CD Review: Kristin Callahan – Lost In A Dream

Kristin Callahan (vocals); Eliot Seppa (bass, most arrangements); Matvei Sigalov (guitar); Tom Teasley (perc 2,4,6) Mark Prince (drums 1,3,5); Lee Pearson (drums, conga 4,6); Carroll Dashiell 111 (drums 7); Joe Herrera (trumpet 2,3,4,6); Matt Rippetoe (sax 4)

A singer since childhood, Kristin Callahan went on to study jazz and piano and has performed at festivals and venues such as the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall and throughout the east coast as well as tribute shows to both Peggy Lee and Julie London.

Jazz and Supper at Middlesbrough Town Hall

Teesside pianist Jeremy McMurray has sent me details of an upcoming wine and dine gig at Middlesbrough Town Hall featuring his quintet - Mark Toomey (alto sax); Jeremy (piano); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Peter Ayton (bass); Paul Smith (drums).  Lance. 

Link.

Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee - June 29

(Photo by Russell)

Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

It had been a while, what with the pandemic and all that. East Durham College will shortly close its doors for the summer break but not before Jazz at the Lubetkin squeezed in a lunchtime session featuring the Dean Stockdale Trio. Considering the lengthy period during which few jazz gigs were possible, it was good to see Peterlee's flagship jazz promoter back in action. 

Live at Pete's Place - June 28

(Screenshot by Russell)

Pete Horsfall (trumpet, vocals); Alex Bryson (piano)

Pete Horsfall first met Alex Bryson some six years ago at a gig in a NYC bar. Pianist Bryson had earlier graduated from Trinity, London before relocating to the Big Apple. They subsequently recorded an album together and this evening reunited to play an online gig. Ellington and Fats Waller ensured a cast iron start to the session. Horsfall's vocal numbers offer a similar degree of 'quality assurance'. Two such numbers - Everything I Have is Yours and I Cover the Waterfront - maintained the standard. And another - I Cried for You.

Ella sings - June 27

Ella Hohnen-Ford (vocals); Jonny Mansfield (vibes); Will Sach (double bass)

Ah! Technical issues right from the start. Ella's vocal mic wasn't playing ball. The opening number, Just Friends, rendered Ella all but inaudible. During a brief intermission to enable our host to put a shilling in the meter we heard a recording of Ella singing I'm Old Fashioned to plug the gap.

No More Blues restored order, James Taylor's September Grass surprised, after all, it isn't staple fayre on a jazz gig. Yellow Dress (comp. Ella Hohnen-Ford), sounding very much like Roy Hargrove's Strasbourg St Denis, slotted in nicely, Jonny Mansfield's four-mallet solo pretty darn good.  

Jazz in the Gardens - latest

(Press release)

The projected lineups for the gigs at St James' & St Basil's church in Fenham are: 

July 4. The Independence Jazz Trio: Keith Robinson (reeds); Graham Don (keys); Ian Paterson (bass).

July 18. The Foundry Jazz Ensemble: Jude Murphy (vocals & bass); Bernie Ransom   keyboard, sax & vocals; Judah Grunstein (guitar).

August 8. The Mark Williams Standards Trio: Mark Williams (guitar); Rob Walker (drums); Paul Susans (bass).

August 29. The Dean Stockdale Trio: Dean Stockdale (keys); Abbie Finn (drums);      Mick Shoulder (bass).

September 5. The Alice Grace Trio: Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar);      Paul Grainger (bass).

Sunday Night @ The Globe: Noel Dennis Trio - June 27

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Noel Dennis (trumpet, flugel); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass)

It was back in the pre-blog days, at those fondly cherished Monday night sessions at the Side Café down by Newcastle Quayside, that I first encountered these three rather special musicians.

Since then, individually, they've lost weight, gained weight, lost hair, gained hair and, more importantly, achieved a standard that places them on a par with anyone, anywhere. A strong statement you might think but those who were present last night either in person or online would find it hard to disagree with.

The Sunday Service marching to New Orleans - June 27

Adrian Cox (clarinet; vocals); Jack Cotterill (drums)

New Orleans by way of Bulgaria and soon to be moving on to Denmark, Adrian Cox continues his virtual (and not so virtual) globetrotting lifestyle. Today's Sunday Service saw Cox joined by none other than Jack Cotterill. What's Cotterill doing out in Bulgaria? you ask. 'Working' seems to be the answer. 'Nice work' etc....

Live from Emmet's Place - March 1

(Screenshot by Russell)

Emmet Cohen (piano); Russell Hall (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums); Samara Joy (vocals)

A combination of reading (and believing) LL's rave review of Samara Joy's album (posted earlier this month) and noting in the current issue of Jazz Times that Emmet Cohen's March 1st live stream continues to be available to view on YouTube goes some way in explaining why this review arrived a tad late in BSH's inbox...near enough four months late! 

KSTV: Kansas Smitty's play Kansas Smitty's - June 26

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Giacomo Smith (clarinet, alto sax); Alec Harper (tenor sax); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Dan Higham (trombone); Theon Cross (tuba); Dave Archer (guitar); Joe Webb (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Jas Kayser (drums) + Pedro Segundo (drums)

Something of a rare occasion, Kansas Smitty's crew, old and new, getting together to play the Smitty's back catalogue. Bandleader Giacomo Smith had a ball, it must be such a joy working with other A-listers. From way back, Smitty's one-time regulars Pete Horsfall, Theon Cross and Pedro Segundo joined forces with current house band favourites, including Jas Kayser, Giacomo rightly praising the contribution of the recent Berklee graduate. In the presence of a live audience and Smitty's many online followers, Giacomo and co. opened the show, appropriately, with Get a Move On. 

Album review: Brian Woodruff Sextet - A Centering Peace

Michael Rodriguez (trumpet); Alan Ferber (trombone); Lisa Parrott (alto, soprano saxes); Pete McCann (guitar); Matt Clohesy (bass); Brian Woodruff (drums, compositions) + Elizabeth Lohninger (vocals on tks 1,3,9).

A delightful, swingy set that doesn't set out to change the world but, instead, paints a picture of the world as seen by drummer, leader, composer, arranger, lyricist, Woodruff.

The soloists, and that means everyone, are all on the money. Although Ferber and McCann are the only two whose work I was familiar with, the others are on the same wavelength. Rodriguez is one of the most lyrical trumpet players I've heard since Chet or early Miles. Lisa Parrott too has a cool sound that still retains an emotional aura about it and it's easy to understand her high placing in DownBeat's Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (now Rising Star) category back in 2016 - on baritone.

Colonel Crint revisited

Some time ago you did a post about Geordie expat Sid Smith and his return to Newcastle with a comedy band of Australian musicians. This morning while looking through some old music I found this flyer they gave me. A bit late but it might revive a few other people’s memories, Dave Kerr

Link

Deschanel Gordon Trio featuring Alex Hitchcock @ 606 Club - June 26

Deschanel Gordon (piano); Will Sach (bass); Will Cleasby (drums); Alex Hitchcock (tenor sax)

It seems incredible that only a few months ago, November 2020 to be precise, Deschanel Gordon was relatively unknown to myself and probably most of our readers. Now, after winning the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020, he pops up just about everywhere. Ronnie's, Smitty's, 606, just about anywhere of prominence on the London jazz scene and beyond.

Deservedly so, he is a powerhouse player  as well being a sensitive one. Although the Oscar Peterson influence is ever present he's no clone, he's absorbed rather than copied and, along with his other influences such as Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner and Mulgrew Miller, has developed an individual style which hints at even greater things to come.

Aycliffe Radio. Jazz Time Playlist - Jazz at the Movies

Playlist for Sunday June 27 @ 6:30pm.

Jazz at the Movies: Red Nichols; Fred Astaire; Billie Holiday; Charlie Parker; Elmer Bernstein; Gerry Mulligan; Ray Charles; Jazz at the Movies (Band).

Request: Horace Silver.

Keith Robinson - Strictly Smokin Big Band; Wally Fawkes -Zenith Hot Stompers; 

New Releases - Brian Woodruff Sextet; Louis Cappi.

Tommy Dorsey; King Cole Trio; Wynton Marsalis Quintet + Mark O'Connor and Frank Vignola.

Rico's Popup Louis: 'Live in the Kitchen' - June 25

(Screenshot by Russell)

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

Lately, Rico Tomasso has taken to streaming from his kitchen, inviting musicians to call round to play a few tunes. Last week pianist Will Barry was in the house, this evening our host was joined by guitarist Nils Solberg. A welcoming beer in hand, it was Solberg who took a first vocal on the Burton Lane-Frank Loesser number sung by Billie Holiday, Says My Heart. Another late thirties' number recorded by Billie Holiday, Me, Myself and I, appealed to Rico, so, he sang it. 

Album review: John McLaughlin - Liberation Time

It was always going to be something ’big’ to get me out of lockdown/isolation/quarantine – whatever it is I’ve been doing for the last year and a half – and John McLaughlin has, for almost half a century,  been a ‘big’ musician in my life. I’m always sceptical of instrumental albums which claim to represent a narrative, and this is no exception.

It’s a short set, presumably to comply with
the alleged vinyl revival, and looks backwards in other respects too, considering John has always been a fearless innovator, but is no worse for that.

Archipelago + Faith Brackenbury. Live at Gosforth Civic Theatre. Echoes to the Sky Album Launch - June 25

(Photo by Ken Drew)

Archipelago are rapidly making a name for themselves in contemporary circles, not just in the north east but nationwide. Their latest album, Echoes to the Sky, which received a rave review in the July issue of Jazzwise was launched last night at Gosforth Civic Theatre in a co-promotion between the theatre and the ever forward looking Jazz North East.

Album review: Slide Attack - Road Trip

Howard Levy, Alan Goidel (trombones); Hiroshi Yamazaki (piano); Michael Goetz (bass); Chuck Zeuren (drums).

One of the moments I treasure from my years of listening to jazz was hearing the legendary pairing of Jay Johnson and Kai Winding at Newcastle City Hall. 

That evening (Sept. 12, 1958) the trombone duo, better known as Jay & Kai, appeared alongside, amongst others, Lee Konitz and Zoot Sims as part of a JATP style package touring the UK under the heading of Jazz From Carnegie Hall. I was sitting at the side of the stage - the cheapest seats in the house - which were, paradoxically, the best seats in the house! It was magic being so close to these great musicians - Kenny Clarke, Oscar Pettiford and Phineas Newborn Jr. were also on the bill.

Rossano Sportiello: Live at the Flat #37 - June 20

Rossano Sportiello (piano); Paul Keller (double bass);  Ed Metz Jr. (drums)

A special edition, #37 in the series, of 'Live at the Flat'. Rossano Sportiello left his Greenwich Village home for a few days to play three or four trio dates in the Michigan area working with bassist Paul Keller and drummer Ed Metz Jr.. This Father's Day engagement found pianist Sportiello at the Zal Gaz Grotto in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

LIVE JAZZ RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE

(Press release)

Event: NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2021

Dates: Friday 13th August, Saturday 14th August, Sunday 15th August 2021

 

Celebrating the return of live jazz and live audiences this summer, with an exciting programme featuring local and national artists, the Newcastle Jazz Festival 2021 takes place over three days in August with music covering jazz, funk, hiphop, bebop and more. Performances will be at three locations: Flat Caps Coffee on Carliol Street, Newcastle Civic Centre and the Tyne Bank Brewery.

Emmet Cohen Trio live at (and streaming from) Small's, NYC - June 23

Emmet Cohen (piano); Philip Norris (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums)

Pandemic or no pandemic, nothing stops Small's. The Greenwich Village jazz club presents jazz seven nights a week and, what's more, each and every set is streamed live - it's been that way for many years! This evening, club regular Emmet Cohen played the early set. As usual, Kyle Poole occupied the drum stool. On bass Philip Norris - as of last week a graduate of Julliard! - joined Cohen to play a set of standards to a real, live audience at 183 W 10th St.  

DC Jazz Festival Announces DCJazzPrix™ Finalists (Camilla George is one of them)

(Press release)

The annual competition enters its seventh year of recognizing and supporting top rising jazz band talent from around the globe

WASHINGTON D.C. – June 24, 2021 — The DC Jazz Festival^® (DCJF) today announced the three bands selected as the 2021 DCJazzPrix™ Finalists, all of whom will perform Sunday, September 5, 2021 during the DCJazzPrix Finals at Union Stage, part of the 17^th Annual DC JazzFest. Tickets will be available for purchase starting on Friday, June 25th for $15 and for $20 the day-of-show with standing and seated general admission on a first-come-first-serve basis. The band finalists are the Giveton Gelin Quintet, Camilla George, and Dayramir Gonzalez & Habana enTRANCé. 

Tonight on Dragons' Den

Tonight, 9:00pm on BBC One, Jarrow musician Tony McNally ventures into the feared den of dragons - Dragons' Den - hoping to impress those breathing fire with his revolutionary percussion training device.

Read more here.

We wish him well ... Lance

Vintage cars and vintage jazz down Teesside way

Dormans Club, Middlesbrough, are holding a vintage car show this coming weekend, Sat. &. and Sun. June 26/27. All proceeds go to Zoe's Place and Air Ambulance.

There are two jazz sets, one on Saturday with Just Friends and one on Sunday with the Ian Bosworth Quartet, (special guest Josh Bentham on saxes.) 

Both sets start at 2:00pm and finish at 3:00pm. So crank up the Tin Lizzie or grab a bus or a train and you can get there on the same day. Lance

PS: Thanks to Ian Bosworth for the info.

Astounding success for outstanding saxophonist Matt Carmichael

(Press release)

Saxophonist Matt Carmichael has become the first student on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland jazz course to win all three of the awards that the course presents at the end of the academic year.

Carmichael, aged 22, who released his first album, Where Will the River Flow, to glowing reviews in March, has come out top in Jazz Improvisation, for which he wins the Fog Arts prize.

He has also won the George Duncan Prize for Jazz Composition, with the title track of his album, and the Joe Temperley Prize for Jazz Arranging, which is sponsored by writer Mark McKergow, with his orchestration of the jazz classic Stompin’ at the Savoy, made famous by clarinettist and big band leader Benny Goodman.

The Blue Horizon story - this afternoon (June 24)

On BBC Radio 4 Extra today at 2:30, Cerys Matthews looks at the Blue Horizon story. Founded by Mike Vernon, the record label discovered/rediscovered many now legendary names. Cerys, an avid collector of gems from the Blue Horizon back catalogue, talks to some of those who were there when it all began. Cerys Matthews's Blue Horizon was first broadcast on Radio 4 in 2012.  Russell  

Album review: Julian Siegel Jazz Orchestra - Tales from the Jacquard

Tales from the Jacquard is a love letter to the East Midlands' lace-making industries. In the nineteenth century Joseph Marie Jacquard designed the Jacquard card. Attached to a loom, it played an important part in the garment-making production process. Julian Siegel's family ran a lace-making business in Nottingham. The composer-arranger-musician-bandleader said: I have clear memories of trips to the lace factory with my Dad in the 1970's and hearing the sound of the machines - he wanted to conduct them! 

Situation Vacant with Jazz North

(Press release)

Project Manager for our Jazz Promotion Trainee Scheme.This is the overall manager post for the scheme and asks for 50 days work on a consultancy basis. Fee £8750. Closing date for applications is this coming Monday 10 am 28th June 2021.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 7th July in Leeds. Applications are by sending a CV and a covering letter responding to the relevant job description and person specification to Lesley Jackson, Executive Director, Jazz North: opportunities@jazznorth.org by 10.00am 28th June 2021

Details are here.  

Just thinkin' ...

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a dig at Leeds, Cheltenham, EFG or, come to that, JazzFM or  any of the organisations trying to promote music festivals whilst, at the same time, attempting to conform to the ever moving goalposts caused by Covid.

I appreciate the need - the desperate need - to draw in a wider, more cross genre, audience but I still can't get my head around advertising a jazz festival as having an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, and world music. Why not just advertise it as "a festival of jazz, funk, and world music"?

Trade Descriptions Act...? Lance

JazzLeeds Reset21 Festival

(Press release)

The finale of JazzLeeds Reset21 - a weekend jazz festival at Seven Arts Leeds featuring some of the artists you, our audience, have asked to see again…with an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, and world music from some of the region’s leading artists 

Sat: Dennis Rollins and Shri Sriram, Em Brown Quintet and Fergus Quill Trio.

Sun: Nicola Farnon Quartet feat Jim Corry, Pan Jumby and Helen Pillinger's Ysbryd. Plus bands in the Seven Arts Courtyard! 

Sat, Jul 17 at 1 PM UTC+01 to Sun, Jul 18 at 8 PM UTC+01

Message From Manchester

(Press release)

It is now 15 months since the last jazz gig at the Railway and I'm pleased to announce that jazz is returning to the Railway in July. 

The first gig is on Tuesday July 6th  featuring Jim Collins, which was the first gig to be cancelled back in March 2020 following the first lockdown. 

The full dates for July are : 

Reminiscing in (and out of) Tempo by Andy Hudson. Part Three: Middlesborough 1978

As Lance had requested I reflect these nostalgic moments chronologically so next up was Newport Festival at Ayresome Park. As I had written about this for BSH a few years ago on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, I thought it worth replicating here with a few amendments

This was my first really big gig as a producer/promoter,  although, at the time, I was also at the helm of the Newcastle Festival. The happiest experience for me was meeting and getting to know George Wein. After Middlesbro',  we went on to run many events together for nearly 15 years and remain good friends to this day.

The event as a concept was born in late '77 when Cleveland County Council was looking for a high profile event. As a producer living just to the North, I was approached by John Pinches, the Council’s Culture Officer and, along with George, created an event which also brought in the artistes of George's great rival Norman Granz (manager then of Ella and Oscar). That year it was the strongest single billing in the world for jazz events (...AND it was in Middlesbrough!) It made National TV with a young, then  BBC cub reporter, Jeremy Thompson interviewing a completely mystified Ella Fitzgerald in the back alley of some terraced houses just behind the football ground.

Ella Hohnen-Ford - June 20

(Screenshot by Russell)

Ella Hohnen-Ford (vocals); Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Will Arnold-Forster (guitar); Will Sach (double bass) + Kit Downes (piano)

North London, Sunday, 7:30. Ella Hohnen-Ford invited some of the boys over to play a few tunes. The Wills - Messrs Arnold-Forster, guitar, and Sach, bass - were joined by Kansas Smitty's Main Man, Mr Giacomo Smith playing clarinet. Later they would be joined by a special guest.

Album review: The Chris Saunders Band - Dancing with the Widow St. James

Chris Saunders (vocals, cornet, flugel); Ken Cook (piano, organ); Rob Fordyce (elec. bass); Michael Aragon (drums); Luis Carbo (perc.)

An eclectic mix of jazz, soul, funk, blues and tasty covers that's as cool as it gets for those who hang around the spots that are not for the kids or the grandparents although the swing here may be marginally towards the latter ...

Saunders has the kind of laid back voice that defies categorisation and his moments on cornet reveal a lyricism that isn't always obvious in his vocals which have an earthier sound. Together, they complement each other.

Learning and Participation @ The Globe

(Press release)

We would like to reassure you that although the lifting of restrictions has been delayed by the government this will not affect the delivery of Learning & Participation events at the Globe. All our plans have been made under current guidelines, with reduced capacity and staff and volunteers in place to make sure our events happen in a covid secure fashion. We are, of course, disappointed not to be able to release more tickets for our July events as planned but we will be doing our utmost to make sure that your visit is an informative and enjoyable one.

July + programme.

Jazz in the Gardens @ St James' & St. Basil's, Fenham, on Sunday Afternoons

4th July - Keith Robinson leading the Independence Jazz Trio. (American Independence Day, get it?)

18th July - Jude and the Foundry Jazz  Ensemble

8th August  - Mark Williams Standards Trio

29th August - Dean Stockdale Trio

5th September - Alice Grace Trio

3pm start, seating provided, social distancing may be required.

All free entry but ticketing may be necessary according to covid restrictions at the time. This is because if the weather is bad it may be possible to revert to inside the church. Contributions welcome.

Sunday Night Jazz @ The Globe: Knats - June 20

(Photo by Lance)

Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums).

Knats (don't ask me where they got the name from!) are a young, mega young, band and this was their first ever indoor gig although they had played an outdoor gig a couple of weeks back which Russell enthused over and which I felt the need to check out. 

There was an understandable degree of uncertainty about the first set but, hey, what do expect? They're treading the boards where many of the UK's premier jazz musicians have strutted their stuff - no pressure then - and it didn't, at least outwardly appear to faze them. Come the second set and they were firing on four!

A Sunday Service at Preservation Hall - June 20

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

Preacher Adrian Cox recalled making the first of several visits to Preservation Hall in New Orleans. The fact that the small room isn't air conditioned makes it all the more appealing! The venue and city in Louisiana, USA presented Cox with bountiful material for this afternoon's Sunday Service. Our live streamer offered a potted history of the venue and its many revivalist musicians, from George Lewis to the Humphreys. 

Aycliffe Radio Jazz Time - June 20 playlist

Dave Brubeck.

Upcoming gigs:

Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord; Vieux Carré Jazzmen.

Tony Eales picks 5 tracks with an African theme:

Joe Zawinul; Julian Argüelles; Brussels Jazz Orchestra (Tutu Puoane); Jazz Warriors, Afropeans; Abdullah Ibrahim.

Eddie Condon's Hot Shots; Kenny G.; Chris Barber +Andy Fairweather Low. 

New releases: Kayle Brecher; Alex Martin.

Charles Mingus Sextet - Feat. Eric Dolphy. 

Rico's (Saturday) Popup Louis - June 19

(Screenshot by Russell)

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Will Barry (piano)

A Popup Louis on a Saturday? Yes, Rico Tomasso had been working up in Edinburgh for a couple of days and decided to delay his regular Friday evening session twenty four hours. What's more, Rico's journey home was delayed due to all trains south being fully booked...something to do with several thousand Scots descending on London for the little matter of a keenly anticipated sporting fixture. Joining Rico this evening, none other than Kansas Smitty's regular, pianist Will Barry.  

Adam Glasser Band @ the 606 Club - June 19

(Screenshot by Lance)

Adam Glasser (piano, harmonica); George Crowley (tenor sax); Rob Luft (guitar); Steve Watts (bass); Corrie Dick (drums).

Not an easy one to write about as the livestream did have some buffering problems which restricted the flow of the music. It may have been unique to my set-up as no one else complained, although, unlike most streams, the 606 doesn't attract too many sidebar pundits so maybe they suffered in silence.

KSTV: 'Bird' on 52nd Street & John Kirby - June 19

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Giacomo Smith (alto sax, clarinet); Alec Harper (alto sax); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Joe Webb (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Shane Forbes (drums) + Nathaniel Facey (alto sax); Ella Hohnen-Ford (vocals)

An eagerly anticipated set, Giacomo Smith leading a hand-picked small group playing classic 52nd Street charts by way of John Kirby. What's more, judging the vociferous reaction to the music heard this evening, a good number of Kansas Smitty's patrons were in the building. From the Famous Door to Jimmy Ryan's.

Album review: Andreas Toftemark Quartet - A New York Flight

Andreas Toftemark (tenor sax); Calle Brickman (piano); Felix Moseholm (bass); Andreas Svendsen (drums).

If we had a Jazz Euro 2021 then, on the strength of this miniature (37 mins), Denmark would be well in contention. Toftemark is a new name to me although he studied in New York with such luminaries as Eric Alexander and Joel Frahm as well as performing with Peter Bernstein and Ethan Iverson and that experience shows in this recording made in his homeland.

Jo's Red Mary Janes makes JRR (June 20)

Tomorrow's edition of Jazz Record Requests (Sunday, June 20, Radio 3, 4:00pm) includes Jo Harrop's recently released Red Mary Janes & a Brand New Hat*. Jo is in good company, other artists of note featured on Alyn Shipton's programme include Miles Davis, Nina Simone and Stan Tracey. Russell

*(Read more and listen/buy here - Lance)

Jazzwise in July

Another fine issue of Jazzwise that, once again, is not without a north-east presence. A recent issue had a photo, a feature and an interview with singer, wordsmith and award winning vocalist Zoé Gilby and this July issue has a feature on local heroes Archipelago as well as a four star review of their most recent album - Echoes to the Sky. The fact that the interviewer and the reviewer offered alternative spellings to Faye MacCalman's surname in no way lessened the meaningful observations of either writer. Archipelago, incidentally, along with Faith Brackenbury, can be heard at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle (8:00pm) on June 25 for the launch of the aforementioned  album as part of a GCT Jazz Club-Jazz North East co-promotion.

Live (streaming) at Joe's - June 19

(Screenshot by Russell)

Joe Webb (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (drums)

Herbie's Tune from Oscar Peterson's session at Zardi's in Hollywood opened this afternoon's Live at Joe's set. Imagine Joe Webb as Oscar P, Dave Archer as Herb Ellis and Will Sach as Ray Brown. Once you've heard these London based guys it isn't such a stretch to see them cutting it on today's American jazz scene. Gershwin's I Was Doing All Right swung along, easy as, bassist Will grabbing a solo. It was shaping up to be another cracking set - thoughts of watching Euro 2020 on the box soon forgotten.

Jazz Jamaica @ Sage Gateshead - June 18

Once upon a time Gateshead Quays was a round-the-clock hive of artistic activity. Baltic's doors were open to one and all showing the best in contemporary visual art and its near neighbour, Sage Gateshead, presented world class performances by folk, jazz, rock, pop and classical musicians. Then, some fifteen months ago, the lights went out. The pandemic struck and, in common with many other sectors, the performing arts came to a shuddering halt. That was then, this is now - Jazz Jamaica are back in town!

Sage One's audience divided into colour-coded zones. Your correspondent found himself in the red zone, all seats socially distanced. All present were obliged to wear a face covering during the one hour fifteen minutes or so Gary Crosby's Jazz Jamaica occupied the stage. It was an odd, if not eerie, experience. MC Crosby recalled the band's first appearance at Sage Gateshead all of fifteen, perhaps sixteen years ago, our man suggesting this was one of his favourite venues. 

Wendy Kirkland/Pat Sprakes Sextet @ Langtoun Jazz Festival One More Time

(Press release)

Wendy Kirkland and Pat Sprakes Sextet will present a lively set of Latin tunes recorded at a venue in Chesterfield.

Videos will be presented free to view on Langtoun Jazz Facebook Page and YouTube channel.

Patrons will be invited to make donations to musicians paypal links if they can.

June 26: 9:00pm.

Fiona Ross @ Langtoun Jazz Festival One More Time

(Press release)

Fiona Ross & her band present a 30 min set of Fiona's original compositions filmed at the beautiful Union Chapel in London.

Video will be presented on Langtoun Jazz Facebook Page and YouTube channel free to view but patrons are encouraged to donate if they can to support these very talented musicians - June 26. 7:30pm.

Ten trumpet players who worked with Charlie Parker (well eleven actually)

Dizzy Gillespie was one of the founding fathers of bebop, in at its inception at Minton’s with others such as Kenny Clarke, Monk, Charlie Christian and Bud Powell. He was the doyen of all the ‘modern’ trumpet players at the time. Blessed with great technique, ideas, humour. showmanship, business acumen and ebullience, he was a member of the Parker Quintet in 1945/46 and appeared in many “one-off” gigs with Bird in the years that followed.

CD Review: Beverley Beirne – Dream Dancer

Beverley Beirne (vocals); Sam Watts (piano); Flo Moore (bass); Ben Brown (drums, perc, conga); Rob Hughes (sax, flute); Duncan Lamont (sax track 3, 9); Jason Miles (Fender Rhodes, strings, Hammond B3 on various tracks); Romero Lubambo (guitar track 9) Cyro Baptista (perc track 9)

Why haven't I heard this great singer before? I've been asleep on the job. This is Ms Beirne's third album, new takes on songs to do with dancing, a very enjoyable listen with a tinge of sadness for the late Duncan Lamont, ace saxman, who features on his own songs Now We're Just Friends and Old Brazil. No messing around, it's straight in from the start, fast drums and bass on Let's Face the Music and Dance, and a rich alto voice which can take higher notes in its stride.

Preview: Jazz Jamaica @ Sage Gateshead - Friday!

Gary Crosby's musicianship, energy and dogged determination over more than three decades have contributed to the emergence of a Black British jazz scene which we now accept as part of the furniture. Imagine today's landscape without the presence of the many musicians who've come through the Jazz Warriors-Tomorrow's Warriors-Jazz Jamaica hothouse set-up, it would be a poorer environment for everyone - musicians and audience alike. 

Tomorrow (Friday 18) at Sage Gateshead there is a rare opportunity to hear Jazz Jamaica in concert. A socially distanced Sage One audience will be treated to a one set performance (approximately 60-70 mins) featuring a host of familiar names...Mark Kavuma, Denys Baptiste, Eddie Hick, Cherise Adams-Burnett.

Album review (sort of): Journeys in Modern Jazz:Britain

The online publicity for this delightful example of British modern jazz promised a 20,000 word insert to accompany this double CD/LP (you pays your money and you takes your choice). A tome packed with biographical and discographical detail that this reviewer would have found invaluable - would being the operative word...

Alas, my promo double CD only turned up with just that - two CDs. No info on personnel or recording dates. Not even the usual promotional blurb. So, as there are 14 bands spread over the 2 discs, I'll content myself with listing their names and the tracks which, I guess are ± from the 1970s. By and large they all have that post-bop/pre-fusion feel about them and were originally released on Decca or one of its subsidiary labels.