Classic Swing @ The Ship, Monkseaton - January 30

Bob Wade (trumpet & flugelhorn); Jim McBriarty (tenor saxophone, clarinet & vocals); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Colin Haikney (piano); Bill Colledge (bass) & Tommy Graham (drums)

(Review by Russell) 

A combination of holiday commitments, the ravages of flu and the returning Jim McBriarty brought about one or two changes to the line-up at this week’s Classic Swing session in Monkseaton. The Ship on Front Street continues to do good business on a Tuesday lunchtime and it isn’t surprising given the quality of musician assembled by trumpeter Bob Wade.

CD Review: Matthew Read Trio - Anecdotes II

Benedict Wood (guitar), Matthew Read (double bass) & Arthur Newell (drums)

(Review by Russell) 

Three recent Guildhall graduates, the Matthew Read Trio is shortly to release a second album, a second volume, titled Anecdotes II. All bar one of the eleven tracks were written by bassist Read with one other contributed by guitarist Benedict Wood. Drummer Arthur Newell doesn’t contribute a

composition to the album but his sensitive playing is first-rate from start to finish.           

Paul Booth – Going! Going! Gone!

Globetrotting reeds superstar Paul Booth’s gig with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band next month at Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle has sold out the best part of three weeks in advance (Feb 17). Booth left the region many years ago to pursue a life in jazz and his gig with the superb Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, led by trumpeter Michael Lamb, is an all-too-rare appearance on home turf.

Russell.

Annie Ross

More memories from Bill Harper's Near Enough For Jazz. This time it's Annie Ross.
Lance

Best of the month - January

Best CD (Joint)

Birkett and Fisk Play Venuti and Lang.
Kate McGarry: The Subject is Love.

Best Gig.
Incognito @ Hoochie Coochie January 19.
These are just my personal choices no doubt others will have their own ideas - Lance

Women Play Jazz! Workshops @ The Globe, Saturdays - January 6 -27

Four workshops led by Cumbrian Jilly Jarman -  composer, singer, arts organiser - resulted in several of us having a great time, playing and learning, rounded off with a gathering where we performed for each other and had a feast of food to indulge in. I suppose about 20 women, in all. were involved, though not everyone was able to attend every session. And what a good- humoured lot we were – there were certainly plenty of laughs.

Beats & Pieces Big Band @ RNCM, Manchester – Jan 27

(Review by Russell).

Manchester was cold but dry, the city centre pavements wet, recent rain moving east to, and over, the Pennines. The RNCM was a hive of activity, musicians young and old rushing to, or returning from, a Saturday morning/afternoon class. Rehearsal studios were fully occupied, one room, no.1, was occupied, but, intriguingly, events in the room were a closely guarded secret, so much so the staff on reception knew nothing about the matter…     

Ten years to the day, the same location, the exact same studio space, they assembled to play the music of Ben Cottrell. Beats & Pieces first met a decade ago in Studio 1, a basement space at the Royal Northern College of Music. On that occasion it was a first-ever rehearsal session, ten years on it was to be a two-gigs-in-a-day celebration of the band’s music during the intervening years.  

All This and Heaven Too

More from Bill Harper's Near Enough For Jazz. In this latest chapter, he looks and reflects upon some clarinetists he has known and worked with.
I should point out that the views expressed in these and future articles are purely those of Bill Harper and not always those of myself,
Lance

CD Review: Leslie Pintchik - You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl!

Leslie Pintchik (pno/composer) Steve Wilson (alto) Ron Horton (tpt & flugel) Shoko Nagai (accordion) Scott Hardy (basses & guitars) Michael Sarin (dms) Satoshi Takeishi (percussion)

(Review by Dave Brownlow.)

This is Leslie Pintchik’s sixth album where she leads her piano/bass/drums trio augmented on some tracks either by trumpet and alto, accordion, guitar or percussion. Leslie is a prolific composer and the CD includes six of her original pieces together with two well-known standards. She plays piano in a calm, unhurried, thoughtful style with warmth, wit and drive veering emotionally from the poignant to the playful in depth

The title track You Eat My Food, You Drink My Wine, You Steal My Girl!  (What a great title!) has an infectious melody over a lively samba/funk/blues groove and features enthusiastic solos from piano, guitar (presumably through multi-tracking) and alto.

BABMUS @ The Jazz Café - Jan 25

Bearpark: Tom Bearpark (Hammond organ); Jamie Jingles (guitar); Stephen Hall (bass) & Adam Watson (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Tom Bearpark knew it, he said he wasn’t surprised. Late January is a difficult time of year to ask people to come out and support live music. Bandleader Bearpark thanked those who turned out, and, with his BABMus colleagues ready to go, fired-up the Hammond.

Binker & Moses…another chance to hear

Binker and Moses’ barnstorming performance at last year’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival is to be broadcast again during today’s edition of Jazz Line-Up on BBC Radio 3 at 5:00pm. Binker Golding (tenor sax) and drummer Moses Boyd brought the house down with a late night concert in Sage Two and this is a welcome opportunity to relive some of the many highlights of their set. 

Russell   

Tequila!

Today, I received a package...

You are not going to believe this! Only Scott Black, out in Hong Kong, could top this.

Let's start at the very beginning...

It's 1972 or maybe 1973 or maybe 1971. Whatever, it was around that time.

I'd blagged my way into the Newcastle Big Band as, I seem to remember, third tenor. If there had been a tenth tenor pad then that would have been my spot. My forte at the time was leading a dance band - you know the things, Hunt Balls, Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs etc. The big band occasionally got these gigs so I was handy to have around plus I could blow a chorus or two on a twelve bar.

Andy Hudson, the bandleader, said to me one Sunday morning at what was then the University Playhouse - it's now Northern Stage - "Fancy a gig in Spain?" My first thought was, "Is he trying to get rid of me? Maybe Don Rendell's back in town. 

Don Rendell had done a couple of gigs with the band - the one I remember most was in 1973 when Sunderland won the last of their many FA Cup wins.

Jazz North East's "JAZZ DE LUXE" at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle - January 21 (evening)

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

As already mentioned in the afternoon’s summary of Jazz De Luxe this was the latest of a series of annual events showcasing contemporary European jazz. Previous years had seen the Netherlands and France feature, both major jazz nations, so it might have seemed a bit of a stretch for the tiny country of Luxembourg to be able to supply the same level of creativity and talent of the aforementioned European giants.

My past impressions of Luxembourg had been unfortunately tarnished by my one and only stay in the Grand Duchy where an unfortunate incident almost led to my friends and myself being turfed out of our hotel for a relatively minor infraction which we need not go into here. Additionally, we have all been continually bored to death by a seemingly infinite amount of World Cup and Euro qualifiers against their unsurprisingly limited football team.  Sunday night, however, had the effect of banishing all negative feelings towards this tiny European nation to the past as a series of performances from a selection of the country’s finest musicians provided an outstanding evening of top quality inspirational modern jazz.

Jazz North East's "JAZZ DE LUXE" at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle - January 21 (afternoon)

Christian Alderson (d),  Pol Belardi (b), Maxime Bender (p, sax), Manu Codjia (g), David Fettman (sax), Niels Engel (d), Jerome Klein (p, d),  Sascha Ley (v), Faye MacCalman (sax, clarinet), Laurent Payfert (b), John Pope (b) 

(Review & Photos by Ken Drew)

For the third consecutive year Jazz North East kicked off their new programme with an all-dayer focusing on the jazz musicians from a single European country, Luxembourg, which is one of the smallest countries in Europe yet contains a rich mix of musical talent based on the evidence we saw today.

Whilst following a similar format to JNE's French showcase in 2016 which centred around young Paris musicians, and last year’s Netherlands extravaganza which drew heavily on the free jazz scene centred on Amsterdam, this year saw an even bigger mix of musicians across the 10 sets across the day. This included an opening set by our local Archipelago who kicked things off for the 2pm start, but would re-appear in various combinations later on as part of a mission to build creative links between Jazz North East’s ever-growing European connections.  The Luxembourg musicians then further demonstrated the available array of jazz talent assembled for the day, starting with the witty interplay of vocalist Sascha Ley & bassist Laurent Payfert, followed  by Pol Belardi's 'Force' with David Fettmann on Alto sax, Jerome Klein on piano, Pol Belardi on bass and Neils Engel on drums.

Near Enough For Jazz (continued)

Bill Harper recalls vibes player Ray Alexander.

Last few for Paul Booth

As of late afternoon Thursday, fourteen, that’s FOURTEEN, tickets remain for Paul Booth’s gig with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band at Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle on Saturday 17th February. Book now or repent at leisure – visit: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk   

Russell

Chris Sharkey: In Progress @ The Jazz Café - Jan 24

Chris Sharkey (guitar, programming) & Matthew Bourne (Moog, keyboard)

(Review  by Russell) 

Gateshead born Chris Sharkey is working towards a commission which will be premiered in April at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival and reprised later in the year at the London Jazz Festival and this ‘In Progress’ event took the form of part performance, part workshop with a Q&A attached.

Guitarist Sharkey made the journey north with fellow Leeds based musician Matthew Bourne. State of the art computer programming, an array of pedals, a network of cables, a vintage, quite possibly priceless, Moog, this wasn’t going to be your regular jazz gig.
And it wasn’t!

Near Enough For Jazz - Bill Harper Reflects

Former northeast jazz pianist Bill Harper, now living in France, has put together some memories of his 65 years on the jazz scene. As Bill played with many name players both local, national and international it goes without saying that he has a wealth of tales to tell.

The bad news is that he has no intention of having the book published claiming it would be cost-prohibitive and of limited appeal - I would dispute the latter as it is a most fascinating and interesting, not to mention humorous, read. However, the good news is that Bill has kindly given BSH permission to publish extracts so I'll start today with the foreword and front cover.

Lance.

Classic Swing @ The Ship, Monkseaton - January 23

Bob Wade (trumpet/flugel); Don Fairley (trombone); Paul Gowland (tenor); Colin Haikney (piano); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals) + Gordon Solomon (trombone); Doris Fenn (banjo).

(Review by Lance/video by MaryB Jazz).

Front Street, in the Whitley Bay suburb of Monkseaton, may fall short of  52nd St. in its heyday but its three pubs have, over the years, all contributed to the lunchtime classic/vintage jazz scene. Two of them still do. On Fridays, Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz are regulars at the Monkseaton Arms whilst, up the street at Ye Olde Ship (or 'The Ship' as most people call it), Bob Wade and Classic Swing play their brand of mainstream on Tuesdays. This was my first visit and it certainly won't be my last. Seats were at a premium and when they kicked off with It Don't Mean a Thing it was easy to understand why.

RIP Hugh Masekela.

The sad news has just been announced that the legendary South African trumpet player and political activist Hugh Masekela died, it is reported, earlier today (January 23). 

I was privileged to catch him live at Sage Gateshead in 2010 and it was surely one of the most memorable nights experienced in a building renowned for memorable nights. Seven-plus years on I can still vividly recall the excitement generated on stage and the two-way loving vibes that passed between audience and performers.

His life hadn't been an easy one and yet his sense of humour was undimmed and nor was the quality of his flugelhorn playing - that gorgeous sound!

County Durham update

Tony Eales sends an update on recent events in County Durham. At Opus 4 Jazz Club’s latest gig at the Traveller’s Rest firm favourite Ruth Lambert impressed once more. Ruth’s pianist on the gig was making a first appearance in Cockerton. And the audience loved his piano playing. Who’s he? asked the regulars. The man in question was Alan Law – little wonder they were impressed! 

Mick Shoulder’s monthly lunchtime concert series at Bishop Auckland Town Hall (see photo of the Grade II* listed Victorian Gothic style building) drew a healthy crowd for the first promotion of 2018 featuring Emma Fisk and James Birkett playing Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang.  

Russell.  

Bradley Johnston @ The Fire Station, Sunderland - Jan 21

Bradley Johnston (guitar)

(Review by Russell).

Snow, a non-weather related disruption to the Metro network, the half-hour journey from Newcastle to Sunderland promised to be fraught with difficulties. Oh, ye of little faith! A convenient train pulled into the station…all aboard! And off to Sunderland we go! The Fire Station the destination, and the reason for making the trip? Bradley Johnston, jazz guitarist in residence.

The Fire Station, a recently renovated building adjacent to Sunderland Empire, has reopened as a place to meet, eat, drink and, on a Sunday evening, listen to Bradley Johnston play jazz guitar. The High St West site is developing into a cultural hub with dance, theatre and music on the agenda. At present, the bar and kitchen are open for business with all parts of the building scheduled to be fully operational by 2019. In advance of Johnston’s arrival, the bar manager cordoned-off a raised corner section to enable the Wearside-based guitarist to set up without disturbance or delay.

CD Review: Melody Gardot - Live In Europe

(Review by Ann Alex)

An album of live recordings which our singer and her band did in various cities in Europe, during the period 2012-2016. Ms Gardot explains that she originally thought she would choose the best tracks she could find, but then she decided it should rather be ‘a postcard from our tours of Europe’ giving ‘the feeling, the nostalgia, the memory’ of performances, and be a gift to herself as well as to the listener.

The information is taken from the website, www.melodygardot.co.uk.  and there are no lists of musicians. The songs appear to be originals, except for Over the Rainbow, mostly love songs, and Ms Gardot’s style leans towards cabaret, with something subtly French about the singing, which is often quiet, intimate, breathless, almost muttered. Listeners need to hear the songs a few times to fully appreciate the artistry. I estimate the instruments involved to be guitar, keys, saxes, (some tracks) strings, clarinet, flute, drums, and some delightful cello and very skilled double bass, which often introduces each song.

CD Review: Greg Cordez - Last Things Last.

Michael Blake (tenor); Steve Cardenas (guitar): Greg Cordez (bass guitar); Kirk Knuffke (cornet); Allison Miller (drums).

(Review by Lance).

The theme is that of coincidence - you can read about all this at the bottom of the page and decide whether it bears any relevance to the music heard. Whether or not it does or does not is in the ears of the beholder - listeners may just prefer to listen without any hifalutin distractions.

You won't be disappointed, the music is superb. The blurb lists
influences such as Reid Anderson, Todd Sickafoose - whoever they are - along with Charlie Haden (I know who he is!) but, overall, I get the feeling that the omnipresent figure is Mingus. Which is no bad thing.

RIP Roswell Rudd (1935-2017)

Somewhat belatedly, I've just been notified that Roswell Rudd died on December 21, 2017. Trombonist Rudd began his playing career with Eli's Chosen Six. A Dixieland band that appeared in the classic film of the Newport Jazz Festival. Whether Rudd was with the band at that time I couldn't say. He did forward from the trad scene to the more contemporary sounds and was a longtime associate of Archie Shepp. I don't think I ever heard him live and, although he doesn't feature in my record collection he was highly rated by Downbeat critics who voted him top trombone in 2010.

The Jazz Journalists also named him as Trombonist of the Year on four occasions between 2003 & 2010.

He was 82.

Rest in Peace.

Lance.

Obituary

Graeme Wilson Quartet @ The Jazz Café - Jan 19

Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones, bass clarinet, flute & whistling), Paul Edis (keyboards, flute & whistling), Andy Champion (bass, double bass, flute & whistling) & Adam Sinclair (drums & whistling)  

(Review and flute trio photo by Russell/quartet photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).

We know the Graeme Wilson Quartet, we know what to expect, or rather we did. This Newcastle Jazz Café date produced surprise upon surprise. The atmospheric first-floor performance space works best when there is a good crowd in and as the first set was about to get underway the few remaining seats were being snapped up.

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, Honourary Geordie, Graeme Wilson arrived from his Edinburgh home to link up once again with pals Paul Edis, Andy Champion and Adam Sinclair. Wilson said there would be lots of new material (premiere pieces, no less!), and there was, together with two tracks from the quartet’s excellent CD Sure Will Hold a Boat. Wilson opened on tenor saxophone playing a new number titled Hyvot Mill. It bore all the hallmarks of a Graeme Wilson composition with its intricate harmonic structure (the lads were concentrating hard, real hard!) and ‘slow burn’ tenor solo culminating in near volcanic eruption only for our tenor man to take it down then out.

Incognito @ Hoochie - January 19.

My first thought was that this was one for Steve T who is the funkiest, most soulful of our review team. But no, I said, 'I'll do it myself'.

The best decision I've ever made!

If ever there was a cross-genre band then Incognito is it. It was jazz, it was funk, it was soul, it was Incognito - it's what they do. The solos from the horn section were Blue Note plus. Sid Gauld was up there where the air was rarified in the opening number. Alistair White chipped in later with some trombone work that made me think Kid Ory had met up with J.J. Johnson and Patrick Clahar blew tenor and flute to die for.

Three singers that could have held the night on their own. Imaani did some scatting that bore comparision with anyone. Tony and Vanessa weren't brilliant - they were fantastic! But, perhaps, the highlight of the evening, if one can single out an evening of so many highlights was the drum duet between kit man Mendolia and percussionist Caetano - this was one of those 'bring down the house moments' that will live forever.

If you weren't at Hoochie last night you weren't anywhere!

Lance.

PS: Because of the crowd, I couldn't get anywhere near to take a decent photo so I've used this one of Warren and Bluey - wonder what they're saying?

Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick (guitar/leader); Francesco Sales (guitar); Matt Cooper (keys); Francesco Mendolia (drums); Sid Gauld (trumpet/flugel); Patrick Clahar (tenor/flute); Alistair White (trombone); Imaani, Vanessa Haynes, Tony Momrelle (vocals); Joao Caetona (percussion); Francis Hylton (bass guitar).

Jambone @ Sage Gateshead - January 18

(Review by Russell).

A concert by Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz orchestra is always a welcome event and despite a mid-January reminder of winter’s worst a good number of supporters took their seats in Sage Two for a one set performance of sixty minutes duration. The orchestra assembled on stage on time dressed in regulation all black attire.

The set list comprised four numbers; a Rodgers and Hart standard and three by Jambone MD Paul Edis. Putting names to most of the faces was a simple exercise given that Bebop Spoken Here has regularly documented the fortunes of the region’s premier youth big band. One new face, Ms Emily McDermott, the band’s vocalist, would sing on all four numbers, remaining on stage throughout.

CD Review: Kate McGarry - The Subject Tonight is Love

Kate McGarry (vocals); Gary Versace (piano/keys/organ/accordion); Keith Ganz (guitars) + Obed Calvaire (drums on Whiskey); Ron Miles (trumpet on All You Need is Love).

(Review by Lance).

Until this moment in time, to me, Secret Love meant either Doris Day or Carmen McRae. Our girl Zoe Gilby does a very fine version of incorporating the two but now, Kate McGarry gives us another take and it's a good one!

Seven critically acclaimed albums to her name, a Grammy nomination and 4-star reviews in Downbeat, tell us that this is no new kid on the block. A voice that explores the meanings behind the words, that fiddles with the tune, more Carmen than Doris but tonally not close to either. She composes too.

CD Review: David Series - Meerkat Parade.

David Series (guitar), Huw Rees (keyboards), James Lindsay (double bass), Max Popp (drums).

(Review by Steve T)

A short album by modern standards, which is no bad thing in my view. I generally try to play albums three times to allow any idiosyncrasies to emerge on the basis that the greatest music sneaks up on you. This is one that I kept putting on thinking this time I'm going to concentrate, only for it to recede into the background. This may or may not be a problem for the listener. Right, here we go - last time.

Double bass intro before a guitar slides in and I'm left bemused that we haven't had a glut of this over the last twenty odd years. An interesting keyboard solo before it's back to slide guitar and now I'm thinking Hawaii.

Jazz Café Jam Session - January 16

(Review by Lance).

Too much! Too much! 

To attempt to give a blow by blow account of last night's Jazz Café Jam Session would be futile. Words could only hint at the ambiance both on and off stage. From the moment the house trio hit the deck with East of the Sun, there was ne'er a dull moment. This was a night when there were no passengers, each and every one contributing the max. Not only that, this was one of those rare jam sessions where no one called for All the Things You are - I didn't feel cheated.

Graham Hardy waxed lyrical on flugelhorn, Paul Gowland blew some paint-stripping alto and Nick Gould put the boot in on tenor. Gould, one of three Edinburgh escapees - Waugh and Midas being the other two - is always a welcome visitor whilst the latter pair, apart from being fine musicians, added a touch of humour to the proceedings.

RIP Marlene VerPlanck

Marc Myers on his top-rated jazz blog, Jazz Wax, has reported the passing of legendary jazz vocalist Marlene VerPlanck on January 14 aged 84. Despite being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the singer continued to perform until fairly recently.

Regrettably, I never heard her in person although she was a frequent visitor to the UK and gave a concert at Sage Gateshead during one of her tours. Fortunately, she left behind a recorded legacy samples of which can be heard as part of Marc Myers' tribute.

Sadly missed.

Lance.

Jazz Café update

The Jazz Café’s famed jam session returns tonight (Tuesday 16). An update, or, if truth be told, a correction…the house drummer will be the brilliant Russ Morgan working alongside pianist Paul Edis and bassist Paul Grainger. An earlier posting indicated that Matt MacKellar would be behind the traps. Well, he will be, but as a sitter-in. So, that’s two top class drummers for starters, and as is the way with this amazing jam session, others could well be looking to get behind the traps.

It is likely that Joel Brown will be in the house, similarly, alto saxophonist Dan Garel is rumoured to be up for it. One of the joys of the session (first and third Tuesdays in the month) is in not knowing who will turn up to sit-in and invariably being knocked out by their musicianship. The evening gets underway at eight o’clock with the house trio playing three or four numbers and then it’s open to all comers. Arrive early, grab a ringside seat, it’s the greatest free show in town!    

Russell

Cat Appeal

Ace trombone player Don Fairley posted this sad, emotional, item on Facebook:

I have a dilemma. Due to my overall health problems, I am soon to be moving to an assisted living home in North Gosforth. Unfortunately, There is a 'no pets' ruling which means that I cannot take my beloved cat, Mitzi, with me. I must, therefore, find a good home for her. She is mature at around 10 years old, beautifully well behaved and very easy to live with. She has been a delightful companion for over 9 years, in excellent health while in my care. Is there anyone who is looking for a wonderful mature pet to love and cherish?

If you know of anyone suitable, please leave a message. Thank you.

Don, your trombone skills are undisputed but this puts you above JJ, Kai, Teagarden and any other slideman in the world as a person.

So, you cats out there please help Don find a home for Mitzi.

Lance (and Daphne).

PS: Daphne says, "You ain't bringing none of your fancy she-cats into my house."

Francis Tulip Quartet @ The Quakerhouse, Darlington - Jan 14

Francis Tulip (guitar), Joel Brown (keyboards), Michael Dunlop (bass) & Matthew MacKellar (drums) + Dan Garel (alto saxophone)

(Review by Russell).

Darlington Jazz Club’s first concert promotion of the year featured a young quartet playing a fourth and final date of a tour across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and here at the Quakerhouse pub in County Durham. The Francis Tulip Quartet was about to go into abeyance as the musicians set off on their travels once again to Birmingham, London, Boston, USA and downtown Whitley Bay.

The Quakerhouse was as full as it gets for this eagerly anticipated appearance by the new kids on the block and the audience wasn’t to be disappointed. Benny Golson’s Stablemates, guitarist Gilad Hekselman’s Purim, a familiar looking setlist, the quartet, with bassist Michael Dunlop travelling up from London to play the gig, was in the groove from the off. And as if it couldn’t get any better, Dan Garel would join the band to play a couple of numbers!

A bit on the Side

As Bebop Spoken Here's 10th birthday approaches and, with a significant birthday of my own in the offing, I'd like to reflect upon some of those gigs that were inspirational towards the creation of this labour of love. One venue, in particular, stands out.

Although I'd loved jazz for most of my life, and played in a few bands along the way, it was stumbling upon The Side Café on Newcastle's Quayside that resuscitated my enthusiasm. This was in 2008. So many of my contemporaries had passed on - Charlie Carmichael, Nigel Stanger, Trevor Johnson, Bobby Carr, Teddy Langston, Alf Parker, Ronnie McLean, Hughie Aitchison and many more that I'd begun to think the future for the music looked bleak.

Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café - Jan 12

Paul Edis (piano), Paul Susans (double bass) & Matthew MacKellar (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

At short notice, drummer Matthew MacKellar stepped in to replace an ailing Rob Walker. Triptych would return at a later date with this evening’s concert rebranded as the ‘Paul Edis Trio’. The two Pauls – Edis, piano, Susans, double bass – switched their attention from the original composition project that is Triptych to the standards repertoire associated with the classic jazz piano trio.

The Mo Scott Band @ The Globe, January 11

Mo Scott (vocals); Gary Dunn (guitar); Neil Harland (bass guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

(Review by Ann Alex)

‘Tyneside’s First Lady of the Blues’ declared the Globe publicity, and last night’s performance showed that to be undoubtedly the truth. The First Lady strutted her stuff with all the stops out. Gary on guitar did stunning solo work, Neil was the steady and strong bass, and the drums played as if there was no tomorrow. And it wasn’t just blues from this band, but rock, jazz, country, and even a touch of ska.

CD Review: Ed Jones - For Your Ears Only

Ed Jones (tenor/soprano); Ross Stanley (piano); Riaan Vosloo (bass); Tim Giles (drums); Brigitte Beraha (vocal).

(Review by Lance).

Ed Jones first appeared on my radar with Killer Shrimp at the Corner House in May 2008. This was one of the earlier postings on BSH (Yes we're 10 years old this year - we should have a party!) and Jones, I quote, "Swung his ass off". He also played a significant part with Incognito for a number years (Incognito are back at Hoochie on Friday, January 19) and, on this album, his talents are, unlike some of his progressions, far from diminished.

Our Men in Hong Kong.

International jet-setter and BSH reviewer Steve H met up with our man in Hong Kong, Colin Aitchison, at Ned Kelly's Last Stand in Kowloon where Colin leads the band. Steve, pictured wearing a grey porkpie hat, scarlet jacket and black teeshirt took the other pictures of what seems to have been a fun evening. I'm told it always is at Ned's.
Lance

All change at the Caff

Tonight's advertised appearance by Triptych at the Jazz Cafe has been postponed with the Paul Edis Trio stepping in at short notice.

Pianist Edis will be working with bassist Paul Susans and Berklee student drummer Matt MacKellar (pictured gigging in Hexham earlier this week). Expect to hear standards and, perhaps, one or two originals by Edis.

It's a nine o'clock start with tickets on the door at £8 each or reserve tickets in advance at just £6 a piece. To make your reservation telephone the venue from noon on 0191 222 9882. 

Russell

Lunchtime Jazz @ the Lit & Phil.

This notice is just to let you know that unfortunately the Lunchtime Concert on January 19th listed in the programme of our last two concerts has been cancelled because of difficulties matching programming a band and confirming the date with the Lit & Phil.

However, we are all set to start the 2018 programme in February with the following two concerts:

February 16th: Mark Williams Trio (guitar-led trio), featuring music from the recently released CD "Last Bus to Bensham".

March 16th: James Harrison Trio (piano-led trio)

Help Musicians UK announces Helena Kay the winner of prestigious Peter Whittingham Jazz Award 2017

The UK’s biggest independent music charity Help Musicians UK (HMUK) announced today that young Scottish alto saxophonist and band-leader Helena Kay (left) has won the coveted Peter Whittingham Jazz award 2017 of £5,000. HMUK also awarded additional development funds to three other Jazz artists Olly Chalk, Faye MacCalman (Archipelago) (right) and Jasmine Whalley (Tȇtes De Pois).

Francis Tulip Quartet @ The Fox Inn, Hexham - Jan 9

Francis Tulip (guitar), Joel Brown (keyboards), Deon Krishnan (bass) & Matt MacKellar (drums)

(Review by Russell) 

On this third date of the tour, a short notice dep was required. Bassist Michael Dunlop had returned to London and sighting six string bass maestro Deon Krishnan walking through the door of the Fox Inn quelled any fears that this Hexham Jazz Club engagement could, perhaps, result in a less than cohesive performance. The booking of the Francis Tulip Quartet offered something a little different for the Fox’s hardcore jazz fans. What’s more, many new faces turned up making for a marvellous atmosphere.

Celebrate 20 years of Concerts @ Caedmon by NCRO

Yes, it really is 20 years since we played our first concert at Gateshead's Caedmon Hall, ambitiously titled "From Scott Joplin to Duke Ellington", where we were joined by Birmingham's Nick Ward, one of the finest vintage-style drummers in the country, and the following year by Keith Nichols, master of ragtime and stride piano. Since then we've developed a reputation for both musical authenticity and entertaining presentation from larger-than-life (and getting larger) saxophone star Steve Andrews. Keith and Nick will both be joining us for our anniversary concert on Friday 9th February, along with our very own Caroline on vocals. So if you like ragtime, jazz and hot dance music from the 1920s and 1930s, this is a night not to miss!

Jazz on Wearside!

In recent times, with the honourable exception of the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, jazz on Wearside has been a bit thin on the ground. This Sunday (Jan 14) that is about to change thanks to Bradley Johnston wandering into an old fire station in Sunderland city centre. Closed for many years, the building has recently reopened as a comfortable café/bar/performance space. Bradley asked the proprietor if there was the chance of a gig. 

Well, let’s make that a weekly residency! 

As is the way with these things your support could help Bradley secure the gig on a long term basis.  The Fire Station is next to the Dun Cow pub, adjacent to Sunderland Empire. The address is: The Fire Station, High St West, Sunderland SR1 3DT. Top class jazz guitar on Wearside, Sundays at six o’clock, free admission.           

Russell

Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny - Jan 7

Neil Hunter (vocals), Steve McGarvie (alto saxophone & vocals), Alan Thompson (tenor saxophone), Terry O’Hern (trombone & vocals), Mike Hepple (Hammond organ & vocals), Bob Garrington (guitar), Ian Rigby (bass & vocals) & Gary Cain (drums)

(Review by Russell) 

The idea was that the Smokin’ Spitfires would play a one-off charity gig. That was a few years ago and now, in the first week of 2018, the band’s regular first Sunday in the month lunchtime gig goes from strength to strength having chalked up dozens of appearances and it’s still all for charity. The eight-piece band emerged phoenix-like from the embers of the legendary Eastside Torpedoes and it continues to attract a loyal following with many fans undoubtedly there from the beginning.

Frank Morgan

I'm sure we all do it. You know what I mean, you decide to move CDs from one space to another then, midway through the operation, you stop and say to yourself, "I'd forgotten all about this guy" or, "How long have I had this album?" Sometimes you wonder why you'd bought it in the first place! Other times and today was such an occasion, it's like falling in love all over again.

Frank Morgan.

Alto saxophonist par excellence.

I should have picked up on Frank earlier - he was on Wardell Gray's last recording in 1955 and, with Wardell being a big idol of mine I should have latched on to Frank and maybe I would have had he not left the scene in familiar circumstances for the next 30 years. So my post-Parker alto adulation moved on to another flawed genius - Art Pepper.

The FT4 set to reconvene

This Tuesday (Jan 9) the Francis Tulip Quartet will resume its 2017/2018 tour in Hexham. The Fox on West End Terrace is home to Hexham Jazz Club and the appearance by Francis Tulip and ‘the lads’ will make more than a few sit up and take notice. Advertised variously as a 7:30pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm start, the first set is scheduled to get underway at 8:30pm. Best seats are at a premium so arriving a little earlier, say eight o’clock, isn’t a bad idea. Birmingham Conservatoire guitar student Tulip will be in the company of pianist Joel Brown, Guildhall bassist Michael Dunlop, and drummer Matt MacKellar, currently ‘on vacation’ from Berklee, Boston, USA. It’s free admission, a donation would be appreciated and you’ll be helping sustain the regional jazz economy.