I remember wandering around Amsterdam, late at night, as one does in Amsterdam, and hearing some beautiful piano playing from a pokey little bar.
I went in.
For the past sixteen years we've been updating the world about jazz in the north east of England and updating the north east of England about jazz in the world. WINNER of the Jazz Media Category in the 2018 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Contact lanceliddle@gmail.com
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October
Sat 12: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Michael Woods @ Victoria Tunnel, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00. (£10.00. adv.). Country blues guitar & vocals.
Sat 12: Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £13.28, £11.16, £9.04. A two-track recording launch gig.
Sat 12: Stuart Turner @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues etc. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 12: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ The Ship Inn, Low Newton. 8:00pm. Free. New trio: Paula Whitty, Richard Herdman, Jude Murphy.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Emma Wilson @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 13: Catfish Keith @ The Cluny. 7:00pm. Country blues.
Sun 13: Cath Stephens & Paul Grainger @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Stephens & Grainger, one third of a triple bill.
Sun 13: Dulcie May Moreno Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by Nina Simone, performed by Nicholle Cherrie.
Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass), Bailey Rudd (drums).
Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Cath Stephens’ improvisation workshop @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 4:30-6:00pm. Collaborative group focusing on vocal improvisations.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Olivia Cuttill Quintet @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 17: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra UK: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Thu 17: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 17: Niffi Osiyemi Trio @ The Harbour View, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. Guests Jeremy McMurray (keys);
Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Adrian Beadnell (bass). 8:30pm. Free.
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s, Crook. 7:30pm.
Fri 18: Chet Set @ Seventeen Nineteen, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Pete Tanton & co.
Fri 18: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. Doors 7:30pm (upstairs). A Hoodoo Blues dance & social event. £10.00. class & social (£10.00., £7.50., £5.00. social only). Michael Woods (country blues guitar) on stage 9:00pm.
Fri 18: East Coast Swing Band @ Hexham Abbey. 7:30pm. £9.00.
Fri 18: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Durham University Jazz Society’s ‘High Standards’ @ Music Dept. Music Room, Divinity House, Palace Green, Durham University DH1 3RS. 8:009:30pm. Tel: 0191 334 1419. £7.00., £5.00.
Fri 18: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Blues Underground, Nelson St., Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.
I remember wandering around Amsterdam, late at night, as one does in Amsterdam, and hearing some beautiful piano playing from a pokey little bar.
I went in.
Most of them were swing bands such as Basie, Goodman etc. and, of course, there was Ellington who always had one foot in the groove and one on the concert stage. That he accomplished both magnificently is written in stone and, if Joe Oliver hadn't got in there first then surely he would have been crowned King Ellington.
(Pic by Russell) |
Since then I've watched JOASD on VHS, DVD and, after the 21st century came upon us, various clips on YouTube.
Dean Masser, a tenor player with a big sound who likes to make every note count with an assertive hard-driving approach that makes everyone sit up and take notice.
He was well supported by an excellent rhythm section with Andrzej Baranek sounding particularly inspired on the opening number On Green Dolphin Street even though he must have played it over a thousand times. As far as I know the drummer Brian Costello who hails from Blackpool has not been to the Railway before, but he did a first-rate job and I hope we get to hear him again before too long. Ed Harrison is a frequent visitor to this venue and is always at the top of his game. Like Dean he resides in the Wigan area.
James Birkett, Bradley Johnston (guitars)
A beautiful gig and not an effect pedal in sight. No fuzz boxes, wah-wahs, cry babies or distortion units of any kind. Just two Ibanez jazz guitars in the hands of two master practitioners of the art.
The empathy between the two players was pure magic. Two like-minded guitarists on the same wavelength. When one soloed the other provided chordal accompaniment, or maybe a supportive bass-line. There were contrapuntal passages, breathtakingly accurate unison readings of a theme - Swing 42 being a typical example - two playing as one. Ok, perhaps well-rehearsed but that didn't detract from the impact on the listeners.
Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)
(Press release)
Two of the very best jazz guitarists in the North East - James Birkett & Bradley Johnston- playing together at The Globe on Sunday 29 Aug. Come to the venue or view the livestream. Tickets here https://theglobenewcastle.bar/.../james-birkett-bradley.../ Brad is also running two courses for jazz guitarist starting in Septermber. See here https://theglobenewcastle.bar/learning/
Another sizzler from the 606. Relaxed social distancing meant a truly full full house and the band responded accordingly. Tim Garland is well-remembered in the north east from his ten year tenure as a Professor of Composition at Newcastle University during which time he made various appearances across the river at Sage Gateshead where, brilliant as they were, often leaned towards the pretentious.
No such leanings tonight at least not in the first set which I enjoyed via livestream. Straight down the middle, no holds barred modern/contemporary jazz.
Requests: Jimmy Durante; Big Bill Broonzy.
Emma Fisk Hot Club Du Nord:
Selection by Bruce Rollo - Bass Player with the Hot Club du Nord:
Chicago Hoods; Lester Young Quintet; Count Basie; Edmund Hall; Gene Krupa; Oscar Peterson Trio.
Journeys in Modern Jazz: Britain 1965-1972.
John Surman & John Warren; Michael Garrick; Mike Westbrook.
Coming up in the North East:
Abbie Finn; Struggle Buggy; Niffi Osiyemi; Tyne Valley Big Band; Alice Grace Trio; Peter Morgan Trio.
I wondered why this should be, I mean they'd studied, paid their dues - well their term fees - some even have doubled barrelled names which was when it clicked!
(Photos by Russell) |
The West Park in Jarrow is quite a magnificent setting. Lovingly cared for flowerbeds, swings and other attractions for kids all combine to make this the perfect setting for an idyllic sunny afternoon,
The icing on the cake for those present who are partial to a slice of New Orleans' jazz was the presence of the Vieux Carré Hot Four who played a couple of sets that, hopefully, brought some of the younger listeners to realise that music - and jazz - has been going for a long long time. Maybe it began when Adam serenaded Eve with the original version of Scrapple From the Apple - who knows?
A Dave O'Higgins' album is alway a treat. Whether with Mrs O'Higgins, the Brothers Brubeck or a top class rhythm section such as we have here the end result is always one that you can confidently splash the cash on, safe in the knowledge that you won't be demanding your money back the next day.
For those who missed it, the Evening Chronicle obituary is reproduced below. Please note the sentence I've highlighted in bold text. Lance
James Malcolm Rae
(Mac) (Felling) Passed away at home on 11th August 2021 aged 82 years. Mac, a beloved Husband of Maria, a much-loved Dad to Andrew and Helen, Father-in-law to Lynne, a devoted Grandad to Emily, a dearly loved Brother of the late David and Sister-in-law Linda, and a special Uncle and friend to many. Please meet for service at St. Patrick's RC Church, Felling on Thursday 2nd September 2021 at 10:30am. Committal to follow at Saltwell Crematorium. Invites on who can enter the church will follow from Mac's family. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Cancer Research UK via a collection in church. All enquiries to Walker & Morrell Funeral.(Photo © Derek Clark) |
(Press release)
The Scottish National Jazz
Orchestra celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary with a return to live
performance at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh on Friday 24 September at 7:30pm.
LIVE at 25 will feature music from across the orchestra’s lifespan and highlights the continuing emergence of jazz talent in Scotland. The award-winning young trombonists Anoushka Nanguy* and Liam Shortall take their places as soloists and section players in a programme drawn from almost 100 years of jazz history as well as the classical and Scottish music traditions.
Paul’s guest on this occasion was a player who, like a previous guest Suzanne Fonseca, is a member of the famed Syd Lawrence Orchestra, playing tenor/alto sax and clarinet.
For his trip to the Railway he elected to bring his tenor sax and he played a nice selection of tunes starting with an up-tempo workout on Parker’s Relaxin’ at Camarillo If I had to describe Mike Hope’s playing approach I would say a mixture of Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, with a hint of Warne Marsh. He certainly knows his way around the saxophone and he was well served by the rhythm section who benefited greatly from the presence of Ed Harrison - if you need a first rate bassman he is the one to get.
(Photo by Ken Drew) |
The second of the revived Lunchtime Jazz concerts at the Durham Gala is this Friday, 27 August, from 1.00 to 2.00pm. We're pleased to welcome back Zoë Gilby and her Quartet. Since featuring in the very first Lunchtime Jazz at the Gala some 7 years ago Zoë's star has continued to rise. In 2019 she received the Parliamentary Jazz Vocalist of the Year Award, since when she has released two (very different) albums.
Established jazz
promoters in the North of England are looking for people to come and learn how
to promote world class jazz, whilst also providing a series of workshops
available to existing jazz promoters to help support long term sustainability.
Jazz North East in
Newcastle, Jazz Leeds, Wakefield Jazz, NQ Jazz in Manchester and Ribble Valley
Jazz and Blues club will offer paid internships that will provide training in
all aspects of jazz promotion in different environments.
The year-long internships will be open to anyone with an interest in jazz and the desire and potential to build their skills in promoting and developing audiences for the music. Available CPD workshops in audience development and related subjects will enable the interns and also other northern jazz promoters to develop appropriate skills and thus increase the long-term sustainability of the sector in the North.
Carole
Williams (keyboards, trombone, vocals); Paul Hartley (guitar); Peter Hartley
(bass guitar); Helen Pillinger (tenor sax); Eryl Roberts (drums)
Last night the group featured was an interesting one in that it included three members of the same family - Carole Williams (keyboards, trombone, vocals); husband Paul Hartley (guitar); and son Peter Hartley (bass guitar).
Helen Pillinger is a fine tenor sax player with a tone and style similar
to that of Hank Mobley in his latter-day period. I thought her feature, Isfahan from
Duke’s Far East Suite, was a great rendition. Looking for
information on the internet I see she went to Leeds School of Music (now Conservatoire)
and later studied at Salford University. The photo shows Carole and Helen on trombone and tenor respectively at the Railway - date unknown.
Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Joe Webb (piano); Denny Ilett (guitar); Simon Read (double bass); Luke Tomlinson (drums)
The protagonist is Jimmy Rabbitt, whom we first met as the manager/fixer in The Commitments. Jimmy is now working in the field of vintage Irish rock, assembling compilations and organising reunion tours. He hates jazz; as he says “He wasn’t a bigot, he was just right”. This goes back to a case of teenage sexual frustration when, as a teenager, Jimmy’s girlfriend told him that her parents were out for the day, but they arrived at her house to find her father very much at home and listening to Charlie Parker.
Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Dave Archer
(guitar)
A busy man is Adrian Cox. A Saturday night gig with Buster Bloodvessel in Manchester, an early Sunday morning flight to London, taking to the Sunday Service pulpit at one o'clock to preach the N'Awlins' gospel (the subject of this review) with a rehearsal to follow ahead of a sold out gig at Ronnie Scott's this evening.
Taken at the Engineers' Club situated, back then (1960s), behind the Oxford Galleries it was the site of a regular Sunday session.
Of particular interest is the pianist, Mike Carr who went on to greater things as, one of the finest jazz organists, not just in the UK but, arguably in the world. This could well be the earliest known photo of him in a playing situation. Sadly he died in 2017 aged 80. If we can guess his age on the picture it will be a big clue to establishing the year.
The problem facing vocalists singing standards is that most of the audience have already heard them done by the great and the good. Taking Sinatra as an example, there's probably been a zillion clones but, the number who actually got close can probably be counted in single figures.
To her credit, Debra Milne doesn't do cloning. Like Ole Blue Eyes, she does it her way so tonight we had a choice selection of tunes delivered in her inimitable style.
June Garber (vocals); Lou Pomanti
(keyboards except track 6) + collectively: Steve Heathcote (drums); Marc Rogers
(bass); Jake Langley (guitar); Drew Jurecka (strings); William Sperandei
(trumpet); Robyn Black (background vocals)
This is one for people who like musical theatre as well as jazz, because some of the singing is close to the more dramatic musical theatre style and the inclusion of strings on most tracks adds to that effect. No accident because June Garber is also an actor.
HAPPINESS AND HEARTBREAK return to The Globe with a selection of classic swinging tunes and heart breaking gems from the Great American Songbook, featuring vocalist Debra Milne, with Stuart Collingwood on keyboard and Steve Summers on saxes.
I first heard Ed Jones back in 2008 when he played a JNE gig at the Corner House as part of a band operating under the strange name of Killer Shrimp. Irrespective of the name, as I wrote at the time 'he swung his ass off'. Just as it was applicable then, so it was last night at the 606.
Only hours before the gig, the band suddenly found out their bass player couldn't make it. A couple of phone calls and it was sorted - Oli Hayhurst! They don't come much better than that and, with Tim Giles was on drums, the scene was set.
(Press release)
I am very pleased to announce that as from Thursday 7th. October the Jazz Night at Dormans, Oxford Rd., Middlesbrough will be restarting.
Tees Hot Club, The resident band, will be using the first night to pay tribute to the late Gerry Hughes. Gerry was the band's regular bass player for many years, sadly passing away earlier this year.
Playlist - Sunday (Aug 22) repeated Tuesday (Aug 24)
Bix Beiderbecke & The Wolverines.
Request: Cannonball Adderley Feat. Miles Davis.
Journeys in Modern Jazz Britain (1965-1972): Ken Wheeler & The John Dankworth Orchestra; Don Rendell Quintet; Colin Bates Brew.
My memories of Peter Ind go back to a legendary 1975 session at the Corner House in Whitley Bay. He, along with guitarist Dave Cliff and drummer Al Levitt provided the back up for frontliners Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz and I'm fortunate that someone recorded the session proving that time hadn't sweetened the memory and it was every bit as good as I remembered. Needless to say the two horns were the big attraction but, without Ind's (and Cliff's) harmonic foundation it wouldn't have been the same.
Joe Webb (piano); Dave Archer (guitar); Will Sach (bass).
The Nat Cole Trio may have begat the Oscar Peterson Trio but, in truth, the begating began with the Art Tatum Trio who set the formula for the piano, guitar, bass trio that was personified in a series of recordings in 1944 recreated here by the Joe Webb Trio at this latest lunchtime session at the Lit & Phil.
And it was some session! It's been a longtime since I witnessed a standing ovation but this afternoon's was well deserved of the honour.
Dave, who most of us will remember as pianist with the Johnny Dankworth Band before emigrating to New York, was actually brought up in Whitley Bay.
In between his reminiscences he plays some nice piano. Let's hope he tells us some more tales out of school and, even if the subjects were still alive there'd be no actions taken for libel/slander- they're all lovely.
The first tune of the evening It Could Happen To You turned out to be highly appropriate as drummer George Grundy explained to a small group of jazz fans that the trumpet player had gone to another Railway Pub in Stockport. Fortunately, it was close by and the problem was solved by making the opening number a feature for Richard Jones on the house upright piano plus bass and drums.
2 September, 10:30am @ St Patrick's Catholic Church, Felling.
During the course of his 91 years Ronnell Bright, who died on August 12, frequently was that safety net for singers such as Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson to name but a few as well as recording with Shirley Scott, Coleman Hawkins, Harry Edison and the above singers.
The Summer of Soul
finally arrives, over half a century after the event happened, at a time it’s hard to imagine as anything other than a long, dark, cold winter for soul.
I went with big brother, who taught me well that being a soul fan is for life and not just for soul nights. It’s not just for a change from ‘normal’ music, and it isn’t ‘normal’ music. It’s not for people who don’t want to listen to anything anybody else has heard and it’s not for people who only want to listen to music everybody has heard.
Suzanne w. Wally Davis in 2016 |
One of the most popular jazz musicians to be seen and heard at the Railway is trombone maestro Suzanne Fonseca and if you want to get a good seat, get there early because the room is usually almost full before she plays a note! She is somewhat of a legend in the North West and rightly so - she really is an awesome player with a great sound and making it all look so easy, but I daresay it is anything but.
About two years ago Suzanne usually fronted a quintet which featured Wally Davis, an old friend of mine, on tenor, alto and soprano sax who, like me, was a big fan of the great Sonny Stitt.
The Vieux Carré Jazzmen restart their weekly afternoon jazz session at Cullercoats Crescent Club on WEDNESDAY 25 AUGUST.