Esti Harrison (tpt); Adam Ashbridge (gtr). + Fabio Sousa (tmb).

(Review by Lance).

Student band and you've got 'Rent-a-Crowd'. Boy/girlfriends, course mates, coarse mates, parents, family etc. you've got the audience but, will they come back and, more importantly, will those with less filial/fraternal relationships return?

On this showing, only SeeNine's second gig, I think they will.

CD Review: Square One – In Motion

Joe Williamson (guitar), Peter Johnstone (piano), David Bowden (bass) & Stephen Henderson (drums & percussion)

(Review by Russell)

Four undergraduates met at the Conservatoire of Scotland. They formed a quartet, played some gigs, recorded an EP, and, as recipients of the 2015 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, recorded a debut CD in April 2016. The band is Square One, the album is In Motion. The band’s publicity suggests the music embraces variously ECM Euro-cool, folk, fusion and, of course, jazz.

Ten tracks, all of which are group compositions, span precisely sixty minutes. Beginning with the title track – Square One – keeps things simple, saying to the listener: This is who we are. Joe Williamson, guitar, Peter Johnstone, piano, David Bowden (double bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) have rapidly developed a collective identity; strong, melodic compositions negotiated with impressive, mature musicianship.

Followed By Thirteen @ The Jazz Café – September 27

André Canniere (trumpet); Esben Tjalve (piano); Henrik Jensen (bass); Antonio Fusco (drums)

(Review by/photo courtesy of – Ken Drew.) 

Opening with Bonza,  Canniere provides a gentle introduction before passing to Tjalve to develop on piano then Fusco on  drums with Jensen providing solid support throughout.  A confident opener for the band giving a flavour of and raising expectations of what was to follow. The Dutch Daneman began with a powerful trumpet lead before bursting into life courtesy of Jensen, Tjalve and Fusco’s driving rhythm. Even at this early point in the concert, the quartet demonstrated a tight interplay and support during the solo sections. The bass was ever present, keeping up with Fusco on drums with his very enthusiastic, yet accurate, playing. With some very intricate rhythms and powerful and exciting drum solo sections, overall the quartet produced a fine cohesive sound.

SeeNine at Eight Thirty Tonight

SeeNine are a new, young, instrumental jazz fusion sextet putting their own spin on classic jazz, funk and modern pop tunes, along with their own compositions. Check them out tonight at the band's favourite music venue - Hoochie Coochie, 54 Pilgrim St., Newcastle NE1 6SF. On stage circa 8/8:30pm and it's free! 

Lance.

CD Review: Julphan Tilapornputt - Regards to You

Julphan Tilapornputt (guitar), Joe Wagner (tenor sax). Jeong Hwan Park (bass), Ken Ychicawa (drums).

(Review by Steve T)

As a local guitar teacher said to me recently, everybody's a virtuoso nowadays. Julphan is one such guitarist. Originally from Thailand and now resident in New York, he's had an impressive education including a scholarship at Berklee.

However, any new guitarist who wants to make a difference within the Wes Metheny legacy needs to be a writer comparable with Stravinsky, Cole Porter, Duke or Curtis Mayfield.

The alternative is perhaps even more difficult, to create something entirely new when it appears that every possible permeation has been tried.

Interview with Tom Harrison

Bebop Spoken Here talked to saxophonist Tom Harrison about his forthcoming album and his visit to the Jazz Café this Friday (Sept. 30) as part of the David Lyttle Trio

BSH: Tom, although London based, you pop up here quite frequently. I think the first time I heard you was with DAGDA. Is it the semi-tropical weather, the beer or the friendly fan base you like about Newcastle? (Think carefully about your answer).

To be honest probably a combination of all the above! It’s true, I’m certainly partial to a pint of Radgie Gadgie in the rain with good people!

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 - Sunday September 25:

(Review by Steve T).

Young people may not believe this but as a child I spent four consecutive summer holidays camping in Scarborough; twice. Years later my oldest brother told me our mother invented Scarborough for their second generation of children but all of us, including my older brother and sister make Scarborough a regular destination.

The last time my parents went they stayed at the Grand Hotel where we’d only ever been for the Good old Days, which is now probably the so-called swinging sixties.

I consider it the finest holiday resort in the north and it’s always something of a homecoming.

Work and family commitments meant I could only make the Sunday which I had already decided was my preferred day of the three.

Jazz Files and Kill Fee by Fiona Veitch Smith @ Central Library, Newcastle - an observation.

Made my way through the rain-sodden mean streets of Newcastle to the Central Library which is near enough to the centre of the city to justify its name.

I was checkin' out a dame, Fiona Veitch Smith although she sometimes calls herself Poppy Denby and wears retro clothes.

What was this broad doing in a library? Why wasn't she out reporting for the local rag, taking pictures with her Kodak Brownie? Then it clicked, there wasn't a match (football game) on so what else could she do? Fiona and alter ego Poppy, dropped in to talk about a couple of crime scenarios they, well at least Poppy, had been involved in back in the 1920's - the Jazz Age!

There's more, or maybe less, to Spain than Chick Corea!

John Taylor sent me this shot from Barcelona,

"Not my hotel and no jazz either!"
Which just goes to show that you can't judge a hotel by its frontage. Then again, can you ever believe what a hotel claims in its brochures like General Franco slept here - and maybe the bed linen hasn't been changed since!

Not that this applies to the Hotel Jazz where, I'm sure, everything the visitor could desire is available - 'cept jazz!

Lance.

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 - Saturday September 24: The Eastern Area Schools Youth Jazz Orchestra

(Review by Russell).

The Eastern Area Schools Youth Jazz Orchestra is a shining example of jazz education at its best. Based in Scarborough, the ensemble performs regularly in Yorkshire and, as and when funds permit, further afield including frequent visits to Wearside to take part in the annual Great North Big Band Jazz Festival in Sunderland. EASY, as the outfit is known, has become a fixture at Scarborough. This year’s invite included a workshop session with Alan Barnes and Gareth Williams. Christmas comes early to Scarborough! 

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 - Saturday September 24: Barnes/O’Higgins & the Sax Section

(Review by Russell).

As the Spa festival stage crew prepared the platform for the Alan Barnes/Dave O’Higgins saxophone summit a piano tuner quietly went about his business at the Bösendorfer     grand. This an example of the attention to detail, central to the smooth running of a major jazz festival. The Grand Hall audience took five, the room sweltering on a late September Scarborough afternoon.

Alan Barnes and Dave O’Higgins worked together regularly at the Pizza Express in Soho in the 1980s: ‘every Monday evening for about twelve years’ recalled Barnes. O’Higgins nodded, perhaps pondering the intervening years, one suspects gone in a trice! Here at the 2016 Scarborough Jazz Festival the Barnes/O’Higgins’ Sax Section took to the stage with a casual air, virtuosi ready to go to work. The main men, flanked on their left by Sammy Mayne, described by Barnes as his favourite alto sax player, and on baritone, a favourite of Humphrey Lyttleton, Karen Sharp. To their right, playing tenor sax, Judith O’Higgins.

Tcha Limberger to play Sage Gateshead!

(Preview by Russell)

Multi instrumentalist Tcha Limberger is returning to Sage Gateshead. This Sunday, October 2, Limberger will be in Hall Two with his Budapest Gypsy Orchestra. Belgian born Tcha, of the Manouche tradition, will lead his seven piece band in a programme centred on the folk music traditions of Central Europe. On this current tour Limberger will be playing violin – he is also an accomplished guitarist – alongside fellow string instrumentalists Olah Norbert (viola, or the ‘brac’ bowed alternative), Ruzo Istvan on violin and Szegfu Karoly, double bass.

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 – Saturday September 24: Nicola Farnon Trio

Nicola Farnon (double bass & vocals), Piero Tucci (piano & tenor saxophone) & Phil Johnson (drums)

(Review by Russell)

A beautiful autumnal day on the Yorkshire coast. Scarborough Spa is at its best on a day like this with its enviable waterfront location at the foot of steepling cliffs. Mike Gordon and his team of hard working assistants have refined the workings of a fixture on the jazz festival circuit and this year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival, the fourteenth, attracted visitors from far and wide. The festival proper began on Friday, although some had other ideas…     

The 2016 festival began on Wednesday evening at Scarborough Jazz Club’s regular haunt on Cambridge Terrace. The Cask public house hosted Mike Gordon’s house trio – aka the MG3 – working with a three-strong frontline of Yorkshire lad Dennis Rollins, multi reeds man Stuart MacDonald and festival favourite (and compere) Alan Barnes. On Thursday a second session featured Tom Townsend’s eight piece outfit – clearly some just can’t wait for the three days of official action to begin!

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 - Saturday September 24: SK2 Jazz Orchestra

(Review by Russell)

Things tend to run to time at Scarborough. At quarter past two, to time, MC Alan Barnes introduced the powerhouse SK2 Jazz Orchestra. Drummer Dave Tyas, Yorkshire born and bred, takes his band on the road whenever he can and an invitation to perform at the Spa was readily accepted. An all-Kenton programme (the clue is in the band name ‘SK2’)   enthralled an audience which, near as damn it, filled the hall. Some of those present were, no doubt, at one or more of Kenton’s British concert dates back in ’56.

CD Review: Alyssa Allgood - Out of the Blue.

Alyssa Allgood (voice); Chris Madsen (sax); Dan Chase (organ); Tim Fitzgerald (guitar); Matt Plaskota (drums)

(Review by Lance).

This is like hearing Annie Ross for the first time way back when she hung out with Jon Hendricks and Dave Lambert. Alyssa has that same scat/vocalese feel to the bebop lines that much of Out of the Blue is based on.

The opener, Watch me Walk Away picks up on Hank Mobley's Dig Dis and Allgood wordlessly weaves her vocal around Hank's solo - All good so far! Noticing the Moment, based on Coltrane's Moment's Notice from 'Trane's Blue Train Blue Note Album (which also just happens to be my favourite album by Coltrane) Madsen chips in without loss of face.

Three Free Gigs Last Night

(Reviews by John T).

Set off at teatime yesterday [Friday, Sept. 23] to do some shopping in ‘The Toon’.

By 6pm I was in need of refreshment which I found in the form of an excellent pint of Wylam Ale in the Redwood Bar of the Vermont Hotel where vocalist Andrea Pattison, her husband Richard Rutherford, on bass and Graham Don on piano kept me relaxed and entertained for a while

My needs, albeit temporarily, fulfilled I then made my way to the Prohibition Bar in Gateshead, whistling the theme from Get Carter as I walked over the High Level Bridge! 

EP Review: Peter Horsfall - How Can We Know?

Peter Horsfall (tpt/vcl); David Archer (gtr); Joe Webb (pno); Dave O'Brien (bs).

(Review by Lance).

A mini gem! An EP that delights and infuriates! Delights, because the four tracks are so very listenable. Infuriates because there are only four tracks - I wanted more!

Horsfall blows mighty fine horn with a delightful 1930's feel about it. Not surprising as we know him from the Basin Street Brawlers and Kansas Smitty's House Band. The emphasis here, however, is on his crooning and it, inexplicably, brought Bill Kenny of The Inkspots to mind!

Just so laid back, I ignored the pile of review discs in the queue and played this over and over again.

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ Black Swan Arts Centre - A Dutch Treat!

(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley).

What's left to say about the Big Idea? We know the repertoire, we've heard it all before and yet...

...sometimes it's as if we're hearing it for the very first time! Years ago, the Ellington and Basie Bands created the same feeling and we never left those concerts disappointed and nor were we disappointed tonight.

Michael Woods @ The Lit & Phil. September 23

Michael Woods (guitar & vocals)

(Review by Russell)

Newcastle based Michael Woods opened and closed his Lit & Phil lunchtime set of fifty minutes playing his six string Taylor acoustic. The regional folklore of Salter’s Bridge to begin, a string of American country blues to follow; Ain’t No Tellin’, Deep Ellum and an excellent take on Blind Blake’s Excuse Me, Mr Phelps? Mississippi Blues (Willie Brown) a final tune, for now, on the Taylor.

CD Review: Gene Ess - Absurdist Theatre

Gene Ess (Guitar), Thana Alexa (Voice), Manuel Valera (Piano), Yasushi Nakamura (Bass), Clarence Penn (Drums).

(Review by Steve T)

Another strong album but when do we get to see them live at a Jazz Café or Globe near us [northeast UK]? Because that's the only market I can envisage for it, and, if they're as good live, I'm sure they'd shift loads.*

Having said that, the internet, social media, streaming, downloading; all these things are something of a mystery to me so maybe there's a marketplace I'm not privy to.

CD Review: Joshua Breakstone - The Cello Quartet: 88

Joshua Breakstone (gtr); Lisle Atkinson (bs); Andy Watson (dms); Mike Richmond (cello).

(Review by Lance).

As the review copies arrive in ever increasing numbers I'm enveloped in guilt. My postman is already bent and withered, and he's only a young man. The cat trembles at the sound of the combination of CDs  and Tandoori takeaway/pizza menus that land on the doormat.

I classify the discs - vocals for Ann or Debra; familiar contemporary. names for Russell; slightly outré for Hugh; ultra outré for Steve H and a combination of the lot for Steve T - particularly if there is a guitar in the mix. The rest are pigeon - holed for whichever charity shop I like least. Then there are the ones I know will hit my car stereo.

This is just such a one.

Jam session @ The Jazz Café. September 20

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

George and Ira Gershwin, Kenny Barron and Tom Waits. The Jazz Café’s house rhythm section opened with Lady Be Good, Voyage and I Beg Your Pardon. A round of fours as good as they come on the opening number impressed the new student intake – they were listening to Young Gun drummer Matt McKellar. This is the standard, guys!

The first week of term, first and second-year music students based at Sage Gateshead got a taste of what lies ahead for them. The experienced musicians on the stand - pianist and MC Peter Gilligan and Paul Grainger, bass - know their stuff, confident of, and generous to our depping young drummer on the gig, so we heard Matt  solo confidently on Voyage. The two PGs weren’t the only old hands around - PR, Paul Ruddick, blew a Baghdaddian alto on All of Me accompanying the keen participation of a local blues guitarist. A twelve bar followed before Ruddick cracked the whip to set a boisterous Caravan on its journey into the kasbahs and souks of Newcastle’s exotic West End.

CD Review: Opaluna - Susana Pineda & Luis Salcedo.

OPALUNA

Susana Pineda – vocals; Luis Salcedo – guitar; Jeff Denson – bass, percussion, backing vocals; John Santos – percussion.

(Review by Debra)

Opaluna is the eponymous first album from this young California-based vocal & guitar duo.  Their distinctive collaboration brings together jazz, Latin and a range of other traditional and contemporary music. The project was overseen by Ridgeway Arts founder & bassist Jeff Denson, who is also featured  in Instinto Ornitologico, an atmospheric jazz funk piece, and in  Does it Rain on the Moon?,  a melancholic ballad.  

Terence Blanchard and Inner City Ensemble @ Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal - September 18

(Review by Steve T)

This was ostensibly part of the Lancaster Jazz Festival about a twenty-minute drive away, but I found no trace of the main event so I’m guessing they didn’t want to encourage people to head to Lancaster.

On close inspection I found there were no breaks in proceedings in Lancaster so it was really a case of one or the other and, while I was disappointed to miss Lancaster, and particularly the threat of a Sonny Rollins/John Zorn cross, the chance to see Terence Blanchard in a more acoustic setting than we got at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival in the spring, proved the greater attraction for me.

CD Review: Monocled Man – We Drift Meridian

Rory Simmons (trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, guitar), Chris Montague (guitar) & Jon Scott (drums) + Emilia Mårtensson (vocals) & Ed Begley (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Simmons layers-up haunting electronic and acoustic landscapes…associated with these far-flung [islands and atolls]. So says the publicity blurb about the new CD by Monocled Man. Multi-instrumentalist Rory Simmons’ distant, troubled trumpet sound stretches out across an expanse of ocean joining modular synths, sequencers and chopped audio. 

Sleuthing in the Jazz Age

(Preview by Russell).

Newcastle-based author Fiona Veitch Smith will be talking about, and reading from, her Poppy Denby Investigates series of ‘Jazz Age’ novels on Thursday, 22nd September and again on Monday of next week, 26 September. On Thursday Veitch Smith will be at the book launch of her second novel in the series – The Kill Fee – in Blackwell’s Bookshop, 141 Percy Street, Newcastle at 6:00pm. Meet the author and listen to some live jazz.

Next week the author will be at Newcastle City Library to talk about her debut novel The Jazz Files (shortlisted for the 2016 Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger Award) and authenticity in period crime fiction. Tickets are free for the event starting at 5:00pm. To book your place telephone 0191 277 4100. 

Russell.

Jeremy McMurray-Mark Toomey Quintet @ Blaydon Jazz Club. September 19

Jeremy McMurray (piano), Mark Toomey (alto saxophone), Paul Donnelly (guitar), Peter Ayton (bass) & Paul Smith (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch)

Jeremy McMurray and Mark Toomey made a return visit to the Black Bull with former Djangology guitarist Paul Donnelly a welcome addition to the line-up. The Teessiders are seasoned performers - one of bassist Peter ‘Tubby’ Ayton’s claims to fame is a gig with Spike Milligan and Paul Smith (drums) boasts a you-name-them-I’ve-played-with-them  CV - and this Blaydon Jazz Club date was all about Bird.  

This Thursday @ the Black Swan

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea is a dynamic, nine-piece Hammond organ- based band exploring the jazz organ genre to the max! Soul, Gospel, Funk, Swing and Samba are all part of the mix. Add to that some kicking original tunes, many written as tributes to the legendary jazz and soul musicians who have inspired Gerry throughout his career and you get an unbeatable format for a great nights' music.

The band’s previous gig – in June – was so busy that we’re moving them next door to the larger – and fully accessible – Black Swan Bar and Venue. Coach parties catered for!

Thursday September 22 8.00pm (Bar 7pm / Doors to music room 7.30pm) – Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea. The Black Swan Bar & Venue, 69 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SG. Tickets at door £6.00 adults ( £4.00 under 18s with an adult).

In the meantime, don't forget Tuesday's jam session in the Jazz Café - that's tomorrow (Sept. 20) 8pm and it's free!                              

Hailey Tuck w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Hoochie Coochie - September 18

Hailey Tuck (vocal); Rick Simpson (piano); Chris Maddock (tenor) + Strictly Smokin' Big Band.*
(Review by Lance).

You wait for ages then two come along at once! No, I'm not talking about buses, I'm talking gigs.

I'd marked Friday's Nigel Price Trio session down as my gig of the year then, what happens?  SSBB roll up at Hootchie and, not only do they have Alice Grace as band singer but they also bring in Parisian based American singer Hailey Tuck!

Hailey, by the way, brought in Rick Simpson on keys and Chris Maddock on tenor who also did the majority of her vocal arrangements.

Alice opened the batting with Sway; Time After Time; Somebody Loves me (everybody does babe!); Alright OK You Win; You Make me Feel so Young. Alice looked good and sounded even better if that were possible!

Time to meet Ms. Tuck.

CD Review: Steve Heckman - Legacy; A Coltrane Tribute.

Steve Heckman (ten/sop); Grant Levin (pno); Eric Markovitz (bs); Smith Dobson V (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Steve Heckman says, in the album notes, In 2016 there seems to be an obsession with 'innovation'. I don't know that there is room for everyone to be an 'innovator'. In this regard, I hear a lot of new, very angular music that has the veneer of being 'current' and 'hip', though often not very melodic. Heckman elaborated further but I didn't need to  read more, this man echoed my inner thoughts and I knew I'd love this CD before the needle hit the groove as we used to say back in the days when Benny was a Goodboy and Duke hadn't even been knighted!

Nigel Price Trio + Early Bird Band @ Jazz Café - September 16

Nigel Price (gtr); Ross Stanley (Hammond); Steve Brown (dms).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
Smokin' is the expression frequently used to describe organ based trios and, as such, it was no surprise that on a previous northeast gig (Ushaw College Jazz Festival) the fire alarm went off. Tonight wasn't a four-alarm alert but the atmosphere was certainly incendiary as the three guys lit the blue touch paper.

Over the years I've heard Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Jim Hall, Charlie Byrd, Tal Farlow, John McLaughlin, Martin Taylor, Alvin Lee and many other names - include Nigel Price on that Roll of Honour.

He was phenomenal! Irrespective of mood or tempo Price was in there exploring, creating, interpreting, an absolute delight.

When Harley Met Gary

In Portugal last week, Maine St. Jazzmen trumpet player Ray Harley caught up with a neighbour of his from the days when he lived over there, Gary Cox. Gary, Ray tells me, is still in great shape at 82 and still doing gigs in Ireland where he lives for six months of the year.

“I can sit and talk with him for ages, his tales of the business are legendary re his many top jobs with NDO, Radio Big Band, Maynard Ferguson, John Patrick and TV work etc. etc. etc. Also, he has fond memories of his time in Newcastle at The Oxford and playing alongside Mike and Ian Carr in the Emcee Five”.

In the above photo, Ray is on the left of the picture. In the picture below (circa 1985 at Corner House) Ray is back row, second from the left and Gary is front row fourth from the left. Band is Ray Chester's. How many others can you recognise?

Lance.

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: Not Now Charlie: Sept 15

Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Pawel Jedizejewskl (guitar); Richard Campbell (piano); Liam Gaughan (bass guitar); Dave McKeague (drums).

(Review by Ann Alex/photo from BSH archive).

I went to hear this band after liking their sound on a YouTube link on BSH and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. 

Their website, www.notnowcharlie.com  quotes influences from jazz, rock, pop etc: add to that what I detected, which was folk and classical, the latter mostly from the piano and the former from the second tune of the gig, with the delightful Di Dum sharp snapping sound beloved of bagpipers – I think it’s called a ‘Scotch Snap’.

Tonight - The Price is right!

(Preview by Russell)

Last call for the Jazz Café! Tonight on Pink Lane guitarist Nigel Price promises to set the place alight with his smokin’ Hammond trio. Last month’s Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival found Price in scintillating form with regular sidemen Ross Stanley, Hammond, and Matt Home, drums. Launching into their set at a blistering pace, Price and co. threatened to set the place alight. Midway through that first number, the fire alarm rang out. The organisers had no option but to literally pull the plugs.

CD Review: Larry Wilson – No Secrets No Lies

Larry Wilson – Drums, keyboards (various), bass guitar, vocals; Joshua Bowlus – piano, Fender Rhodes; Lawrence Buckner, Mike Perez – bass; Daniel Dickenson, Todd Delgudice, David Stewart, Jesus Rodriguez - saxophones; Ray Callendar – trumpet, flugel horn; Jeremy Sauer – guitars; Cory Wilcox, Bryant Patterson – trombones; Celeste Betton, Akia Uwanda – vocals.

(Review by Hugh).

Larry Wilson spent his formative years in Jacksonville, Florida, launching his musical career, at the age of 3, playing drums in church. After Performing Arts schooling he majored in jazz studies at the Florida State School of Music.  He has subsequently toured both in the USA and abroad and worked with many notable artists or bands in jazz and other genres (at least 28 are listed in the promotional material!).  As well as playing, Larry Wilson is both a producer and musical director and serves in Music Ministry at a church in Jacksonville (under the intriguingly named Bishop John E. Guns).

Eyemouth harbours jazz ambitions

The Eyemouth Hippodrome in Berwickshire launches a new programme of jazz concerts when the venue welcomes the New Focus Duo on Sunday, September 18.
Consisting of Scottish National Jazz Orchestra saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski and pianist-composer-arranger Euan Stevenson, New Focus Duo is the scaled down edition of a group that can comprise jazz quartet, string quartet, concert harp and flute and features on two albums, the most recent being New Focus on Song, which was released on Whirlwind Recordings in August.

CD Review: Jimmy O'Connell Sixtet – Arrhythmia

Jimmy O'Connell – trombone; Andrew Gould - alto and soprano sax; Tim Basom – guitar; Tuomo Uusitalo – piano; Peter Slavov – bass; Jimmy MacBride (drums).

(Review by Hugh)

Jimmy O'Connell moved to New York City from his native Detroit in 2009.  Since that time he has become firmly established as an in-demand trombonist on the scene, sharing the stage with the likes of Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Paquito D'Rivera and Randy Brecker.  O'Connell has assembled the “Sixtet” from among those who have made a big impact on him, both as a musician and a person.

Arrhythmia, O’Connell’s debut recording, brings together the many influences experienced during his sojourn in NYC.  The opening track, O'Connell's take on trombonist JJ Johnson's Lament, contains lyrical solos from each of the musicians, gently supported by their colleagues.  This approach is maintained throughout the album, O'Connell allowing sufficient space for each constituent musician to solo, but in the context of the musical development of each track.  

Preview: Lancaster Jazz Festival - September 16-18.

(Preview by Steve T).

I think it was two years ago when FDT and I made it down for the Saturday sessions at Lancaster and what a fantastic day we had.

Bone maestro Rollins brought his Velocity Trio to the Round with miraculous Hammond monster Ross Stanley and brilliant drummer Pedro Segundo, but, in the Square, we got Paul Edis and his Sextet and the Starlight Quartet, who I've seen a couple of times and they're terrific too. 

Each of the three days begins with a Jazz Breakfast from 10am to noon at Robert Gillows, with music from guitarist Jon Moore and/or pianist/singer Sue Parish and the food is free, though donations are welcome.

Jay Phelps Quintet: Projections of Miles @ Harrogate International Festivals - September 13

Jay Phelps (trumpet), Brandon Allen (tenor), Rick Simpson (piano), Mark Lewandowski (bass), Shane Forbes (drums).

(Review by Steve T/Photos courtesy of Matthew McKernon)

Prelude

This was never going to be nice and concise. In Jazz, Miles is my man. I wish it were otherwise and I had some lesser known tucked away to thwart the mass media situating him (with Hendrix and Marvin) amongst the usual juvenile poster-boy icons, but no, it's Miles.

When I was reading his autobiography in the early nineties, I filled in the gaps in my collection, which was everything apart from Bitches Brew, Kind of Blue and the Miles and Tadd Dameron Quintet: Paris 49 (which I bought cos I love/d the cover) featuring a young James Moody who I saw at a Newcastle Jazz Festival in the early eighties - anyone?

Miles is one of those artists, and there are a number in Jazz, where, just when you think you have the measure of them, you discover another album which leads to other albums and you're off again. I've had over fifty and there's still more I need.

What may be surprising is that, while I love it all, I'm more Gil Evans and Second Great Quintet than Kind of Blue and Bitches Brew.

The venue was Spiegeltent, a Big Top type erection on a large grass area in the heart of Harrogate, one of the poshest towns in the North of England; cabaret tables at capacity or very near to with a rough head-count of maybe a hundred.

A little over a tenner, around ninety minutes to Harrogate, a town I know quite well, this one was never in doubt.

More Quotes From Simon Spillett

"There are techniques involved in the making of the music of which the average critic is often unaware."
Rahsaan Roland Kirk, sleeve notes to Ben Webster: 'Webster's Dictionary' (Philips 1970).

"Unfortunately, the fan of yesterday's jazz often becomes an opponent of today's."
Graham Collier, 'Inside Jazz' (Quartet Books, 1973)

"Hardly any of them would know a good jazz chorus if it fell on them. They have learned, parrot-fashion, the litany of American star names and that is that."
Benny Green on British record producers, 'Scene' magazine, October 5th 1962

"Putting live modern jazz across in this country has been like trying to sell balloons in a cemetery."
Peter Clayton, 'Sunday Telegraph', August 30th 1964

Kenton Presents Bob Cooper

Bob Cooper (ten); Bud Shank (bar); Howard Roberts (gtr); Claude Williamson (pno)*; Joe Mondragon (bs)**; Curtis Counce (bs)*; Shelly Manne (dms)**; Stan Levey (dms)*.

*July 30, 1954. ** May 7/14, 1954.

As I continue my alphabetical trip down memory lane delving into the world of 10" vinyl the letter C presents a problem. Two great discs - Something Cool by June Christy or Kenton Presents Bob Cooper - which one? The choice is made even more difficult due to the fact that many of the musicians on the Cooper disc are also on the Christy album. Not only that, Cooper and Christy were also married! However, as they're now long gone (Christy, 1990, Cooper, 1993), it shouldn't cause any matrimonial friction when I've chosen Coop's album, despite thinking that Something Cool is one of the greatest jazz vocal albums ever!

Jazz around the clock: BBC Music Jazz digital pop-up returns in collaboration with Jazz FM for 96 solid hours of broadcasting

BBC radio stations and Jazz FM team up for only the second time with more content than ever before on a temporary digital BBC Music radio station

·         For the first time, the station broadcasts for a marathon 96 hours, 24 hours a day over five days

·         A star-studded roster of presenters including Stewart Lee, Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula, Will Young, Cerys Matthews, Moira Stuart, Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch, Jools Holland, Craig Charles, Ana Matronic, Jay Rayner, Julian Joseph and Claire Martin, amongst others

·     Live concerts from EFG London Jazz Festival in partnership with BBC Radio 3, simulcast on the digital pop-up station

·   Unprecedented access to Jazz FM’s flagship programmes and rare archive recordings, including specially commissioned new content for the first time this year

·      A countdown of the Top 50 Jazz albums of all time with Radio 3’s Geoffrey Smith and Jazz FM’s Helen Mayhew.

Lauren Kinsella Ensemble @ Black Swan Arts Centre, Newcastle – September 8

 Lauren Kinsella (voice); Tom Challenger (sax); Dan Nicholls (keyboards, electronics); Conor Chaplin (bass); Simon Roth (drums)

(Review/ Photos by Ken Drew).

A mid-week gig, part of Jazz North east’s ‘Women Make Music’ series.

Following a quiet intro from Challenger on piano, Kinsella begins to sing, reminding us instantly what we like about her voice and the instant stage presence she has. Then the full band join in to establish themselves, giving us time to contemplate just what is ahead.   A short piece, but welcome nonetheless.

Next a voice introduction (vocalese style) accompanied by Challenger’s sax – what a nice pairing that is, with a somewhat Nordic flavour to it with, dare I say it?, a hint of Bjork’s vocal tones, yet blissfully sublime. Then the full quartet join in with a gently lilting rhythm quietly supplied by Chaplin on bass together with Roth on drums, providing a simple yet lively rhythm giving way to a solo section from piano with the whole ensemble then completing the piece.  After just two pieces, we were all comfortable with the sound, and listening with relish for the next interpretation to unfold.