Jazz Co-op Live Stream: Fergus McCreadie - May 31

Fergus McCreadie (keyboard)

Fergus McCreadie makes interesting viewing, very dramatic and enthusiastic, head bobbing, body bending towards the keyboard, unruly hair. I'm not surprised that he is a prize-winning performer as he played mostly original compositions with great aplomb.

Unfortunately the first 20 minutes or so of tonight's gig was marred by cutouts after every few notes. After Fergus made some technical adjustments this was sorted but it was rather frustrating and people may wish to catch up on the YouTube recording.

Album Review: Andrew McCormack - Solo

Andrew McCormack (piano)

A solo album by Andrew McCormack has to be checked out even though some of the tracks were first put down in 2016. Listening again in 2019, he decided there was something there and that it was worth developing further which he has duly done.

Like so often in contemporary jazz piano music it is sometimes difficult to draw a line between jazz and modern classical piano.  Is there actually a line? If there is, does each listener's positioning of that imaginary line differ?

Ewan Bleach's Sunday Serenade - May 31

Ewan Bleach (piano, clarinet, vocals)

An uncooperative Facebook denied access until fifteen minutes in...arrrgh! At which point a shaggy-haired Ewan Bleach was in the process of introducing Irving Berlin's Sunshine as a piano-vocal. In mentioning his regular piano gigs at Camden's Green Note, Bleach requested audience participation for three songs about drugs...Willie the Weeper, piano and vocals (sing-a-long), The Ghost of Smokey Joe (piano, vocals) and Jerry the Junker (piano, vocals). 

Why This Jazz Festival In Birmingham Is Like No Other

(Press release)

Ever since our very first festival way back in 1985, July has meant one thing - live jazz and blues taking over the pubs, shopping centres and squares of Birmingham and the surrounds.

It's hard to imagine summer in Brum without the jazz festival, which is why we couldn't bear the thought of cancelling this year's edition. So we're pleased to announce that you'll still be able to look forward to 10 straight days of live music in 2020, this time at the slightly later dates of 16th to 25th October.

Once again, we'll be putting on a mostly-free programme of good time Jazz, Blues, Swing and Rhythm & Blues, with performances in unusual places: museums, libraries, shopping areas, public squares, canals, a furniture store as well as in bars, cafes and hotels.

And there’s more. A lot more.

Adrian Cox's Sunday Service - May 31

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

A Barney Bigard special this week. From Morton to a long stint in the Ellington band to forties' recordings and beyond, Adrian Cox plotted Barney Bigard's career with numerous musical illustrations - My Little Dixie Home, Clarinet Lament, a collaboration with the little known Roger Kay (Adrian consulted Alyn Shipton) on Soft and Warm and Portrait of Louise. Cox played clarinet and sang on Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? inspired by Bigard's part in the 1947 film New Orleans working on screen alongside Louis, Billie, Zutty, Kid Ory, Red Callender and Woody Herman, to name just a few. 

Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie - Weathering the Storm - Latest review

In case you think I was taking a parochial view when I waxed eloquently about Jo and Jamie's album Weathering the Storm, just have a butchers at what Dave Gelly had to say about the album today in one of the posh papers - The Observer/Guardian (online) no less!

Thank you Russell for bringing this 4/5 star review to my attention.

Lance

Link.

BBC 2: Jazz Divas Gold - May 30

Following on from Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things on BBC 2 (Saturday - see Ann's review) there was more of Ella and a whole lot more from a host of 'jazz divas' in Jazz Divas Gold. The term 'diva' is often applied derogatorily, much better to simply enjoy the singing of some of the most famous jazz faces - and voices - of the twentieth and twenty first centuries.  

Much of Jazz Divas Gold (produced by Mark Cooper and Sarah Duncan in 2013) was in black and white. Following Ella we heard from, variously, Cleo Laine, as ever accompanied by husband John (Johnny) Dankworth, Sarah Vaughan on Saturday Night at the Mill from 1981, late-career Peggy Lee, a Late Show appearance by Nina Simone and comic contributions from three funny men of the time. 

The Life of Ella Fitzgerald: BBC2 – May 30

As I've said before, we never sleep here at BSH, so Saturday night found me watching TV from 9.30pm until midnight, on BSH duty. More of midnight later. The Ella Fitzgerald offering gave us an interesting account of Ella's life and career, aided by observations from the likes of Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvulu and also Ella's friend Norma Miller, and her adopted son Ray Brown Jnr. There were of course examples of her music and the atmospheric black and white cuts showing the singer performing were especially evocative.

Our Man in Hong Kong - Update on Ned Kelly's Last Stand

At Neds, we still have no live music as we have to follow the government guidelines but we are open for that pint or two and some food from 11:30am - 2:00am.

In the meantime, a video clip from the YouTube CCJazzmen archives. A wonderful visit in 2014 from trombonist/bandleader Fred Wesley and tenor sax player Ernie Fields Jr and a rockin' version of Watermelon Man.

Colin

The Link. 

Jazz Leeds Lockdown Video Show - Today (May 31)

More refreshing jazz and blues for you on this week's Jazz Leeds lockdown session this afternoon! We'll be featuring more music from the Jazz Leeds video archives with Billy Buckley's Wagon Train, Saxman Jean Toussaint, pianist John Taylor with Diane Torto and Julian Siegel, Impossible Gentlemen, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton the ever popular Nonet led by Leeds multi instrumentalist Al Wood.plus a specially recorded session from Leeds vocalist and pianist Nicki Allan. Enjoy! 1.30pm start on our video site - https://vimeo.com/424405011. 

Steve Crocker.

Saturday Night Rico - May 30

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/vocal); Keith Nichols (piano/banjo/double bass).

I met Rico's dad and his uncle before even Rico had met them! Well, I didn't actually meet them but I heard them playing clarinet and trumpet respectively with Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight on the radio when I was still a schoolboy which was some years before Rico was born. It was a good band playing arranged Dixieland in the manner of Bob Crosby's Bobcats as well as doing the pop tunes of the day. I wonder if Rico ever played with the band in later years?*

I'm in retro mood - must snap out of it!

Kai Hoffman: Livestream - May 29

Kai Hoffman (vocals); Roger Lewyn (piano).

I missed the first 53 minutes thinking I'd be just in time to catch Kai's last number. 

I was wrong! I caught her last five numbers!

I blinked! Was this Kai? Last time I saw her was upstairs in Ronnie's where she was launching an album. On that occasion she was the archetypal blonde bombshell and the party was like something out of Some Like it Hot (BBC2 tomorrow, 3:40pm) with Kai in great voice.

This was back in 2013 and the American expat has toned down her hair but not her voice!

Streaming Rico 'n' Keith - May 29

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Keith Nichols (piano)

Minutes before going online, Rico Tomasso received a delivery from the Sussex Downs...a few bottles of beer from Harvey's Brewery. So, in addition to the tip jar, there are some perks associated with these live streams! Joining our host this week...Mr Keith Nichols! Rico's Popup Louis took its usual form - three numbers interspersed with convivial, and invariably, informative chat. 

Album Review: Niels Lan Doky: River of Time

Niels Lan Doky (piano); Tobias Dall; (bass); Niclas Bardeleben (drums).

A Danish trio  led by a very prolific pianist - if led is the correct term to use when the three musicians are of such comparable standing - playing Doky's original compositions.

After building a career in Denmark, Doky moved to NYC in 1980 and forged a career playing with just about anyone who was anyone. The blurb lists 60 of the biggest hitters of the past 40 years finishing off with "...and many more". By which you'll gathered he's been accepted!

Remembering Benny Waters

Dave Kerr kindly sent me this poster of a concert by American sax legend Benny Waters advertising a gig he did with the Savannah Syncopators back in the early 1980s.

Waters, whose career stretched back to the days of King Oliver, was still a formidable player in his eighties and frequently appeared with the Savannah Syncopators at local venues in Newcastle and South Shields as well as at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival.

Paul Edis: Lockdown Live #11 - May 29

Paul Edis (piano/vocals).

Is it 11 weeks already? Doesn't time just fly when you're enjoying yourself?!

Once again Doc Edis produced a lot of  numbers previously unplayed in this ongoing series of GASbook goodies.  

How High the Moon delivered in a more balladic style as opposed to the normal thrash by singers such as Ella and June Christy.

Tony Eales requested Waltz For Debby and Paul obliged with a fine version of the Bill Evans' classic. Bernie's Tune by Bernie Miller had me wondering why Bernie didn't write more tunes.

Strictly Smokin' Livestream #2 - May 28

Michael Lamb (trumpet/flugelhorn); Keith Robinson (alto/soprano sax); Steve Summers (tenor/soprano sax); Paul Donnelly (guitar).

A second opportunity to see another four ace players from the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's stable of stars strutting their stuff, with varied degrees of success, at great length - some might say at very great length.

As the band's number one fan, I can be forgiven for describing this as the proverbial curate's egg.

Good in parts? - I hear you say - well let's have the good parts...

Hexham Clap Sessions #7 : I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free

Who is the headless trombone player?

Back in 1986 there was a crit (criterium for the non-cyclist) around Newcastle City Centre and, as was often the case, a jazz group was entertaining the crowds in between laps - sheltered from the rain in one of the entrances to Eldon Square.

The band, on this occasion was a mix of the ancient and modern with, left to right, John Wheatley (sousaphone); ? (drums); Roy Willis (banjo) ? (trombone); ? (trumpet); Sid Warren (soprano sax) & Mike Gilby (trumpet).

Paul Edis: ICMuS LIVE Concert at Home - May 28

Paul Edis (piano)

As the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in March it brought an abrupt halt to Newcastle University's LIVE in King's Hall public concert series. Now, albeit at a digital distance, the International Centre for Music Studies' Thursday lunchtime series has resumed. Last week Jane Nossek (violin) and Gabriel Waite (cello) played classical pieces and today it was the turn of pianist Paul Edis to entertain for half an hour or so. 

Album Review: Callum Au and Claire Martin – Songs and Stories

Claire Martin needs no introduction and is well established as the doyenne of British jazz singers with many admirers, not least on BSH! She has won British Jazz Awards eight times, been awarded an OBE and received a BASCA Gold Badge Award for her services to jazz. Trombonist Callum Au has composed and arranged music in numerous genres, but especially for big band and large jazz ensembles.

Carroll & Carey Livestream - May 27

Liane Carroll (piano/vocals); Roger Carey (bass guitar/vocals).

As mentioned in the previous post, the irrepressible, APPJAG nominated, Liane Carroll and her soulmate Roger Carey were going online from their living room tonight at 8 - which they duly did - and it was a jolly jazz happening with Liane singing and playing in her own unique style and Roger laying down some bluesy bass lines and adding the odd vocal.

Liane Carroll tonight.

APPJAG nominated pianist/singer Liane Carroll is live-streaming on F/b at 8:00pm tonight.

An always entertaining performer, Liane will be with bass guitarist Roger Carey making beautiful music. tonight, she says, will be mainly ballads.

Yummy!

Lance

2020 APPJAG Nominations Announced

(Press release)

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year

Georgia Mancio

Cherise Adams-Burnett

Liane Carroll

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year

Sarah Tandy

Rob Luft

Liam Noble

Nubya Garcia

Jazz Album of the Year
Seed Ensemble Driftglass

Yazz Ahmed Polyhymnia

Kate Williams Four Plus Three meets Georgia Mancio Finding Home

Album Review: Fred Randolph - Mood Walk

A bass-playing leader playing his own compositions wasn't a recipe that filled me with eager anticipation and my first thought was, who can I pass it on to who will appreciate it more than I will?

Then I played it! Boy did I get it wrong. The moment the needle hit the groove (figuratively speaking) I knew this was mine.

LIVE in King's Hall

In the absence of live, in concert performances Newcastle University is making available a short series of weekly lockdown sessions performed by musicians in their own homes. Last week (Thursday 21) two members of the Northern Sinfonia gave a short recital for violin and cello. Jane Nossek (violin) and Gabriel Waite (cello) played pieces by Bartok, Martinu, Bach and Giliere. The performance is currently available on YouTube. 

DJAZZ 2020 cancelled.

(Press release) We’re sure this will come as no surprise but it is with a heavy heart that we have reached the decision to cancel the 2020 edition of DJAZZ.  We have spent the last few weeks taking stock of the situation and looking into various options, but have been unable to find a way to deliver the festival the way we’d like it to be. Like many others, we’ll be taking this time to consider the environment for live music amidst COVID-19. We will bide our time and learn from the music industry’s wider response as we work out what the role of DJAZZ is over the next few months. Please bear with us and know that we’ll be back as soon as the time is right.

2019 re-cap video (See previous post). This video documents the third edition of the festival which took place in June 2019... HUGE thanks to Oxley Media for capturing the essence of the festival so beautifully, and to all who attended and played. We couldn't catch everyone on cam, but it was all lush

DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival - 2019 recap

JAZZ AHEAD!

AS OF MAY 26 LISTINGS IN RED ARE RECENT ADDITIONS / AMENDMENTS / CANCELLATIONS / POSTPONEMENTS / RESCHEDULED EVENTS

The following selective gig list is somewhat speculative but, sooner or later, gig-going will resume. Fingers crossed that some/most/all of the gigs listed will go ahead. Contact the venue to confirm the gig is on! 

MAY 2020

FRI 1 - SUN 3 Darlington Jazz Festival. TO BE RESCHEDULED (DATES TBA).

 

SAT 30 Paul Edis + Francis Tulip & Ben Lawrence - Sage Gateshead. RESCHEDULED (see OCTOBER 7, 2020).

Preview: Ella - May 30

As you continue to observe the lockdown guidelines (unlike some with a nauseating sense of entitlement) there is little or no excuse for not being in front of the box on Saturday evening to watch Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things. 

The BBC 2 programme begins at 9:30 with numerous talking heads (including Kenny Barron, Tony Bennett and Smokey Robinson) linking archive film - some of it never publicly screened until now - of Ella in action. Distinguished documentary film maker Leslie Woodhead's previous subjects include the Beatles, the Stones and Tony Bennett. So, ninety minutes of Ella on stage and in conversation should be considered essential viewing. And there's more...

Following Ella at 11:00 there is another chance to see Jazz Divas Gold. More Ella alongside Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Cleo Laine, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter,  Marion Montgomery, June Christy and others in an hour's worth of archive BBC material ranging from 1965 to 2008. That's Saturday night sorted.  

Russell

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group urge Arts Council England to reinstate National Lottery Projects Grants

(Press Release)

When Arts Council England announced its £160 million emergency rescue package to deal with the coronavirus crisis in March 2020, arts organisations and individuals alike were rightly delighted by such a swift and positive response.

However, an important creative cause is in danger of falling through the cracks. Jazz music, an increasingly dynamic cultural force, and a renowned and invaluable stimulus to many kinds of music-making beyond its own borders, has in recent years been significantly dependent on the National Lottery Projects Grants Scheme for the planning of tours and creative projects. The scheme has now been suspended to release funding for the emergency measures - but no provision for its jazz commitments has been suggested in Arts Council England's responses to queries.

Lockdown Lindsay - May 25

Lindsay Hannon (vocals/ukulele/shakers)

This Monday night's blues stream began with a shock to the system - Lindsay was drinking tea! Blues mamas don't drink tea! They may smoke it, but their street cred is gone if they're caught drinking the vile concoction. However, this was a temporary lapse and Earl Grey gave way to some gin laced with coke - we were back on track and the Earl returned to the top of his monument.

Preview: Strictly Smokin' Live Stream #2 - Thursday 28

At 8:15 on Thursday evening the second in a series of Strictly Smokin' live stream Facebook events features a quartet comprising SSBB MD Michael Lamb (trumpet), from the reeds Keith Robinson and Steve Summers, and special guest Paul Donnelly, guitar. 

Russell

Fergus McCreadie: Exclusive Livestream Concert @ The Globe.

(Press release)

We can’t run gigs at The Globe currently but this WON’T STOP US bringing you the very best new music! We are pleased to announce the fourth of our exclusive livestream concerts.

On Sunday 31 May at 8pm we’re delighted to be able to bring you an exclusive and intimate concert by award-winning jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie, which we will stream live to you through Facebook and YouTube. You can watch the gig again on either platform at any time.

Jimmy Cobb (1929 - 24/5/2020)

The word is out on the street that legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb has died aged 91.

As of yet there has been no official confirmation although the reports filtering through seem reliable enough.

Perhaps he is best remembered by most as the drummer on Kind of Blue in fact, until yesterday, Jimmy Cobb was the last surviving player from that legendary session. However, his association with Miles and Trane goes much further back and my own recollections are from an even earlier time - 1952 when Earl Bostic's Flamingo came out as a 78rpm on the Vogue label and Jimmy Cobb was on drums. It was his very first recording and I still have the record. 

Haruka Kikuchi & Z2 - Livestream in New Orleans - May 24

Haruka Kikuchi (trombone); Z2 (piano); Shouta (toys and things).

They were indoors this week, at home of course although, close your eyes, and this could have been an airshot from Preservation Hall. Open them and it was two Japanese expats and their son in the music room of their house in New Orleans. I don't know the address but if it had been Basin St., South Rampart St., Bourbon St. Perdido St.,Frenchman St. or any other of the streets that became synonymous with jazz in New Orleans I wouldn't have been overly surprised.

Review: New York Stories with Joe Pascal, BBC World Service - May 24

In the second of a two part series looking at aspects of life in NYC past and present, Joe Pascal recorded and presented a programme in front of a live, pre-lockdown, audience celebrating Harlem from its famed 1920's Renaissance era to the new century's inhabitants living and working amidst the borough's ever-increasing gentrification. 

CD Review: Chris Montague - Warmer Than Blood

Chris Montague (guitar); Kit Downes (piano); Ruth Goller (electric bass).

In a recent lockdown interview with London Jazz News, the composer of this CD Chris Montague was asked what was the first album he purchased as a "jazz musician". Montague's reply is interesting as he said that when he was 14/15 years old he bought a John McLaughlin compilation in HMV in Newcastle ('Why not from Windows ?' I imagine the BSH editor wondering). Not a bad choice for a young teenage aspiring guitarist but also interesting for the message he took from McLaughlin's music. He said, "It felt like a completely different aesthetic to the other stuff I'd been into which was much more blues/rock oriented". Clearly it opened his eyes to the possibilities of guitar playing and music generally.

Adrian Cox's Sunday Service - May 24

Adrian Cox (clarinet/vocals).

A look at four New Orleans clarinet legends by one of the UK's living legends in the idiom - Adrian Cox.

First up was George Lewis, the only one of the four I ever heard live - he played the City Hall, Newcastle, in 1959 and the New Orleans Jazz Club in 1966 - and he was represented here with My Old Kentucky Home; When You Wore a Tulip (actually played by Lewis at the City Hall - I've still got the programme) and that wonderfully titled triple negative classic, I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of my Jelly Roll which Adrian also sang.

Dominic Ingham Quintet - Album & Tour Update

The Dominic Ingham Quintet's forthcoming album, Role Models, will now be released on June 12 and their planned 14 day tour will be rescheduled for 2021 although it won't be coming any nearer to Newcastle than the original one did.

Still, listening to the album within the relative safety of your own home isn't a bad option.

Lance

Original album review.

Venues.

Album Review: Ambrose Akinmusire - On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment

Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Sam Harris (pianist), Harish Raghavan (bass), Justin Brown (drums)

(Review by Chris K)

The fifth Blue Note recording from this young (38) Californian, already feted as the trumpet player of his generation. 

What does it take to be anointed as the leading contemporary player in the 2020s? 

Expect startling technique, raw power, modern relevance and political messages: after all he played on Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly and has torn it up with Kamasi Washington.  So, is he a “West Coast Get Down” version of his close contemporary, New Orleans born Christian Scott?  Scott is a top player with distinctive style and agenda, but Akinmusire has extra gears. In addition to high energy hip hop, post-bop and free experimental blasts, he also draws oblique lines through the ethereal spaces opened up by Kenny Wheeler and mapped out by the European School. 

Rico and Nils - Take 2

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/vocals) ; Nils Solberg (guitar).

More Louis Armstrong music as played by Rico with, on this occasion, Nils Solberg adding his tasty Eddie Lang, Carl Kress etc. guitar licks and solos from afar.

The format has become standardised and non the worse for that. Rico warms up, introduces his guest, blows some Armstrong associated numbers over the backing, knocks back some beer, says hello to family and friends who have commented, tells a story or two related to the song, knocks back some more beer and blows some of the best classic jazz trumpet playing I've heard for many  a year as well as throwing in some vocals to give his lip a rest!

Jeremy Sassoon: Livestream - May 23

Managed to catch a couple of numbers from Jeremy Sassoon streamed from his flat via Manchester's Matt & Phred's F/b page wearing a shirt he may have borrowed from our Steve T, Jeremy sang and played blues piano. Jon Cleary's Frenchman St. Blues and Ray Charles' What'd I Say? whetted my appetite for more but I'd left it too late. 

There is so much streaming going on that it is impossible to keep track of it all unless the streamers give advance warning.

Lance

R.I.P. Ron Rubin (1933 - 2020)

There are so many jazz people departing this mortal coil these days that I trust we can be forgiven for the rare occasion when we allow "one of ours" to slip through the pearly gates unnoticed.

Such a person was pianist, bassist and humourist Ron Rubin who boarded the train to Gloryland on April 14.

In case anyone is thinking that I'm treating his death lightly let me assure them that this is far from the case and I doubt if he'd have wanted it any other way.

Streaming Rico 'n' Nils - May 22

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Nils Solberg (guitar, vocals)

Welcome to Rico's Popup Louis said our host. Rico Tomasso's Facebook live stream began a few minutes late for which he apologised. It was the usual technical issues associated with the medium. The time honoured solution...switch off then switch on again, problem sorted. 

Carefree Fred & Ginger

In these lockdown times the Beeb has probably attracted larger than usual weekday, daytime audiences. The best part of two hours of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on a Friday afternoon was just what the doctor - a psychoanalyst at that - ordered. First, excerpts of Fred and Ginger singing the GASbook, then Carefree a late-period Fred and Ginger RKO movie.   

The plot to any Fred and Ginger film is all but immaterial, what counts is the music (invariably written by some of the great songwriters of the time - Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, the Gershwins et al) and, of course, the dancing. The plot: Fred (Tony) falls in love with...hang on a minute! On this occasion Ginger (Amanda) falls for Fred, comic capers ensue as Stephen (played by Ralph Bellamy) thinks he's in with a chance of marrying Amanda. Tony, a psychoanalyst, treats his patient (Amanda) and, as if we couldn't guess, they live happily ever after. The End. 

R.I.P. Lucky Peterson

(Photo courtesy of Raphaël Perez)

Time to dig out the Lucky Peterson albums, a couple of which I bought ahead of his Sage Gateshead gig in 2016, and the rest straight afterwards. 

It was part of the SummerTyne Americana Festival and somebody suggested it was the gig of the festival so far, before I questioned as to whether it was the gig of Sage Gateshead so far!

He released his first album aged five, having been taken under the wing of legendary songwriter, bass player and key Muddy Waters sideman Willie Dixon.

Paul Edis: Lockdown Live #10 - May 22

Paul Edis (piano/vocals)

Lockdown session number ten. Paul came in on the back of 134 previous tunes none of which were repeats and this lunchtime he added another 12 - all absolute masterclasses in jazz piano. Not many pianists go head to head with Keith Jarrett and come out unbloodied, but Paul managed to do just that on the rather beautiful Country - positively pastoral.

CD Review: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie - Weathering the Storm. Released today!

Jo Harrop (vocal); Jamie McCredie (guitar).

I know we're not yet halfway through this year but if, come December 31, there is a better vocal album released then it will be because Ella and Joe Pass have been reincarnated and, even then, it will be a close thing.

Yes, this is the real deal. Inspired by Ella and Joe as well as by the duo albums Tony Bennett did with Bill Evans, Jo and Jamie treat their inspiration with respect whilst, at the same time retaining their own individuality.

It's a Carefree Friday

This afternoon is one where you put the kettle on to make a cuppa (it's not quite wine o'clock*), raid the pantry for some nibbles then settle down for a three-part treat. Superlative piano playing, vocals and brilliant choreography with two of the best hoofers in the business setting a benchmark that few, if any, have got anywhere near emulating. 

At one o'clock, Live from London, pianist - and sometime vocalist - Paul Edis will conduct another one hour Friday lunchtime YouTube masterclass. A half hour break to refill the kettle (no, it's still not wine o'clock*) and tune to BBC 2 for an absolute treat. Astaire amd Rogers Sing the Great American Songbook (2:30). And if that isn't enough, at 3:05 Astaire and Rogers dance their socks off to Irving Berlin in Mark Sandrich's Carefree. As Fred almost sang...Hebburn, I'm in Hebburn...

* Wine o'clock is at six o'clock. Time your second glass for seven as you sit down to watch Rico Tomasso in another of his Louis Armstrong-inspired Facebook sessions. 

Russell