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

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

Playlist 01/12/24 (repeated Tuesday 03/12/24)

RIP: Quincy Jones.

Request: Duke Ellington.

New Release: Mark Williams Trio, Adam Rogers.

Request: Stan Kenton.

Album launch: Living in Shadows - Neon Burning & Outri (support) @ Central Bar, Gateshead - Nov. 29

© Ken Drew

Zoë Gilby (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Ben Lawrence (keyboards); Andy Champion (bass guitar); John Bradford (drums).

It had been a while since I’d been to a gig at the Central Bar, a fine music-friendly hostelry tucked away in a side street at the southern end of the Tyne Bridge.

Headliners were some of Tyneside’s leading jazz talent doing their rock thing. A very well-known set of musicians – certainly to Tyneside audiences and increasingly more widely – but not in this line-up or context. Indeed, this was a first performance, to launch the new album, Neon Burning. So what to expect?

In the event, Zoë’s jazz-forged vocal identity is undiluted, but set in bass-driven rock surroundings. Her fluctuating moods and sudden power surges show striking versatility. Mark W. pumps out rock riffs and solos with suitable force, but also with eloquent thoughtfulness when required.

Album of the Year (reissue/archival)

It's that time  of year when we start posting our '... of the Year' lists. I'm starting the ball rolling with my top ten reissue/archival albums. These are chosen from review copies that I've received.

I've opted to choose only one album per artist otherwise there could be another two Louis Stewart albums and likewise Cannonball Adderley. Albums received in December will be considered in my 2025 listings.

Preview: Indigo Jazz Voices @ the Globe - Thursday, December 5

Christmas comes but once a year, as does the December gig of Indigo Jazz Voices. Come and join us for a selection of songs sung by five individual vocal performers, who are: David Edgar, Jen Errington, Paul Close, Jenny Lingham and Carrie McCullock. They will be accompanied by the superb trio of Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass) and Rob Walker (drums).

The songs will be varied and will include Let’s Face the Music and Dance; Key to the Highway; When You Wish Upon a Star; Witchcraft and I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. From the song titles it looks like we could have a little magic and fairy dust in the mix. On a different and unrelated note, if you would like to get more wear out of your Christmas jumper, they would be very welcome, but entirely optional!

 

Performance starts upstairs in The Globe at 7.45pm. £5 cash on the door.

 

It will be lovely to see you (and your festive sweater)! Carrie

Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed with NikNak & The London Contemporary Orchestra – gratitude (IARC)

Aah! The elusive Ms Kinoshi. I had tickets to see her at the Jazz Festival at the Sage that Covid killed and when I went to Cheltenham this year she was stuck in Berlin with visa problems so we have had to make do with the excellent Driftglass album from 2019 and now this pair of suites (gratitude in four parts plus two interludes and Smoke In The Sun) recorded in 2021 and 2023 respectively. It’s a brief (27 minutes) album but it shows Kinoshie’s strength as a composer and arranger admirably. I suppose it would probably fall into the third stream category but it is by no means a mellow jazz-with-strings work. Instead, it is bold and strident in parts with the strings as part of a full widescreen work of great depth that sees Kinoshi marshal the musicians boldly to create a work that can be quite overwhelming but still allows moments of individual improvisation.

New Century Ragtime Orchestra - upcoming gigs

It seems a long time since I last had any news to bring you of our upcoming appearances - so here we go!

Our next show is at the Darlington New Orleans jazz club on Saturday afternoon, 7 December.  The club is based at St Augustine's church hall, Larchfield Street, Darlington DL3 7TG, where there there is ample free parking (and it's only a 15-minute walk from Darlington railway station).  The club serves teas, coffees and alcoholic drinks at the bar, and although food isn't served, you are welcome to bring your own sandwiches!  As ever, we will feature our singer Caroline and the show will be presented by Steve Andrews.

Jazz on the Tyne – What’s On & What’s New, December 2024

Following a short break, Jazz on the Tyne is back!

In the latest edition of the podcast, presenter Colin Muirhead previews upcoming gigs and showcases new releases, with music by Knats, Jo Harrop, Alexia Gardner, the Mark Williams Trio, Mick Beck, Zoë Gilby, the Dean Stockdale Trio, Playtime, the John Donegan Irish Sextet, and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

You can listen to the show anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request music 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.

A sad day for north east music. J.G. Windows Ltd. (1908-2024)

Apart from close family bereavements the announcement today of the closure of J.G. Windows Ltd, Newcastle's premier music store for 116 years, this is probably The saddest day of my life.

I worked in their Central Arcade store for over 30 years and made many friends from both sides of the counter. Working in J.G. Windows was more than just work it was also pleasure and I treasure the memories of the good times and the bad times although in all honesty I can think of few, if any, in  the latter category.

Many great local musicians both past and present passed through the ranks of the various departments and, as one former employee once told me, having J.G. Windows Ltd on your c.v. doesn't do you any harm at all when applying for a job anywhere in the UK. A very black Friday indeed...

A part of me has just died. Lance

MORE.

The Puppini Sisters @ the Fire Station, Sunderland - Nov. 27

Marcella Puppini (vocals, accordion); Emma Smith (vocals); Kate Mullins (vocals, melodica); Martin Kolarides (guitar); Nick Pini (double bass); Peter Ibbetson (drums)

Sunderland's Fire Station, like Durham's Gala Theatre, South Shields' Customs House and the same town's Westovian Theatre along with other venues across the country, has a comfortable, cosy feel to it that many bigger, more prestigious venues, often fail to achieve and, as such, are ideal for acts like the Puppini Sisters. Acts that tread an area somewhere  twixt pop and jazz from bygone eras yet still be relavent today.

Last night's show, in front of a near capacity audience, saw the 'sisters' celebrating their twentieth anniversary as a close-harmony trio although in actual fact top UK jazz singer Emma Smith has only been with them 12 years - 'Baby Puppini'?

Album review: Ezra Collective – Dance, No One Is Watching (Partisan Records)

Femi Koleoso (drums); TJ Koleoso (electric bass); James Mollison (sax); Joe Armon-Jones (keyboards); Ife Ogunjobi (trumpet); Yazmin Lacey, Olivia Dean, Manifest, Moonchild Sanely (vocals)

My knees have just about recovered from the punishment they received at Cheltenham Jazz Festival last year when this lot put even extra spring into the dance floor of the Town Hall. At the time they were touring their loudly militant album Where I’m Meant To Be. This is an altogether more mellow collections of grooves, still drawing on the same collection of influences from across the black diaspora and back to the roots of the music. They even made it onto the Strictly Come Dancing Results Show with God Gave Me Feet For Dancing and they have recently been announced as one of the BBC’s Sounds of 2025, a list of acts with “the best chance of mainstream success in the next 12 months”.

Alexia Gardner Quintet @ the Black Swan - Nov. 26

© Mike Tilley

Alexia Gardner (vocal); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Alan Law (keys); Jude Murphy (bass, vocal); Abbie Finn (drums)

I just  had to check this one out. There had been a lot of Chinese whispers circulating about this singer who'd been sighted, on YouTube, in Switzerland, New York, Asia and other points east and west as well as recording for Alex Webb's Copasetic Foundation.

More recently she'd been making waves at local jams and low key venues...

...Alexia Gardner.

I wasn't disappointed!

Suzanne Fonseca Quartet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor - Nov. 24

© Jeff Pritchard

Suzanne Fonseca (trombone); Mike Hope (tenor sax); Robin Dewhurst (keys); Ken Marley (bass).

No drums tonight but all the musicians were experienced enough to make things swing and the tempos were spot on.

Most of the tunes were pretty familier ones from the jazz repertoire with the exception of London By Night, a great tune that seems well suited to the sound of trombone. I have always regretted not seeing the legendary Jay Jay Johnson when he was in the UK but, hearing Suzanne, I think that her sound and approach is very near to that of Jay Jay. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.