As the sun broke through the clouds over Sayer Towers and the butler butled, with a fresh gin and tonic, across to the patio where I was listening to Galapagos by Zoöphyte I thought to myself, ‘This is music for an Indian Summer.’ Back in the olden days when the lovely Mrs Sayer and I were courting acts such as Everything But the Girl, Sade, Working Week and Black were ploughing a mellow jazz groove, inspired by Steely Dan and Gil Scott-Heron amongst others and Stan and Astrid had a hit again with a re-release of their top tune about the lassie at the seaside.
It's a varied programme that should be to everyone's taste and well worth a visit. From Newcastle it's only a couple of hours down the A1(M). It's less by train providing the wheeltappers and shunters aren't on strike. You could even fly but bring a sleeping bag with you as airport floors aren't exactly up to Dunlopillo standard.
Seriously though, check out the link below for the full listings which culminate with a Christmas Eve jam session (Dec. 24) Lance
Dorothy Baker: Young Man With a Horn (sanitised by British censors for the filmed approximation as Young Man of Music), written in 1938, it purports to be inspired by the music, if not the life, of Bix Beiderbecke. Nevertheless, Baker was probably the first novelist to get a feel for fictional jazz writing and an insight into its origins despite some of the racist terms - the N word then was as acceptable as the F word is becoming today.'
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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
Like a lot of things that are happening today, what you expect is not what you get and although I was looking forward to hearing the advertised guest, Jeff Gundren, the jazz gremlins were at work and it was not to be as Jeff had cancelled due to being bed-ridden with a mystery virus. However, the show must go on and bandleader Paul Hartley enlisted the services of tenor man Mike Hope who was only here a week ago which may be the reason for the somewhat lower turnout than usual or perhaps the cooler weather was to blame?
A take on lesser known compositions by, in track order, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Farrell, Alec Wilder, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea and Harold Arlen. Off the Charts brings them to the attention of present day audiences and deservedly so imbuing each carefully chosen track with the feel of today whilst still respecting their origins.
Although on this album he neither sings nor plays* he knows a whole lot who do and, coupled with his fine arrangements, they all shine as indeed do the reeds, 'bones and rhythm section.
Each track showcases a different vocalist with some complex, compelling scoring and meaningful solos.
And if that wasn't enough ten of the eleven song are among my all-time favourites.
Jazz North has awarded bursaries to ten
promoters across the North of England to develop emerging talent as part of
their programmes:
Hulljazz,
ParrJazz, Footprints Jazz Club, Live @ Union Lane, Jazz Club at the Grayston
Unity, Melodic Distraction, JazzLeeds, Discontinued, No Such Thing Records & The Wombat
Jazz Club.
Jazz North
CEO, Chris Bye, commented:
“The ten promoters that make up the New Northern roster show just how thriving the northern jazz scene is. Every name on this list has demonstrated an absolute commitment to both their locality and the next generation of artists that represents the future of northern jazz. Jazz North is proud to support their work, their ethos and their gigs.”
A host of names, some well known, some not so. Some international, some national, some local but all committed to extending the city’s appetite for a contemporary grass roots jazz festival, presenting an innovative and diverse international line up, celebrating and pushing boundaries that challenge perceptions of jazz and improvised music.
One of our readers is seeking advice on how he will cope playing tenor after having either a partial upper denture fitted or a dental implant and is hoping some sax players out there can comment from their own post-dental experience before he goes ahead. Lance
Rebecca Poole, who also moonlights as Purdy under which moniker she toured with Jools Holland, appeared on the Netflex TV series The Crown as well as sharing a stage with Jamie Cullum at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and singing to 90,000 at Wembley, returns to her jazz roots with nine originals and an Elvis Costello cover.
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| (© Ken Drew) |
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| (© Russell) |
The latest in Joe Steels' monthly Sunday afternoon sessions featured soon-to-be-departing local lad, Ferg Kilsby. Trumpeter Ferg is shortly to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime. Halls of residence sorted, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London beckons. This afternoon, leading a band at such a young age must have be a daunting experience, leading a band of A-listers must have be something else!
I must confess that Caesar Frazier was a new name to me even though his 1972 soul classic Hail Caesar is, seemingly, now considered a very valuable, much sought-after, collectable rarity. I'll have to get out there and start looking before Simon Spillett beats me to it!
However, on second thoughts, this particular album is pretty damn good anyway and I can't bear the thought of thumbing through all those Jim Reeves' albums and Buddy Bolden cylinders in the vain hope that I might hit pay-dirt.
https://www.ayclifferadio.co.
Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & Darlington Area.
Playlist 27/08/23. (Repeated Tuesday 29/08/23)
Birthdays: MJQ + Branford Marsalis
RIP: Michael Parkinson: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett/Bill Evans.
Requests from Darlington Big Band: Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, Bridget Metcalfe, Dexter Gordon. Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, JJ Johnson.
Birthday Memories: Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson.
Requests: Louis Armstrong/Earl Hines, The Boswell Sisters.
What’s On in the NE: Abbie Finn.
Requests: Woody Herman Orchestra, Stan Kenton.
There's a wistful, ethereal, little girl lost charm about Danish singer Juul's voice. It entwines, not just around the lyric but also around the heart, the ears, of the listener. The only other singer I can recall who achieved that same effect was the late Shirley Horn. Shirley, like Mette, could turn a swinger into a lovelorn ballad and vice versa.
You can listen to the show anytime from noon on Saturday August 26 by heading to:
Plus, you can request tunes for future programmes by
emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or
heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.
Half a dozen newly-discovered recordings from the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival show the many facets of Ms. Simone ranging from the tender I Loves You Porgy via the bluesy Blues For Mama, words by Abbey Lincoln to the protest song of social injustice Mississippi Goddam. All underlined by her piano playing which, like her voice, is gentle at times, raucous and percussive at others.
Guitar, bass and drums provide solid support which, combined with the above, make this an essential addition to her legacy. Lance
You've Got to Learn; I Loves You Porgy; Intro to Blues For Mama; Blues For Mama; Be my Husband; Mississippi Goddam; Music For Lovers
I've got egg on my face! This one's been lingering in my 'in-tray' since June. In my defence it was the label that put me off. OUTSIDE IN MUSIC brought to mind the occasion many years ago when I went two rounds listening to an Albert Ayler album - I didn't come out for the third - and my corner threw the towel in.
I suspected this could be another early TKO until I noted that DownBeat, who know a bit about these things, had given it a 4½ star review which is only ½ a star short of max.
Please be advised that my weekly show - The Jazz Cavern is now on PURE JAZZ RADIO due to the recent demise of My Kinda Music.
This week's show will feature the music of Brazilian pianist and composer, Sergio Mendes. Tracks from his "Brasil 66" recordings, Timeless (2006), Crystal Illusions (1969) and The Fool on the Hill (1968) will feature.
Admittedly,
an unacceptably small section of his oeuvre but (I think) a
reasonably good showcase of pieces by Brazilian composers as well popular
standards of the time.
"The Jazz Cavern" Broadcasts on www.purejazzradio.com (from NYC) on Tuesdays at 4:00AM, Saturdays at 7:00AM and Fridays at 6:00AM, NYC time. (5 hours later in the UK)
The show is not available on a 24/7 catch-up
option.
Check out my weekly jazz radio show - THE JAZZ CAVERN @ www.purejazzradio.com. Tuesdays at 9:00AM and Saturdays at 12:00PM - UK time. Frank Griffith
Sixteen women swinging like crazy, picking up where Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Basie and Duke left off. Okay, maybe an exaggeration but only a very slight one and, upon listening a second time, I'm not sure it's an exaggeration at all! Certainly the trumpet and trombone plunger solos by Dauber and Krupa on In a Mellow Tone wouldn't have been out of place in any Ellington ensemble. Likewise, on I'm Gonna go Fishin', Leslie Havens on bass trombone, Noriko Ueda bass, Laura Dreyer tenor sax and leader Sherrie Maricle on drums all recapture the original concept whilst making it their own.
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| (© Pam) |
Nevertheless, the ones listed below will, I am sure, bring back memories and inspire everyone to look forward to 2024 with eager anticipation. Lance
I'm in a cleft stick here as there are site visitors who were closer to
him and more familiar with the work of the Swedish bass saxophonist Frans
Sjöström than I am. Nevertheless, on the couple of times that I've heard him at
the various versions of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, he sounded as good
as most purveyors of that lugubrious instrument, although, to be honest, the
only other bass saxist I recall having heard playing the instrument live was
Harry Gold. Frans was in that league.
Away from playing, I
met up with him one Sunday afternoon at Hoochie Coochie for one of Jason
Isaacs’ Sunday afternoon sessions and he loved it – ‘Nothing like this on a
Sunday afternoon in Sweden’ he said, listening to the band and watching the
dancers.
I’ve half-inched the
unaccredited photo from the Classic Jazz Partywebsite. Lance
REST IN PEACE.
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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
Not only is Gavin Barras a superb bass player but he knows how to put together musicians to produce the best results and tonight we heard some creative modern jazz from all involved. Six tunes per set making a total of twelve were played and it would be impossible for me to select any highlights as I liked all of them, from the opening Parker blues, Now’s the Time, to the closing Rollins' number Oleo.
Ray Butcher was very impressive and as well as switching from trumpet to flugel, he used the mute to good effect on a couple of tunes. Jim Faulkner sounded great on guitar and he has developed a reputation for producing interesting solos as well as knowing what not to play. If I played guitar I would like to sound just like him.
How deep is the ocean?: It's a long way - fourteen fathoms deep. To get there would take longer than your average double bass/drum solo although it may not seem so at the time.
How high the moon?: Just short of 400,000 kilometres. Average time is about three days although most tenor players could do it in two.
Have you met Miss Jones?: Who hasn't? That broad's been round the block a few times.
What is this thing called love?: Cole Porter first posed the question but that was before he had access to Wikipedia - LINK.
https://www.ayclifferadio.co.
Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & Darlington Area.
Playlist 20/08/23. (Repeated Tuesday 22/08/23)
Birthday Memories: Count Basie Orchestra, Chris Barber/Eddie Durham, Jack Teagarden, Art Farmer/Milt Jackson/ Benny Golson, Bill Evans Trio.
Requests: Chet Baker, Erroll Garner, Lee Morgan, Les McCann & Eddie Harris, Ezra Collective, Walter Smith III.
What’s on in the NE: Ferg Kilsby, Spats Langham, Benny Goodman, Hoagy Carmichael.
Ruth Lambert Duo
Ruth Lambert (vocals); Martin Craggs (guitar)
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| (© Russell) |
Apart from her voice and her very personalised phrasing, Ruth can also turn a song into theatre with her facial expression or a hint of body language. This was particularly noticeable in Social Call and Black Coffee. A great start.
How Deep is the Ocean?; But Beautiful; I've Got the World on a String; Here's That Rainy Day; Social Call; Black Coffee; Desifinado; Lush Life; Like Someone in Love.
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| (© Mike Tilley) |
The show kicked off with If I Were a Bell and the die was cast for an evening of post swing, not quite bebop, booting tenor by a player who has absorbed the past and brought it into the present. Using a borrowed 1935 Conn tenor surely helped her on the journey. A big sound.
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| (© Mike Tilley) |
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| (© Patti D) |
The Lit & Phil jazz
concert this month was totally in the ‘jazz the intimate art’ category.
Singer Alice Grace gave us an intriguing set of contrasting songs put across in such a charming manner. All were exquisitely sung and all underpinned by Pawel’s gentle guitar accompaniment which was based on effortless finger style, classical guitar technique. His arpeggiated chordal playing, walking bass lines and contrasting rhythmic interludes provided the perfect backdrop to the songs, many of which I’d not heard before. Mostly he played an electric archtop but for three pieces he switched to a nylon strung classical guitar which I understand was his first gig with the new instrument. It sounded lovely.
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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
One of the established traditions of the Newcastle Jazz Festival is that Thursday night's action takes place at the Bridge where the Strictly Smokin' Big Band pull in the punters and not just because it's free. If it were ten times the price (joke) they'd still show.
They had a few deps in but such is the depth of talent that they have to draw from it didn't show.
As regular visitors to this site will know I'm an out and out dedicated follower of the music put out by Blue Note Records in the 1950s and '60s. If their albums hadn't been so expensive when they were first released in the UK I'd probably have the whole, pre-Liberty catalogue on my shelves. Nevertheless, I've got a fair number so that when anything comes along paying tribute to the artists who recorded for that iconic label I tend to regard it with a degree of suspicion.
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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
At last the fifth Newcastle Jazz Festival is here and there are plenty of goodies in store. Over the past couple of weeks Russell has previewed each day individually which, for convenience sake, I've collated below. Lance
I am very happy that my audio play Homer’s Lane, inspired by the life and work of Joe the Quilter, is finally coming very close to its original setting.
