CD Review: Accent - Christmas All the way

If you have a soft spot for the Four Freshman, the Hi-Los and the other close harmony groups of  the pre group era (harmony? wtf is that?) then this is as good as anything you're going to get to usher in your guests on Christmas Day.

The harmonies are superb and Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band provides the backing on a couple of tracks, Arturo Sandoval lends his mighty chops to Let It Snow and there are others who contribute to make this as good as any of the seasonal offerings we are already being bombarded with.

I've warned the neighbourhood kids that, if they come-a-carolling at my door on Christmas Eve I want more than the first line of Good King Wenceslas before I cross their palms with copper.

However, if Accent were to knock on my door I'd mortgage the house (well maybe the east wing aka the shed) to hear them.

Without doubt, this year's Christmas cracker.

Lance

More details.

Jam session @ The Dun Cow - Dec 4

(Review by Russell)

MC Paul Grainger had a big bucks (if only!) gig elsewhere and was quite content to leave this month's Dun Cow jam session in the more than capable hands of Giles Strong. Assisting our Tyne Valley master guitarist on a cold but dry evening were two of the very best - bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer Abbie Finn. 

The usual faces plus a few students turned out to listen and, almost without exception, sat with coats on - it was rather cold! Alone Together, Days of Wine and Roses and Love for Sale warmed up the trio and the hardy audience. Young tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble couldn't wait to get going, first with St Thomas (Mick Shoulder's slap bass solo something of a rarity at a jam session) following up with Nica's Dream. HK would return.

Customs House Big Band with Ruth Lambert @ All Saints' Church, Cleadon - Dec 3

(Review by Russell)

If it's the first Tuesday in December (it was) you can be sure Peter Morgan's sleigh will be parked up outside All Saints' Parish Hall (it was). Inside, not one but two, Christmas trees decorated the stage leaving room for the Customs House Big Band's rhythm section and little else. The horns (all thirteen of them) assembled on the floor. Band vocalist Ruth Lambert sat to one side waiting to be called to sing a selection of songs which, due to the time of year, would likely as not include some Yuletide favourites. 

Minutes before the advertised 7:30pm started someone noticed that there wasn't a licensed bar. What?! Whoosh! A mass exodus of punters made for Cleadon's nearest corner shop. Minutes later folk staggered in carrying bottles of plonk, bottles of beer, nibbles, the works...this was more like it!

O Come All Ye Jazz Fans: ‘A Jazzy Christmas’ Comes to Middlesbrough This December

(Press release)

Sunday Jazz at Middlesbrough Town Hall is back. This time for a special Christmas-themed concert which will launch the venue’s eclectic winter live music programme.

Following sold out shows at Sage Gateshead in 2017 and 2018, nationally renowned jazz composer and performer, Paul Edis will bring his celebrated arrangements of festive favourites to Teesside on Sunday 15^th December.

Audiences can expect to hear imaginative renditions of traditional Christmas carols including O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night, as well as reinventions of classic festive pop and jazz tunes, such as Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.

Congratulations to Zoë Gilby on APPJAG Award

(Report by Lance/Photo from Zoë Gilby's Facebook page)

As announced in the previous post  Zoë Gilby aced the Jazz Vocal category in this year's All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) 2019 awards.

At the ceremony, held in the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Holborn, London, Zoë held off strong competion to win the prestigious award. This was a fitting milestone in her still developing career who knows what the future holds in store for her?

News Flash! - APPJAG Winners Announced

Well done Zoë Gilby! Winner of the Jazz Vocal category in this year's APPJAG's.
Full results here.
More tomorrow - I'm off to open the champagne (actually. a bottle of Pedigree).
Lance

CD Review: Julia Hülsmann Quartet - Not Far From Here

Julia Hülsman (piano), Uli Kempendorff   (tenor sax), Marc Muellbauer  (double bass),  Heinrich Köbberling   (drums)

(Review by Chris K)

The second of three piano led albums marking ECM's 50th birthday.  Hülsmann is a leading contemporary composer and performer in her native Germany, and although not as well known to UK audiences as Jarrett (companion release reviewed on BSH here) this latest of her six ECM ventures as leader is well worth the effort of getting to know. Already acclaimed by John Fordham as his pick of the month, I decided to put some time in - what a good investment!

Bublé Encore!

You've read BSH Editor-in-Chief LL's enthusiastic review of Michael Bublé's triumphant appearance at Newcastle's Utilita Arena. Wish you'd been there? Well, here's the good news...Canada's global superstar is to perform an open air concert at Durham County Cricket Club's Emirates Riverside HQ on Saturday 1 August next year.

Imagine...a warm summer's evening down by the Chester-le-Street riverside (doors open at 6:00pm) with Mr B on stage at 7:45. Tickets go on sale at 9:00am this Friday (Dec 6) at www.aegpresents.co.uk

Russell

Interview w. David 'Showtime' Gray

One of the better players to grace the northeast jazz scene in recent years is trombonist David Gray. BSH put a few questions to him asking him to say “a few words” about his career to date …

An obvious first question...why trombone?! 

An obvious first question with a slightly weird answer.  Okay, it’s probably not so weird that the trombone was an incidental/accidental thing.  I'd like to rattle off a little story about this.

I already had an inclination to try a flute or a saxophone.  My middle school (the late Lemington Middle School, formerly known as Claremont) didn’t have any saxes, but right at the start of year 5, I was falling asleep during a science class and noticed people putting their hands up.  Realising the chance to skip class, I also put my hand up and we ended up going downstairs to queue outside of the music room.

After a long wait, most had departed, but I ended up greeted by Gareth Weaver—no doubt a familiar name to you and many readers for his role in the Customs House Big Band.  I had a choice between trumpet, Eb horn and trombone.  Trombone looked more fun.  I struggled to pick the thing up, but somehow I took to it and surprisingly, my fellow schoolkids never really gave me grief for playing it.  In fact, it was pretty cool and I got a decent amount of praise for my assembly performances.

2019 British Jazz Awards - Results

Big Bear has announced the winners of this year's British Jazz Awards and, as usual they're fairly predictable. However,  they  weren't all shoo-ins, Alan Barnes was pipped by Julian Marc-Stringle in the Clarinet Stakes and Sara Dowling edged Claire Martin in the Singer's Sprint.

Michael Bublé @ The Utilita Arena, Newcastle - Dec. 1

(Review by Lance)

Put simply, this was possibly the most entertaining evening of my life so far! 21, 999 other folk probably agreed with me. Yes, you read me correctly, 22,000 paid big bucks over two nights to see, arguably, the greatest living entertainer on the planet.

From the opening Brand New Day to the final goodbye – You Were Always on my Mind – the unbroken two hour show simply flew by. He had us in the palm of his hand with no two numbers the same. We shouted, we screamed, we sang along, we stood up and danced.

CD Review: Calum Gourlay Quartet - New Ears

Calum Gourlay (bass); Helena Kay (tenor sax); Kieran McLeod (trombone); James Maddren (Drums).

(Review by James Henry).

As a sort of a Scot, and a card carrying Fifer, my own old ears picked up on receipt of this CD. With a name like Calum Gourlay, this chap had to be one of the brothers, and possibly even a fellow Fifer. A little bit of research established that Calum is originally from Glasgow (well, I might forgive him that) but was brought up in Fife, even playing in the Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra (total redemption). And, two of his quartet also come from the proper North: Helena Kay (tenor saxophone) hails from Perth, and Kieran McLeod (trombone) is from Aberdeen. Like me, these three live in exile in England, committed to missionary work and waiting for the call from the blessed Nicola*. I pity the poor drummer in this quartet: coming from Sussex, James Maddren may rely on translators.

Xmas Strictly Limited! Book now!

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band's two nights at Gosforth Civic Theatre are all but sold out. Four tickets remain on sale for Friday 13 December and three for Saturday 14. You read it here, book now or miss out! Visit: www.strictly-smokin.co.uk 

Russell

Bublé's in Town!

Abbie Finn went along to the first of Michael Buble's two nights at Newcastle's Utilita Arena (Nov 30). Judging by these photos taken by Abbie, those lucky enough to have tickets for tonight's concert are in for a great time! A limited number of tickets remain on sale - book now! And don't forget drummer Abbie will be at the Dun Cow jam session on Wednesday (8:00pm). 

Russell

BBC Radio 3: Jazz All Night

(Report by Hugh C).

I seem to be permanently in arrears, listening arrears that is, these days.  I have just been catching up with Jazz AllNight, broadcast overnight (funnily enough!) during the early morning of 16th November, at the start of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Luckily for me, BBC Sounds has offered me a short-term loan (the same offer is available to everyone) originally available for 30 days, but still available for just over two weeks.