Live streaming 24/7...for now

Once upon a time the live gig was the occasion. Coat on, door closed, bus/Metro/cycle/walk, come rain or come shine, the social interaction at a gig was very much part of the experience. Now, in these strange times, it's the ubiquitous live stream. Coffee on/bottle opener at hand/nibbles, log on to Facebook/YouTube/other. Until lockdown restrictions are lifted the live stream is the only gig in town. 

It's possible to watch streamed gigs round the clock. At any given moment, from somewhere on the planet, musicians are online seeking to maintain a connection with their once 'live' audience. By way of illustration, the following gives an idea of the quality and quantity of live stream gigs coming up over the next few days. Today (Sunday) at 1:00pm it's Adrian Cox with his accessible Facebook Sunday Service featuring the music of Mezz Mezzrow.

At seven o'clock this evening the Tri State Jazz Society presents Jon-Erik Kellso's EarRegulars (pictured) via Facebook and YouTube and an hour later the choice is yours - Denny Ilett's Electric Lady Big Band playing the music of Jimi Hendrix at Ronnie Scott's or Pete Tanton's Riviera Quartet from Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway Street HQ (£7.50 minimum). Don't think of going to bed. At ten o'clock the  Alan Broadbent Trio will be live streaming from Small's, NYC. Broadbent's bass and drums will be Harvie S and Billy Mintz (see www.smallslive.com). 

Monday at 8:00 at Ronnie's is an International Women's Day special presenting Trish Clowes' My Iris (Gateshead lad Chris Montague is in Clewes' band, a great guitarist is Chris) and later in the evening another big name will be streaming from Small's, pianist Ethan Iverson with his trio (10:00pm). Thursday (Mar 11) it's the Emily Francis Trio at Ronnie's (8:00pm). At ten, the Nick Hempton Quartet hits Small's. In December, BSH Editor-in-Chief, LL, said of Hempton's set from GB's Juke Joint: An absolute gem of a session. Reason enough not to miss this one (it could be guitarist Peter Bernstein will be on the gig). And, don't think about going to bed just yet because next door at Mezzrow's at midnight it's the big boss man himself, pianist Spike Wilner (proprietor of Small's and Mezzrow's) with bassist Tyler Mitchell. There's more...Wayne Escoffery (the tenor saxophonist was in the Mingus Big Band when it played Middlesbrough a couple of years ago) on Friday and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt (Saturday), both from Small's, both ten o'clock. 

Worn out? You will be! All week at eight (Tuesday-Saturday) join Osei Mensa at Kansas Smitty's. The sessions are uniformly excellent. Don't miss 'em! Night owl, eh? Log on to Small's website to check out the late night jam sessions starting  at 1:30am. Live streams, don't you just love 'em? Bet you can't wait for normal service (ie live gigs) to be resumed!         

Russell