bebop spoken here: Lockdown Sessions: Emilia Mårtensson - Live stream from Ronnie Scott's. Feb. 15

From This Moment On

August
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.
Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.
Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).
Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Monday, February 15, 2021

Lockdown Sessions: Emilia Mårtensson - Live stream from Ronnie Scott's. Feb. 15

Emilia Mårtensson (vocals); Matt Robinson (piano); Luca Boscagin (guitar); Sam Lasserson (bass); Jon Scott (drums).

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

I last heard Mårtensson back in 2010 at The Spice of Life where she sang a mix of standards, Swedish folk songs, originals and a Paul Simon tune. A mix which, over the years, would appear to be a formula that has stood her well.

Compared to last night's ebullient set by Emma Smith, tonight was a little more low-key but nevertheless, made for an interesting contrast.

I didn't catch all the titles but they included I Learned it From You; Paul Simon's America; Dat Dere; Here's That Rainy Day; Never Will I Marry; My One and Only Love; Cheek to Cheek and the final We'll be Together Again. The latter number was a bit over the top and would have benefitted from a less theatrical performance.

Robinson had a blinder and Boscagin's guitar solos were also quite special with Lasserson and Scott providing the solidity needed.

Mårtensson? Loved her standards but I would have better appreciated some of the others if I had been more familiar with the Swedish language - but that's just me. Her adoring YouTube fans would no doubt disagree judging by the comments,

Lance