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Bebop Spoken There

Marcella Puppini (in concert with the Puppini Sisters at Sunderland Fire Station, November 27, 2024): ''We've never played there, but we've looked it up, and it looks amazing.''. (The Northern Echo, November 21, 2024).

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

17562 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 836 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Nov. 22).

From This Moment On ...

November

Tue 26: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £12.00.; £10.00. advance.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:00-7:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Puppini Sisters @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Ashington High Street. 5:45pm. Xmas lights switch-on.
Thu 28: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues singer!
Thu 28: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesborough. 8:30pm. Free. Guests: Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dan Johnson (alto sax); Graham Thompson (keys); Adrian Beadnell (bass)

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back Dec. 6
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Jamie Cullum @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 29: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 29: Living in Shadows (Zoë Gilby Quintet) + OUTRI @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £10.00. + bf. Tickets: www.wegottickets.com. Zoe & Andy + Ian Paterson’s OUTRI solo bass project.
Fri 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 30: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 30: House of the Black Gardenia @ Swing Tyne & NUSS Winter Ball, John Marley Centre, Benwell, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Swing dancing, DJs & live music from House of the Black Gardenia!
Sat 30: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:00pm. Free.

December

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:15pm (12 noon doors). £7.50. Note earlier start.
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 01: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Laurels, Whitley Road, Whitley Bay. 4:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Martin Fletcher Band @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 01: Mark Williams Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Album launch gig.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137.1:00pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Monday, November 25, 2024

Album review: Arturo Sandoval - My Foolish Heart (MetaJax Entertainment)

Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocal*); Jeremy Siskind (piano); Brian Bromberg (bass); Charles Ruggiero (drums); the Budapest Scoring Orchestra conducted by Péter Illényi. (2, 5, 9, 12)

Why would one of the greatest, most technically proficient trumpet artists in the world, a multiple Grammy®-winner in multiple categories, a film soundtrack and song composer, educator, and showman extraordinaire take it upon himself to record some of the most frequently recorded ballads in the Great American Songbook? While his virtuosic wizardry amazes, with My Foolish Heart, Arturo Sandoval sets off to explore the intimacy, sonic beauty and power of melody.

Jeremy Siskind’s solo piano sets the tone for Sandoval’s lovely playing on My One and Only Love. It’s covered with utmost melodic respect it’s as lyrically beautiful as its melody. Siskind and bassist, Brian Bromberg provide solos. The ending’s altered cadence adds dimension as Sandoval sustains Bob Barrett’s cinematic, and noir-textured strings intro to Thelonious Monk’s Round Midnight. Harmon-muted, Sandoval’s take is jazz-flavored, vibrato-less, and provides aural images that ooze a dark and mysterious longing.

Sunday night @ the Globe: the Greg Abate Quartet - Nov. 24

© Ken Drew
Greg Abate (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Bebop spoken here? It certainly was last night at the Globe as the notes and phrases flowed, often at breakneck speed, from the bell of Greg Abate's Selmer alto. From the opening On Green Dolphin Street to the final bars of Softly as in a Morning Sunrise I sat mesmorised by his technique and what he was doing with it.

I've heard Greg Abate several times over the years and have yet to be disappointed.

Each concert is like hearing him for the first time. That sound of surprise is never far away. I've probably heard him play Body and Soul somewhere along the line but his version last night was, I think, the best version of that tune that I've ever heard played live by any person, at any place, anywhere.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Greg Abate with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - Nov. 24

Greg Abate (alto sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) 

Storm Bert did its best to disrupt East Coast Main Line trains. All things considered, Greg Abate did well to make it in good time to Hexham. A first visit to the Northumberland market town, our American alto saxophonist remarked that he should, perhaps, make time to take a look round Hexham Abbey.

The man from Woonsocket, Rhode Island renewed acquaintance with the Dean Stockdale Trio. Opting to play two sets of tried and tested numbers, Abate hit the ground running with On Green Dolphin Street. Working with a top flight regional rhythm section must be reassuring for a visiting star, safe in the knowledge that anything thrown at the trio - Dean Stockdale, piano, Andy Champion, Abbie Finn, drums - wouldn't be a problem.

The Matthew Forster Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury - Nov.12

Matthew Forster (tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (keyboards); John Pope (double bass); Adam Stapleford (drums).

My 1952 'King's England' book on Northumberland (purchased in Barter Books in Alnwick recently) says about Rothbury that 'This little health resort has been called the capital of Coquetdale'.  Having been in Rothbury a number of times over the years, I would said this is a fair description of a very pleasant town which also has an excellent butcher's shop that sells fine ham and pease pudding sandwiches.

This time we were here for the latest event organised by Coquetdale Jazz, a new grouping that has been bringing the best of the region's jazz musicians to Rothbury for over a year now. Definitely a healthy pursuit and it is obviously the capital of jazz in Coquetdale.

Preview: From Woonsocket to NCL - today, Sunday 24 Nov.

© Jerry Edis
American alto sax star Greg Abate returns to the region today (Sunday) to play two gigs, the first of them this afternoon in Hexham, followed by a return visit to Newcastle Jazz Co-op HQ this evening. For many years the man from Woonsocket, Rhode Island has toured worldwide, seemingly never at home. 

A Berklee graduate, a sideman in the Artie Shaw band and two years with Ray Charles, Abate continues to work with first rate musicians (in the UK notably Alan Barnes) and this afternoon in Queen's Hall (3:00pm) and at the Globe on Railway Street at eight o'clock. On both engagements Abate will  be working alongside Dean Stockdale (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) and Abbie Finn (drums). Note, tickets for both gigs are flying out the door! Russell 

The Paul Skerritt Big Band @ the Westovian Theatre, South Shields - Nov. 23

© Patti
Paul Skerritt (vocals); Dan Johnson, Sue Ferris, Kim Skerritt, Josh Bentham, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Toby Donnelly, Dave Hignett, Graham Hardy, Sam Armstrong (trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Jason Holcomb, Alex Utting, Chris Gray (trombones); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums); Stuart Fowler (MD)

The last week or so has been a good one for lovers of the vocal art. From the subtle sensivity of Nicola Farnon and her excellent bass playing at the Lit & Phil, the full-on, in your face approach of Liane Carroll and her excellent piano playing at the Globe, to last night's show by the King of the Swingers Paul Skerritt and his excellent big band at South Shields' Westovian Theatre, it had been quite a week and a bit.

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen

Playlist 24/11/24 (repeated Tuesday 26/11/24)

Request: Red Garland.

Mark Williams talks about his new album - Long Way Out + his requests: Adam Rogers, Wayne Krantz, Gilad Hekselman, Pat Metheny Trio, Mark Williams Trio.

Requests: Clark Terry.

Memories: Coleman Hawkins, Paul Desmond-Gerry Mulligan Quartet.

Requests: Tina May/Nikki Iles/Tony Coe.

What’s Happening: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

Memories: Teddy Wilson/Benny Goodman, Scott Joplin, Willie 'the Lion' Smith.

Aycliffe Radio is available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington Area.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Greg Abate Quartet @ the 28 Club, Belper - Nov. 17

© Ken Drew
Greg Abate (alto sax);  Neil Hunter (keys); Paul Grey (bass); Ian Beestin (drums).

(Photo was taken last year by Ken Drew at the Globe, Newcastle. Greg appears at The Globe this coming Sunday Nov. 24 with the Dean Stockdale Trio).

Once again Greg was backed by the same superb trio of musicians known as the Belper Jazz Company who did such a great job during  his last visit on July 28. They  have even produced their own beer mat and Greg was presented with a framed collage of four mats at the end of the gig by drummer Ian Beestin who resides in Belper.


The bass player is from Nottingham, the keyboards man hales from Leicester and as a top class rhythm section they often work together.

R.I.P. Alastair Robertson (1941-2024)

Aberdeen born Alastair Robertson, sadly passed away on October 23, 2024 in Perth at the age of 84. A great contributor to UK and USA jazz his label, Hep Records, emerged in 1974 and continued to trade until the present day. As a young Aberdonian, Robertson discovered jazz via  the syndicated broadcasts of  the Voice Of America (hosted by Willis Conover) and the American Forces Network (from Frankfurt) in the early 1950s. Hep was launched while Robertson was resident in Edinburgh teaching  Art A-Levels at the Portobello High School. His first LP released in 1974 was by the Boyd Raeburn Band, an innovative NYC ensemble from the mid 1940s.

Album review: Jakob Bro, Lee Konitz, Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Thomas Morgan, Andrew Cyrille - Taking Turns (ECM)

Lee Konitz (alto/soprano sax); Bill Frisell (guitar); Jakob Bro (guitar, compositions); Jason Moran (piano); Thomas Morgan (double bass); Andrew Cyrille (drums).

The playing is exquisite on this 2014 recording. How could it not be with such an A-list team? Apart from Bro, who composed all seven tracks, and bassist Thomas Morgan I've heard all of them live in many different situations and never been disappointed.

Konitz floats in an ethereal manner on both alto and soprano. The tone as cool and as laid back as ever.

Frisell and Moran play well within their explosive capabilities and Cyrille pitter-patters around in the undergrowth with Morgan somewhere in the middle of it all.

It's one of the most beautiful  albums I've ever heard.

Press release: Xhosa Cole announces "On A Modern Genius" out Jan 10th and single "Trinkle Tinkle"

Today, Xhosa Cole, winner of BBC Young Musician Jazz Musician Of The Year, Parliamentary Jazz Award, Jazz FM’s Breakthrough Act, and the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award shares details of his third album On A Modern Genius (Vol. 1) a live tribute to the works of Thelonious Monk. 

Along with this announcement Xhosa also shares the first single of the album "Trinkle-Tinkle" ahead of a headline set at the London Jazz Festival at Kings Place this Sunday.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Preview: Jalen, Joe & the the winner is...

This weekend - Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 November - the BBC comes up trumps with two unmissable programmes*. On Saturday evening Later...with Jools Holland features two of the finest young talents on the jazz scene, that's the international jazz scene. Jalen Ngonda first came to the attention of BSH thanks to Kansas Smitty's lockdown livestreams. Singing Junior Wells' Hoodoo Man Blues, Ngonda announced himself as a shining new talent during the dark days of lockdown. Some three years later, Jalen played to a sold out crowd at Newcastle University Students' Union. A magical, memorable performance. 

R.I.P. John Prescott

The former deputy prime minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party, Lord Prescott, died yesterday (Nov. 20) at the age of 86. In a statement issued by his family they said that John Prescott died "surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery" which doesn't sound a bad way to go.

Jiannis Pavlidis Trio @ the Heron Theatre, Beetham – Nov. 16

© Heron Theatre
Jiannis Pavlidis (guitar); Sam Quintana (bass); Dave Walsh (drums)

The Hellenic sounds of Greek born and Stockholm bred, Jiannis Pavlidis and his trio reverberated heroically at the Heron Theatre on Saturday November 16. Nestled near to the A6 in Beetham at the point where Lancashire merges into Cumbria the Heron seats 70 punters with a decent sized stage and even has a “steam” piano parked nearby, if so required.

The trio performed largely jazz and songbook standards in equal measure. These included Horace Silver’s Peace, Shorter’s Ana Maria, Bill Evans' Nardis and Miles’ Solar. All of which peppered with Pavlidis’ unique and colourful treatments. In addition, Jaco’s Three Views of a Secret had the bassist handling the melodic chores on what turned out to be an epic journey on this multi faceted opus. The concert concluded with a bracing up-tempo romp of Coltrane’s 1957 classic, Moment's Notice. Not for widows and orphans this, the trio prevailed and scored winningly.

Album review: Tania Grubbs Quintet – The Sound of Love (Travlin’ Music)

Tania Grubbs (vocals); David Budway (piano); Ron Affif (guitar); Jeff Grubbs (bass, vocal); James John lll (drums)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is geo-located at the confluence of three major rivers. Thus, one of its many monikers is the City of Bridges. With The Sound of Love, ‘Burgh’ residing jazz vocalist, Tania Grubbs, and her quintet admirably connect fourteen diverse selections across a span of jazz standards, GASers, originals, and contemporary pop hits.

Grubbs, exposed, bursts head-on into the Gershwins’ But Not for Me over James John lll’s brushes and with rhythmic ping-pong. The track swings with great verve and drive. Grubbs takes hold of the reins, plays with time and lyric and ends the cooking with chuckles on a hot mic.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Black Swan jam session - Nov. 19

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums) + John Rowland (tenor sax); Luis Verde (alto sax); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Lara Hopper (trumpet); Robert Johnson (tenor sax); Carl Peacock (piano); Jamie Watkins (double bass); Liam Oliver (guitar); Shayo (vocals); Haruki Shimizu (drums); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Moyo (guitar); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Owen Jones (double bass); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Bailey Rudd (drums); Felix Parkin-Christie (drums)

Snow on a cold, dark, mid-November evening. Numbers would be down, wouldn't they? Ah, that's to underestimate the pulling power of the Black Swan jam session. Paul Grainger invited pianist Michael Young and drummer Mark Robertson to join him in forming the house trio. At the half past seven down beat, the room was, as usual, bustling with students, former students and a rag-tag of jazz lovers.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

The stuff that dreams are made of ...The Maltese Jazzmen

The Maltese Falcon, the Buddy Bolden cylinder - collectable items the value of which are reputed to be beyond the dreams of avarice. Today, in a South Shields charity shop I came across a CD that whilst its value may not  be quite beyond the dreams of avarice it was certainly worth more than the 50p I paid for it - or so it seemed.

The Deuchar/Gascoigne Legacy. Celebrating 50 Years of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen looked to be 'the stuff that dreams are made of'.

John Broddle funeral details announced.

The funeral of John Broddle will take place at Tynemouth Crematorium on Tuesday 3rd December at 12:45pm

Afterwards all are welcome to remember John at Cullercoats Crescent Club with music courtesy of Rendezvous Jazz. 

In the photo, taken at the Crescent Club in 2016, John is on the left of the picture sharing a vocal with Neville Sarony who was visiting from Hong Kong.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Album review: Lynne Arriale - Being Human (Challenge Records)

Lynne Arriale (piano, Yamaha Clavinova); Alon Near (bass); Lukasz Zyta (drums)

This one's been lying on the back-burner since March. Every time I've been about to crank up the old Victrola something that looks better jumps the queue only for me to find out that, like most queue jumpers, it's all front and no substance. You definitely can't judge an album by its cover. Being Human is an obvious exception. Lynne Arriale not only looks human but her music conjures up the 'best expressions of what it means to be human'.

John Stowell & Tom Remon @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle - Nov. 14

John Stowell (guitar); Tom Remon (guitar)

Following his appearance earlier this year working alongside Sid Jacobs, Tom Remon returned to Prohibition Bar with another top notch American guitarist as his sparring partner. From Portland, Oregon, John Stowell quietly went about his business, setting up his gear on the Pink Lane venue's small corner stage, his custom made, headless Soulezza guitar taking pride of place. Several of the region's six-stringers were in the house, they weren't going to miss this one! 

Sunday night @ the Globe: Liane Carroll - Nov. 17

© Sheila Herrick
Liane Carroll (piano, vocals)

The night was cold, windscreens were showing signs of frost. Winter had arrived a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. Even England's 5-0 win over the Rep of Ireland didn't warm the cockles. It was a night to be sitting by the radiator with a bowl of gruel not to be venturing forth in woolly hat and last year's Christmas jumper. However there was method behind the madness of going to the Globe by bus, train and Mr Shank's pony.

Liane Carroll!

Julian Lage @ the Glasshouse, Gateshead - Nov 17

Julian Lage (acoustic guitar)

The intimate auditorium of Sage 2 proved to be the ideal setting for an evening of surprising solo guitar playing from Lage. The obvious first – an acoustic folk instrument – not a gypsy jazz guitar à la Django Reinhardt but instead one favoured by flat-pickers. And flat-pick he did! Each note strong and propulsive but with a dynamic range and sensitivity that totally captured the audience.
His language on the guitar has developed beyond his early bebop days with the Gary Burton Quartet and perhaps now has at its core a folksy, bluesy, essence. This is liberally peppered with free jazz exploration, often resolving to the blues but frequently forging its own path. Classical harmony, Jimmy Wyble-esque guitar counterpoint, astonishing single-line passages and fretboard-defying intervallic leaps make up the rest.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Olly Styles @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Nov. 14

Olly Styles (tenor sax); Jamie Watkins (guitar)

Term time, Thursdays in King's Hall, Newcastle University music students perform short sets to an audience of fellow students and interested members of the public. Anything from classical to folk (Newcastle University's highly-regarded folk degree course has produced many fine musicians) to rock and jazz, the weekly four o'clock session is an opportunity to check out what's happening. 

Graham Hardy's Eclectic Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Nov. 11

© Roly Veitch
Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums) 

In its fortieth year, Blaydon Jazz Club is on a roll. A run of superb concerts, increasing attendances, jazz on Bridge Street, Blaydon-on-Tyne is alive and well. The Black Bull welcomed Graham Hardy's new outfit, 'Eclectic' by name, 'Eclectic' by virtue of the choice of material, the one down side to the occasion...the coughing and spluttering musicians! It's that time of year when the lurgy does its best/worst!

The Gil Scott-Heron Songbook @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Nov. 7

Aki Remally (guitar, vocals); Fraser Urquhart (keyboards); Tom Wilkinson (bass); Max Popp (drums)

Circa 1990 Gil Scott-Heron played a gig at Riverside, that's the original venue on Melbourne Street. Some of us were there. Some thirty five years later, the American poet/songwriter/activist returned to Newcastle, in spirit only, in the form of Aki Remally. Gosforth Civic Theatre attracted a healthy crowd - how many of them were there (at Riverside) back in the day? Answer: probably not many. Those of us who were there took our seats in nervous anticipation...

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Seek and ye shall find ...

An afternoon 'Spilletting' was well spent today on the north side of the Tyne.

Bus to North Shields, into the British Heart Foundation and there among glossy romances and improbable murders was John Swzed's 2002 biography of Miles, So What: The Life of Miles Davis. A book I'd long sought and now it was mine for a mere 50p!

I had the feeling that this was going to be my day and it was!

I jumped onto the Metro and got off one stop later at Tynemouth. Now if you haven't been to the market held on Saturdays and Sundays on Tynemouth Station then you haven't lived. You can buy anything - even WWll memorabilia and lots of books and vinyl.

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

There was glitch in the server last Sunday, so this is a repeat of last Sunday's intended broadcast with a couple of tweaks.

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen

Playlist 17/11/24 (repeated Tuesday 19/11/24)

RIP: Quincy Jones.

Remembrance: Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee, the Andrews Sisters.

Paul Skerrit talks jazz and requests: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monro, Quincy Jones.

Friday, November 15, 2024

Album review: Jake Long – City Swamp (New Soil)

Jake Long (drums, producer); Twm Dylan (electric Bass); Al MacSween (electric organ); Amane Suganami (electric piano); Tamar Osborn (flute, bass clarinet); Artie Zaitz, Shirley Tetteh (guitar);  Tim Doyle (percussion); Binker Golding, Nubya Garcia (tenor saxophone)

Listening to a few things that have come out of that big fancy London recently and looking at the recording dates I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a virtual Aladdin’s cave of music dying to see the light of day. This one was recorded in the olden days (November 2019) and has languished somewhere until it came out in May this year. It’s such a bold, sweeping work that I had trouble believing that it was such a small group performing, (ten rather than a bigger big band).

Nicola Farnon Trio @ the Lit & Phil - Nov. 15

© Patti
Nicola Farnon (bass, vocals); Martin Longhawn (piano); Phil Johnson (drums)

Although it was only lunchtime, the lights in the room were dimmed at the bandleader's request. It was like a late night session in a club, and so was the music. If there were any misgivings about this time warp they soon vanished with Ms. Farnon's captivating smile and, of course, her voice.

Taking a Chance on Love and the trio were flying. The leader singing, scatting and bass fiddling, Longhawn feeling his way around the grand and Johnson laying down the beat. So far so good and if it didn't get any better than this we still wouldn't be asking for our money back!

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Faye MacCalman & John Pope @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Nov. 14

Faye MacCalman (tenor sax, clarinet, voice, electronics); John Pope (double bass)

MacCalman and Pope, two thirds of the highly acclaimed jazz-art-rock trio Archipelago work well together. They seem to have an instinctive sense of where the other is going feeding off each others' improvisational lines and turning them into a logical progression.

MacCalman gets a most appealing sound on tenor sax as well as rescuing the clarinet from the confines of tradland. She also has a pleasing voice that was heard to good effect on Softly as in a Morning Sunrise and her own Midnight Sky Icicles.

R.I.P. John Broddle

I've just received the sad news that  local singer John Broddle died yesterday (Nov. 13).

John, who in his younger days played football for Hull City, was a good crooner often sitting-in with the local trad bands.

He always sang good songs. He sung them well and often not without a sense of humour. I recall him singing Rodgers and Hart's classic Where or When at Cullercoats Crescent Club where the above photo was taken. When it came to the line: The clothes you were wearing you were wearing then he added - you stank!

He was a character - one of the good ones.

Your memories of John are welcomed. Lance 

(Press release) The Glasshouse announces artistic partners to curate and create new music

·   The Unthanks, Corinne Bailey Rae and Maria Włoszczowska begin 3 year    partnerships with The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead.

·    Artists will curate and create new work at The Glasshouse for audiences from the North East and beyond.

·  Announcement comes as the venue marks 20 years of the iconic riverside building.

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music has announced its new artistic partnerships, reflecting its reputation as one of the great places where artists and music fans meet.

As the venue prepares to mark 20 years of music in this landmark building, three new Artistic Partners will be working with The Glasshouse and Royal Northern Sinfonia for three a year period.

corto.alto & Daudi Matisko @ Hoochie Coochie - Nov. 13

© Russell
corto.alto: Liam Shortall (trombone, bass guitar, electronics); Mateusz Sobieski (tenor sax); James McKay (guitar); Fergus McCreadie (keyboards); Graham Costello (drums) 

My first visit to Hoochie since the change of ownership and I was pleased to note the same ambience remains with both staff and punters.

I'd had varied reports about the band that is fast becoming a phenomenon, corto.alto, and wanted to see for myself if they were as good as folk said they were or would the Scottish band be beyond my ken? I'm most pleased to say  that what I heard, once my acoustically tuned ears became acclimatised to the loops and samples and electronic tiddly-om-pom-poms, was some great playing.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Roy Cansdale funeral arrangements

Roy’s funeral is to be held at 12.30pm on Friday 29 November at

Eden Valley Crematorium 
Temple Sowerby
Penrith CA10 2AN.

Family and friends are invited to get together afterwards from 2:00pm onward in the Kremer bar at Kendal Rugby Club, Shap Road, Kendal LA9 6NY.                                               
Roy’s family have requested that musicians bring their instruments so that we can give this talented bass player and very nice guy a suitable send-off.   All are welcome to either or both venues, but if you definitely intend to come to the Rugby Club please let me know so that Roy's sons, Jonathan and Charles, can make sure that catering will be plentiful. Steve Andrews

(Press release) Applications are invited for Northern Line, Jazz North’s live touring support programme for northern artists

Northern Line is now open for applications until Wednesday 11th December, 12 noon 

Jazz North, development agency for northern jazz, has been boosting artists’ careers since its inception in 2012. Northern Line is the flagship development programme that takes their live touring careers to the next level. 


This transformational scheme offers northern jazz and jazz-adjacent artists and bands intensive 1:1 career-wide support, industry upskilling and a live touring bursary of up to £3000.

Roy Haynes (March 13, 1925 - November 12, 2024)

Benny Golson, Quincy Jones, Lou Donaldson and now Roy Haynes. It's been a bad year for our senior jazz citizens.

The passing of Roy Haynes brings back a special memory for me. July 10, 1983 at the North Sea Jazz Festival held back then in Den Haag (The Hague), Holland.

On stage were the Freddie Hubbard Festival All Stars, a group that was well named. Hubbard (trumpet and flugel); Lew Tabackin (tenor sax and flute); Joanne Brackeen (piano); Charlie Haden (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums). The music was hard bop with perhaps a look to the future. None of the five were musicians living on past glories but players, as I thought then, at the pinnacle of their careers never dreaming that Roy Haynes would still be with us until yesterday (Nov. 12). 

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

(Belated) Album review: Ronnie Cuber - Pin Point (Electric Bird)

Ronnie Cuber (baritone sax); David Sanborn (alto sax); George Wadenious (guitar); Rob Mounsey (keys); Will Lee (bass); Steve Gadd (drums); Steve Thornton (perc.); David Matthews (arrangements)

Picked this gem up in a second-hand record shop and it was truly 'a find' -  a day later it still is.

When it comes to baritone players Cuber is up there with best as he proves on this 1986 album. With fellow funky jazz rocker Sanborn alongside him they prove to be an amazing team. Apart from On Green Dolphin Street and David Matthew's Heavy Hang and Two Brothers the other four tracks on this 'preloved' piece of vinyl are all Cuber compositions that seem to fall effortlessly beneath the fingers of all seven. Effortlessly? Try matching the dexterity of the 'siblings' on Two Brothers - it's fast!

Press release: Tomorrow night (Nov. 13) @ Hoochie Coochie - corto.alto

Fast-emerging Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist corto.alto has been described as a traditional jazz head raised in the age of the internet. The moniker of Glasgow-based Liam Shortall, corto.alto brings a fresh perspective to a heady mix of intuitive improvisation, electronic production, broken beat bounce and bass-heavy dub. His debut album ‘Bad With Names’ out in Oct 2023 was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2024. It’s an honest and iconoclastic work. challenging the boundaries of contemporary jazz.

Doors 7:30pm. £14 and Red Stripe only £3 a pint! Lance

7:30 DJ Santa Leticia
8:15 Daudi Matsiko
9:00 corto.alto
10:30 DJ Santa Leticia

Tomasso, Tomasso & Wheatley @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - Nov. 4

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Cia Tomasso (vocals); Martin Wheatley (guitar)

In the early hours of Monday morning (sometime after 3:00am), as the late night jam session drew to a close, the Classic Jazz Party musicians could finally get some shuteye, although three of the musicians would be up and about early to fulfill a lunchtime engagement ten miles up the coast in Blyth.

Yamaha Music School occupies the first floor of an unprepossessing building on Seaforth Street, as the crow (gull, more like) flies, a matter of two hundred metres or so from Blyth Harbour. Once inside, it's striking how well equipped the place is. A Yamaha grand piano, naturally, plus an array of percussion instruments, including marimbas, xylophones and a recently acquired lithophone*

The Classic Jazz Party: Sunday evening jam session @ the Village Hotel, North Tyneside - Nov. 3

No time to sleep, the third and final jam session at this year's Classic Jazz Party was about to get underway.

Gone way past eleven o'clock, trumpeter Torstein Kubban assembled the troops and off they went, blowing into the early hours. 

The house band - Kubban, Graham Hughes (trombone), Jean-François Bonnel (reeds), Morten Gunnar Larsen (piano), Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar), Harry Evans (tuba, string bass), Nicholas D. Ball (drums) - could have played all night, so good are these guys. However, this being a jam session, more than a few hopefuls were looking to get the call. 

The Classic Jazz Party: Sunday evening @ the Village Hotel, North Tyneside - Nov. 3

A long and hugely enjoyable weekend was approaching its end. From Thursday evening's Welcome Concert, a film show, three afternoon sessions, three evening sessions (this Sunday evening session the third of them) and three late night jam sessions, the Village Hotel on North Tyneside reverberated to the sounds of the 'classic jazz' era. 

Musicianship of the highest order, packed houses hanging on every note, there isn't really anything quite like the Classic Jazz Party. A third and final Piano Professor half hour took on a slightly different look when pianist Andrew Oliver was joined by drummer Nicholas D. Ball. A terrific thirty minutes. An Evening in Town transported the full house to London's nightspots of a century ago. The capital's many resident bands of the time entertained revellers looking for a good time. Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar) presented an overview of the music and the musicians making a living playing in the dance bands and jazz clubs a century ago. 

Monday, November 11, 2024

Preview: John Stowell & Tom Remon (Prohibition Bar - Thursday 14 Nov.)

Tom Remon continues to do sterling work inviting American jazz guitar greats to join him on a tour of the UK. Following one such recent tour with the legendary Sid Jacobs, this week Tom will be touring with none other than fellow guitarist, the highly respected American John Stowell. Their short tour begins tomorrow night at Cooper's in Stockport, Wednesday sees the duo playing Manchester's Carlton Club, on Thursday, John and Tom will be at Prohibition Bar in Newcastle and the tour concludes at Hampstead Jazz Club on Friday evening.

R.I.P. Lou Donaldson (1926-2024)

Another of the greats has left us and with the passing of alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson on Nov. 9 the list of jazz survivors is becoming smaller by the day.

Donaldson was one of the great alto players who emerged from the influence of Charlie Parker to form his own funky/soul style.

It could arguably be said that his Blue Note album Alligator Boogaloo set the foundation for future funk saxists as Donny McCaslin and Kamasi Washington. However, for straight ahead jazz fans such as myself, it was his other Blue Note albums with Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Grant Green and Jimmy Smith that overworked the 'play' button.

Lou Donaldson was 98 years old when he died. Rest In Peace. Lance

Richard Wetherall Quartet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor, Stockport - Nov. 10

© Jeff Pritchard
Richard Wetherall (keys); Uli Elbracht (guitar); Ed Harrison (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums).

It’s unusual to find Richard playing the main role in a four-piece combo and doing all the announcements. He did them well. Also taking a major part in the proceedings was an old friend of mine who I had not seen for some time. 


I first met Uli Elbracht, originally from Cologne, at the Crown, an old jazz venue under the Stockport viaduct. This  was maybe 20 years ago.He impressed me then and impressed me tonight with his original composition entitled Anything You Like and I liked what he did with it and the Irving Berlin standard How Deep Is The Ocean?. This tune seems to be one that gets played a lot by Stockport musicians, in fact looking at my notes I see Ed Kainyek gave it a thorough workout only last week.

Sunday night @ the Globe: Sh#rp Collective - Nov. 10

© Sheila Herrick

Karen Rann (soprano sax): Mark Squires (piano); Dave Parker (bass); Michael Howard (drums).
 
I was an absentee at Sunday night's Jazz @ the Globe session so I'm unable to review the gig. 

However, judging by the photo that Sheila kindly sent it looks as though it was well-attended. The repertoire, reports Sheila, reflected very much the collective nature of the band with shared announcements and material that ranged from Jelly Roll Morton to Keith Jarrett as well as some originals from within the band.

Thank you Sheila, my sick note is in the post. Lance

Preview: Bud Powell all week on Radio 3!

This week's Composer of the Week features pioneering bebop pianist Bud Powell. In his centenary year (b. 27.9.1924), BBC Radio 3 surveys Powell's contribution to jazz and considers his enduring legacy. Join presenter Kate Molleson and biographer Peter Pullman at four o'clock, Monday to Friday, as they discuss - and listen to - the music of Earl Rudolph 'Bud' Powell. Russell

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