Despite its fine cover, this one passed me by when it was released last year, and, I think, I found it on a John Pope discography somewhere. One look at the line-up would immediately suggest it was a must have, especially for someone who has followed the North East scene in recent years. As well as Pope (possibly the hardest working man in show business at the moment) most of the others, bar Jafrate are regular visitors to local bandstands or recording sessions. A bit of research reveals that Uroboro have been in existence, originally as a trio (Jafrate, Cole, Pope) since 2018 and have evolved into the quintets that recorded this album.
Four o'clock, Thursday, term time in King's Hall it's student performances, ranging from classical to folk, rock and pop, and, of course, jazz. This week, tenor saxophonist Olly Sykes represented the jazz element here at Newcastle University.
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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
As Paul explained at the start of show, he had tried to book Jeff Guntren on two previous occasions but Jeff, unfortunately, had had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. Originally from Davenport, Iowa, USA, Jeff now resides in Bramhall which is a small village not far from Stockport and he has made a big impression on the local jazz scene with his powerful sound and post-Coltrane playing style. He reminds me of George Garzone who played some gigs in Stockport many years ago as a sideman in John Allmark’s quintet and who can be occasionally seen on the Smalls' NYC live podcasts.
Friday 12 July: Amaro Freitas Trio; Avishai Cohen Bande Iroko; Brittany Howard;
Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50; corto.alto; D.K. Harrell; Emily King; Henri Texier
'An Indian's Life'; Jamie Cullum; Kinga Głyk; Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet 'The
Next Step Reunion Tour'; Kymara; Laufey; Lehmanss Brothers; Myra Melford - Fire
& Water Quintet; Potter*Mehldau*Patitucci*
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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
Another busy Sunday night at the Railway with a trio containing a newcomer to this venue Jamie Taylor who played standing up without the help of a stool or chair. The other members of this unit have played here in various combos but this was the first time as an organ trio. They certainly made the audience sit up when they started things off with an up-tempo I'll Remember April which drew much applause.
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This is an album that
deserves to be liked more than I did. Everything that I’d look for is present
and correct it just doesn’t quite all hang together as much as I’d hoped.
Perhaps it’s the frequently occurring problem that occurs when an artist realises that his
recording opportunities are limited and wants to essay a range of styles. Often
this works to make a strong, wide-ranging album showing off all of their
strengths; sometimes it doesn’t.
It starts well in a solid groove from the get go on O’Winston. Its rolling funk driven by Glasgow’s bass. Preston’s Scofield-esque playing works against Downes’ shards of notes. Electric guitar doesn’t always work well with acoustic piano but it does here. The two instruments coil around each other, swapping solos and each provoking the other. It greatly under-stays its welcome.
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https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen
Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB
in County Durham & the Darlington area.
Playlist 25/02/24 (repeated Tuesday 27/2/24)
The Gala Theatre's 2024 lunchtime jazz concert series is going from strength to strength with another full house turning out to greet the Mark Williams Trio. Guitarist Williams is of the mercurial kind - inventive, masterful, in possession of his own identifiable sound. Joining the Irishman today were bandmates Paul Susans, bass guitar, and drummer Rob Walker. A new album is on the horizon and here in the Gala's studio space Williams took the opportunity to perform a selection of several new compositions.
Back in 1990, when I was investigating clocked cars and counterfeit cassettes in the wild streets of Darlington, I would often drive around listening to a tape of Silje Nergaard’s first album. Back then she was on the cusp of chart stardom and she had, I thought, all she needed for chart success, namely breezy tunes (Tell Me Where You’re Going with Pat Metheny on guitar), lovely hair and a fondness for lying down to sing in her video. Thirty five years later, she stands up to sing and the hair is shorter, however if you wanted an engrossing, enjoyable, but still relaxed, evening with musicianship of the highest order then the Pizza Express in Soho was the place to be last week.
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| (© Jeff Pritchard) |
Another great night of hard-driving bebop at the Railway and even before the band had played a note the room was standing room only which was good to see. Andrzej had brought along that fine guitarist Tony Ormisher who I believe is based in Liverpool but it’s a while since I recall seeing him at this venue. He was given plenty of solo space and had no problem playing the ten numbers that Andrzej had selected, a mixture of bop tunes, standards, and some Latin flavoured themes. There was one tune I had not heard before, Beautiful Moons Ago which was a ballad that Andrzej first heard on an album that the great pianist Bennie Green recorded at the Village Vanguard with bassist Christian McBride. This was written by Nat King Cole and recorded by his trio.
The Yamaha Music School on Seaforth Street in Blyth is a welcome new addition to the region's thriving music scene. Nine Monday lunchtime concerts (predominately classical) were announced earlier this year, this afternoon's concert presented jazz singer Dulcie May Moreno. A fourth concert in five days - Durham, Newcastle, Hexham and today, Blyth - concluded Moreno's 'up north' tour. A jazz gig in south east Northumberland is a rarity, the Blyth venue an unknown quantity, the good news is an audience turned out!
https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen.
Aycliffe
Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area.
Playlist 18/02/24 (repeat Tuesday 20/2/24)
Valentine's continued: Jazz Messengers, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie & Carmen McRae, Miles Davis.
Birthday Memories: Art Tatum / Buddy DeFranco.
Black History Month: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington
& Johnny Hodges, Nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Louis
Armstrong/King Oliver.
Tony Eales' Choice: Michael Treni.
What’s On in the NE: The Mark Williams Trio, Strictly
Smokin' Big Band.
Bobby Timmons.
Another full house. First Durham, then Newcastle and this evening in Hexham. The Vault is what you might call 'snug', some might say uncomfortably so. An ancient, stone built, former brewhouse standing on Hallgate, long before the down beat all advance purchase ticket holders had taken their seats. The Allendale Brewery's bottled beers are favourites along the Tyne Valley and a first bottle of Black Grouse duly arrived courtesy of the venue's efficient table service.
You and the Night and the Music opened the first of two sets. The Schwartz/Dietz standard currently finds a place in Dulcie May Moreno's set and her 'Northern Jazz Cats' (Messrs Williams, Shoulder and Bradford) purred nicely. This evening's concert, the third of four northern tour dates, featured a couple of our vocalist's original songs. One of them, Take Me to New York, is proving particularly effective, a 'jazz' song her audience can relate to, either in their dreams or recalling personal memories of the Big Apple and its many jazz greats.
Seventeen Nineteen is at the heart of 'Old Sunderland'. Standing on the south bank of the Wear in Hendon, the recently renovated listed building is home to a wide range of events and this evening saw the launch of the Old Black Cat Jazz Club. The first in a series of monthly concerts featured the Giles Strong Quartet.
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After last night's gig in Durham, Dulcie's whistle-stop, mini tour of the north east continued with a lunchtime stop off at the Lit & Phil.
As always, the monthly concerts at this historic building (dating back to 1825) were sold out in advance and those perceptive punters who'd booked early weren't disappointed.
Dulcie's rich tones, her acute sense of pitch and a cute smile captured the eyes and ears of the listeners.
Walk half way up Claypath and you'll find Claypath Deli. Locally sourced produce, sourdoughs, real coffee, the small space offers a regular programme of live music. This evening Dulcie May Moreno was in town. Joining Dulcie to play two sets of standards, original compositions and a pop song or two were guitarist Mark Williams and bassist Mick Shoulder.
This second album from Irish singer Stella Bass began life during the Covid lockdown. Ms Bass wanted to create something hopeful and positive and the choice of songs reflect that. They include long-time favourites, songs to honour friends whose lives had changed, and songs written both with collaborators and on her own. The album includes jazz standards, songs from musical theatre and a couple of originals, All the Colours of my Love and Still.
To find out more about the festival which runs from May 1 to May 6 covering a wide variety of genres and venues go HERE. Lance
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Always a sure-fire room filler, Munch started the concert before a packed house with a lively rendition of that much played standard Softly as in a Morning Sunrise. ably assisted by a superb rhythm section of the two Daves plus Richard Wetherall who for this gig brought with him a full-size 88 note Nord Grand keyboard. Most regulars at this venue are used to hearing Richard on the house upright piano but tonight the volume level was up a notch as was the energy vibe.
Conceived and produced by the orchestra’s artistic director, saxophonist Tommy Smith, the project brings together a cast of trailblazing musicians, each of them multiple award winners, with the internationally acclaimed SNJO and visual producer Dillon Barrie.
Scottish Album of the Year 2022 winner and Mercury Music Prize nominee, pianist Fergus McCreadie, BBC Young Jazz Musician 2022, bassist Ewan Hastie, singer kitti, saxophonists Helena Kay and Matt Carmichael and trombonists Noushy and Liam Shortall, who has earned acclaim under the name corto.alto, are all contributing new music to the project. Smith has also orchestrated music by his band KARMA, whose debut album won the Album of the Year title at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
You can listen to the
show anytime HERE.
Plus, you can request tunes for future programmes, or pass on news or feedback by emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or by heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.
https://www.ayclifferadio.co.
Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area.
Playlist 11/02/24 (repeated Tuesday 13/2/24)
Racial Justice: Nina Simone.
St. Valentine’s: Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald.
Alan Barnes/Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - requests Mardi Gras: Emmet Cohen w Evan Christopher, Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chris Barber.
NEWS FROM SCOTLAND: Tommy Smith SNJO.
More Valentines: Jeff Barnhart, John Hallam, Tina May, Anita O'Day, The Jazz Messengers.
Expect two sets of jazz standards, a selection of popular songs, perhaps some Julie London and Chet Baker and one or two original compositions. Doors open at half past seven, book in advance, no admission on the night. Note...ONLY TWELVE TICKETS LEFT! Book now or they'll be gone, gone, gone! Russell
With so much jazz on the online stations this one is worth checking out. It's currently playing Scott Hamilton with Bucky Pizzarelli - Lost in the Middle of a Kiss.
There's various choices as to your preferred jazz genre but all of them are 'the goods' and it's 24 hours non-stop. I've hit on the 'Dreams' link which may or not send me to sleep but, either way, I won't be complaining! - unless I was missing out on royalties!* LINK. Lance
*A post coming up shortly.
As white horses rushed in, Cullercoats Bay stood deserted, not a mad dog nor an Englishman. The club on the crescent, Cullercoats Crescent Club, offered refuge from the elements. Once inside, the pick of the tables, an order placed at the bar, we were all set for another Friday lunchtime Classic Swing session.
