Album review: Robin Phillips - Return From the Source (Repmusic)

Robin Phillips (vocals, keys) + (collective): Neil Cowley (guitars); Jihad Darwish, Louis Thorne, Rob Anstey, Damian Nueva (bass); Claire Brock, Alex Best, Billy Kilson (drums); Leroy Jones (trumpet); Sam Sankey (trombone); Stacey Dawson, James Martin, Dan Ostreicher (saxes) + Darius Luke Thompson, Hayley Pomfrett (violins tks 6, 10); Una Palliser (viola tks 6, 10); Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir (tk 10) 

Phillips' first album of originals in 20 years finds the singer, pianist, composer in good voice. There's an appealing bluesy, funky soulful sound to his voice that shows his songs off to good advantage. 

The songs and the album were actually inspired by a motorbike road trip from Chicago to New Orleans. Places he'd visited, books he'd read and his thoughts on the world in general all contributed to the end product. If he'd been thinking about the world this past week the song may have been different.

Now you C it, now you Don't!

Just as the advent of the long-playing vinyl  record cast the 78rpm single to dust the arrival of the compact disc did likewise to the LP - or so we were told. I've never entered the CD v LP argument - both have/had their plus points.

Soundwise, I have no preference as the quality seems to vary in both formats. What sounds good in one usually sounds good in the other and vice versa.

Obviously the CD takes up less space and usually has more tracks than the LP. It also has more extensive sleeve notes that are invariably printed in such a small font size that I've never managed to reach the end of the text.

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (Schools) - Sunday, March 2

A second day of competition, comprising school and youth categories. The first competition of the day would features school bands. The youth section would follow. Just three competition entries this year, two from the region and one from distant Telford in Shropshire. As the hall began to fill up (families, friends, big band fans) the first band took to the stage. 

Previous winners here in Chester-le-Street, all the way from Shropshire (a distance in excess of 200 miles), the thought occurred Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band (MD, Tom Gledhill) hadn't made the long journey for nothing. Abraham Darby would present four numbers for consideration. Birdland is always well received, what a great start! The band's performance of Lennie Niehaus (Northwest Journey), Neal Hefti (Li'l Darlin') and Bill Reddie's Channel One Suite suggested the Telford outfit would take some beating. 

Jamming at the Black Swan - March 5

Stuart Collingwood (piano, vocals); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Ian Drever (vocals); Edgar Bell (pocket trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Luis Verde (alto sax); Leah Kirk (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Bailey Rudd (drums); Lara Hopper (trumpet); Sam Toulson  (alto sax); Julija Jacenaite (vocals); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Bailey Rudd (drums); Kate O'Neill (vocals); ? (piano); Olly Styles (tenor sax); Liam Oliver (guitar); Jay Straughan (drums); Joe (drums); Shayo (vocals); Jessica ? (piano); Becky Tuck (vocals); Remi Coulthard Boardman (vocals); David Gray (trombone); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Ryan ? (alto sax); Owen Jones (double bass); Theo Nolan (drums)  

Don't get around much anymore sang Stu Collingwood. The Black Swan jam session was underway. As crooner Ian Drever got the nod, bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Abbie Finn went to the bar, leaving maestro Collingwood to guide Drever through Manhattan (Edgar Bell determined to get his two penn'orth in from the sidelines). 

Album review: Thomas Backman – Nothing (Modern Musik)

Thomas Backman (alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, synthesiser); Josefine Lindstrand (lead vocals, backing vocals, grand piano); Cecilia Linné (cello); David Lindvall (electric bass, synthesisers, guitar); Martin Ohman (drums, drum machines, electronics) Eze Jackson (rap); Tomas Ebrelius (violins, viola); Magnus Wikland (trombone); Lena Swanberg, Anton Forsberg, Jokob Sollevi, Josefine Lindstrand (choir)

If you’ve been searching for the missing link between rap, sprechsang, muscular European free jazz and Nancy Sinatra singing You Only Live Twice congratulations, you’ve found it in Thomas Backman’s new album. To say that it demands attention is the understatement of 2025; there’s a lot packed into a short space of time. An internet search reveals terms such as ”crime jazz” and ”slow burn yearning widescreen chamber pop”, artpop and hip-hop, shoegaze and free jazz all applied to Thomas Backman’s work. With a menu like that, the question has to be whether it is possible to present beauty, elegance and brutality within a single coherent album?  

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival - Saturday 1 March

The first of two competition days at the 2025 Great North Big Band Jazz Festival began at noon. Senior bands (all ten of them) competing in the 'open section', were coming to terms with the new reality - the absence of the all-conquering Managers Big Band. Six consecutive victories and then the band from Bolton was gone. 

First to enter the ring, Darlington Big Band (MD, Richie Emmerson). Chick Corea's Spain (Dave Archbold at the piano) the opening shot across the bows. A sound beginning. A Frank Mantooth arrangement of Wave featured Dave Brock (trombone) and bandleader Richie Emmerson on tenor sax. It isn't too often BSH gets to hear Darlington's finest - last year here at the GNBBJF and before that, in December 2023 at Opus 4 Jazz Club. One thing's for sure, the band always puts on a great show.

Knats' Album Launch @ The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle – Feb. 28

George Johnson (tenor sax); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugel); Tom Ford (guitar); Sandro Shargorodsky (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums) feat. Just-B (vocals); Dylan Orba (trombone)

Knats marked their debut album launch with an epic homecoming at a packed Lubber Fiend and it was only right that they chose Newcastle where it all started back in 2021 at Nunsmoor Park, the Globe and Hoochie Coochie.  The Lubber Fiend is somewhat smaller and - how shall I put it? - rough and ready, compared to their most recent gigs at Sage Two and Mandela Hall (Belfast) but the sound was excellent and it all added to the atmosphere of a rather special night.

© David Hall

The settled Knats line-up of locals Stan, King and Ferg now boasts London colleagues Sandro on keys and 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist George on tenor (does a Georgian count as an honorary Geordie?). The album featured a number of guests including the remarkable guitarist and producer Tom Ford who was tempted up north for a weekend in the Toon to play alongside the regular quintet here.  

Press release: SNJO looks east for spicy musical adventures

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra expands its horizons with a series of concerts entitled 21 Spices and featuring the sensational Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu in Glasgow, Perth and Edinburgh from 28th to 30th March.

The son of vocalist Shobha Gurtu, a legendary figure in Indian classical music known as the Thumri Queen, Trilok Gurtu has won an international reputation for his work with guitarists John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny, saxophonists Jan Garbarek and Pharoah Sanders and keyboardist Joe Zawinul. He has also appeared with world music stars Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, Omara Portuondo, and Tuvan throat singers, Huun Huur Tu and has recorded and toured with Italian virtuosi, the Arke String Quartet.

Album review: Bill O'Connell - Touch (Jojo Records)

Bill O'Connell (piano); Santi Debriano (bass); Billy Hart (drums)

A lovely album full of sensitivity, excitement, rich harmonies and compositions, both standards (3) and originals (8), that tug at the heart, the feet and the brain - particularly the brain as O'Connell gives you plenty to think about.

Touch, the contact between fingers and piano keys that separates the artist from the ham-fisted piano player who can physically de-tune a piano in approximately 32 bars down the pub on a Saturday night (back in the day when they had ham-fisted piano players down the pub on a Saturday night). O'Connell is certainly not in that latter category!

Even when the rhythm becomes rockier, as on Herbie's Maiden Voyage, or the fast, technically brilliant, Around and Around, that touch prevails. It's like a sax player's magical reed, a trumpet player's favourite mouthpiece or a gig where the drummer isn't given a drum chart.

The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival - Friday, Feb. 28

In its 22nd year, the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival returned once again to Park View Community Centre in Chester-le-Street. As is tradition, the opening Friday evening concert featured Teesside's Musicians Unlimited. Many of the region's big band fans were in attendance - this is the event they don't ever miss! 

GNBBJF director Bill Watson introduced the band (Bill also plays in the band's trumpet section!) and the action got underway with a sparkling take on I'm Beginning to See the Light (Dan Johnson taking the first of several impressive alto sax solos). Neal Hefti's arrangement of Satin Doll went down well (any Hefti arrangement does!) and later in the evening we heard the band playing the late Dave Connolly's arrangement of Georgia, featuring the terrific vocals of Paul Skerritt. 

Knats in March issue of Jazzwise (twice!)

The March issue of Jazzwise not only devotes a full page interview with the rapidly rising, born in the north east, band Knats, but also gives their eponymous debut album a four (out of five) star rating which bodes well for their future.

Congratulations from all at BSH. We saw the band's potential in the beginning so I hope you'll excuse us for patting ourselves on the back for having the foresight to realise that Knats were something special. 

On the cover of the magazine Knats (bottom left hand corner) may be in smaller print than Ron Carter but so is Jim Mullen which isn't bad company to be in. Onwards and upwards! Lance

Preview: The Sound of the BBC Big Band, Darlington Hippodrome (Thursday March 6)

The Sound of Cinema is coming to Darlington! On Thursday evening, the world class BBC Big Band will be in concert at the Hippodrome to perform numbers from some of the silver screen's most iconic movies including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Meet Me in St Louis, Mission Impossible, The Pink Panther and more - what a treat for big band aficionados and cinema-goers alike!

Directed by Barry Forgie, the BBC Big Band comprises many of the British jazz scene's big hitters. Join Barry, the band and vocalist Emer McPartland for an unforgettable evening, curtain up at 7:30pm. Book now at: www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.  Russell   

Angie Stone (1961 - March 1, 2025)

For many - myself included - Angie Stone has been the greatest soul singer of the last thirty-five years and (with Anita Baker in the eighties) the only one who can justly stand with the many great songstresses of soul music's golden years of the sixties and seventies. With influences from Aretha Franklin and Betty Wright in particular, she retained all of the qualities of classic soul while tastefully incorporating elements of hip-hop, to ensure her relevance to a younger audience.

I had two encounters with her BC (before covid); neither entirely successful, though through no fault of hers but the respective venues: the Ritz in Manchester and the Roundhouse in Camden. 

Sunday night @ the Globe: The Ali Watson Quartet March 2

© Sheila Herrick

Ali Watson (bass); Matt Carmichael (tenor sax); Alan Benzie (piano); Greg Irons (drums)

What I love about music and jazz in particular is the variety of sub-genres and the ever evolving new directions that it takes as it explores previously undiscovered shores.

During the course of the music's evolution, styles and genres were usually pigeon-holed geographically thus, in America, we had New Orleans, Chicago and Kansas City and  then west coast (L.A.) and east coast (NYC) all, generally, easilly identified by a knowledgeable enthusiast.

Apart from the rock/pop explosion that occurred in Liverpool in the 1960s no such regional variation has taken place in the UK - that is until now!

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

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

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

Playlist 2/03/25. (Repeated Tuesday 04 /03/25)

Requests: Charlie Barnet, Harry James.

Seasonal:  Clifford Brown & Max Roach.

Mardi Gras: Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Harry Connick Jr..

Requests: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington/Mahalia Jackson.

Memories: Glenn Miller, Barrett Deems (Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong), Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Barney Bigard.

What’s On in the NE: The Jake Leg Jug Band, Zhenya Strigalev's.

Back to New Orleans for Mardi Gras: Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges, Chris Barber.

And All That Shakespeare.

Over the years, albeit not so often lately, the Immortal Bard has provided inspiration for jazz musicians and composers of popular music. Classical theatre meets classical jazz (and of course classical music but that's for another day in another place).

In 1938 a Rodgers and Hart musical, The Boys From Syracuse, made its debut on Broadway. Based on The Comedy of Errors, it included such future jazz standards as Falling in Love With Love, This Can't be Love, You Took Advantage of me and Sing For Your Supper. A couple of years later (1940 it reached Hollywood starring Allan Jones (Jack Jones' father) and Martha Raye (an early inspiration for Ella Fitzgerald).

Luis Verde Quartet @ Gala Theatre, Durham - Feb. 28

© Malcolm Sinclair

Luis Verde (alto sax); Joe Steels (guitar); John Pope (double bass); John Hirst (drums)

On a spring-like day the Gala's studio space attracted another capacity audience. Relocating from Spain to the north east of England, Luis Verde made a big impression sitting in at Newcastle's Black Swan jam session. It didn't take long before our alto saxophonist picked up gigs across the region - Newcastle (including a cameo appearance at the Newcastle Jazz Festival), Gateshead, Hexham and Darlington. Most of the Jazz at the Gala regulars would be hearing Luis for the first time. 

Book review: Paul Alex Bacon - The Mississippi Dreamboats

If you're a fan of New Orleans jazz then you will find interesting reading in this account of the life and times of the Mississippi Dreamboats and the band's co-leaders the husband and wife team of Paul  and Liz Bacon.

Their dedication to the music they have devoted their lives to over the years is well documented depicting their undiminished enthusiasm in an ever-decreasing world of jazz clubs and musicians au fait with the music.

With Paul playing drums and Liz on clarinet they formed the Mississippi Dreamboats in 1975 gigging around the Newcastle jazz clubs and, as they became established, further afield. The eponymously titled book, Paul Bacon's fifth*, relates many anecdotes of life on the road and the frequent hazards of the seemingly simple task of getting from A to B. The author describes the book as being about his wanderlust, meandering journey, playing jazz and discovering that the journey is often as important as the destination.

A Nelson Riddle riddle.

Doing my triannual tidy up I came across this cutting from the Gazette dated August 20, 1997 and is by local radio broadcaster the late Frank Wappat.

The article refers to the start of a weekly gig by Tommy Moran (alto sax); Bill Harper (piano); Derek Dixon (bass) & Tommy Gibson (drums) with vocals by Mia Webb at the Turks Head pub up on the Lawe Top in South Shields. Back in the day I called in a few times and I remember it as being an excellent session.

However, my main interest in the article is the mention of some previously unrecorded arrangements by Nelson Riddle that Frank Wappat had acquired and that he had remastered them with Tommy Moran as the featured soloist. 

Did this actually happen and were they ever released commercially?

Come in Tommy Moran. Lance

Preview: Stockport Jazz @ the Moor Club - West Coast Jazz Octet

This week’s gig at the Moor Club features a rare opportunity to see the West Coast Jazz Octet performing the classic arrangements from the 1950s of the Great American songbook written for the Dave Pell Octet by the top arrangers of the day, including Shorty Rogers, Marty Paich, John Williams, André Previn and others. 

 

Album review: Misha Mullov-Abbado – Effra (Ubuntu)

Misha Mullov-Abbado (double bass); James Davison (trumpet, flugelhorn); Matthew Herd (alto/tenor sax); Sam Rapley (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Liam Dunachie (piano); Scott Chapman (drums)

So, what we have here is a sextet that wanted to be a bigger band; it’s like the little group that could. Now some people might like their jazz a little more down home and dirty but, when the light is in the right quarter, if you might want something bold, bright and brassy full of optimism and hope enough to ignore the orange cloud on the horizon you could do worse than pull Effra off the shelf. There are many worse ways to pass an hour and I should know as I’ve just spent an hour ironing and listening to Radio 2.

Press release: Debut album by Knats out TODAY!

“they gleefully rewire jazz with a hard-as-nails rhythm section, drum’n’bass energy and punk aggression.” - The Guardian

“jaw-dropping brilliance” - Jazzwise

Newcastle Upon Tyne quintet Knats recently announced details of their much anticipated self-titled debut album. Out physically on 28th February and digitally 28th March via London analogue specialist label Gearbox Records (Elliot Galvin, Cahill//Costello, Village Of the Sun), the album follows their recent single "Tortuga (For Me Mam)" which marked their first release for the label.

"Knats" comes on the heels of an incendiary year for the band including supporting Geordie Greep (black midi) and playing as the backing band for R&B legend Eddie Chacon on UK tours. They also played a sold out Jazz Refreshed headliner, supported Str4ta at a sold Jazz Cafe, and performed at the BBC Proms.

Album review: Yellowjackets - Fasten Up (Mack Avenue- Mac1217)

Bob Mintzer (tenor sax, EWI); Russell Ferrante (piano); Dane Alderson (bass); Will Kennedy (drums) + Raul Midón (vocals on The Lion)

Grammy Award winning Yellowjackets have just released their 27th studio album, Fasten Up. Formed in 1981 with long-time members Russell Ferrante and Will Kennedy still aboard they’re joined by saxophonist, Bob Mintzer (since 1990) and Australian bassist, Dane Alderson, who is now celebrating a decade with the group.

Fasten Up bursts with unbridled momentum spurred on with a vibrant blend of styles borrowing from old and new in equal measure. The disc hotfoots it out of the blocks with a 1960s'  classic Comin' Home Baby (penned by bassist, George Tucker) and covered by the likes of Herbie Mann, Mel Tormé and Quincy Jones among many others. Mintzer’s arrangement gives it a refreshingly updated treatment. His doubling of the melody on tenor and EWI along with his added re-harmonisations catapult this 60 year perennial chestnut well into the millennium.

This weekend big band fans are heading to Chester-le-Street!

It's that time of year again when all big band roads lead to Chester-le-Street. Literally hundreds of musicians will be converging on Park View Community Centre on Church Chare to celebrate all things big band at the amazing Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. The action begins this evening (Friday 28 February) with the annual opening concert featuring Musicians Unlimited. 

Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle - Feb. 27

© Ken Drew

Jamie McCredie (guitar) + James Birkett  (guitar)

They turned out for this one. A full house, comprising the usual Railway Street habitué, the never-seen-before type and a gig bag full of of guitarists. Jamie McCredie is from these neck of the woods but for many a year has made London his home. This flying (rail) visit (arrive on gig day, depart early next day) found Jamie in great form - on and off stage. A friendly smile to greet everyone, Jamie knew many of the friendly faces walking through the door. 

Album review: Matthew Kilner - The Space In Between (Independent)

Matthew Kilner (tenor sax);  Paul Harrison (piano); Ewan Hastie (bass); Alyn Cosker (drums) + Paul Towndrow (alto sax on tk 3)

Matthew Kilner grew up in the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen to be precise, so I suppose it was inevitable that this collection of originals would be dedicated to that particular neck of the woods.

In recent years the Scottish jazz scene, from Edinburgh to Glasgow and now Aberdeen, has become a breeding ground for young talent. Indeed backing against a young Scottish jazz musician in the BBC's Young Jazz Musician of the Year contest is like backing against an Irish-trained horse at Cheltenham. They're always good for an each way flutter with bassist Hastie actually first past the post in 2022.

Emily Masser Quintet @ Scarborough Jazz Club - Feb. 26

Emily Masser (vocals); Dean Masser (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Adrian Knowles (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

Fully three quarters of an hour before the start of this evening's Scarborough Jazz Club concert a queue snaked down Cambridge Terrace. Minutes after the doors opened it was standing-room only. Some punters had travelled a distance - from Newcastle, from London, from all points of the compass. Everyone present knew it promised to be a special occasion....    

In recent years Alex Clarke, Xhosa Cole, Emma Rawicz and others have emerged on the jazz scene as promising young musicians (some of them award-winning musicians). At Scarborough Jazz Club, Emily Masser was to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that she too is a promising young musician, no, make that a 'rising star'. 

Album review: Richard Baratta - Looking Back (Savant Records)

Richard Baratta (drums); Bill O'Connell (piano, arr.); Vincent Herring (alto sax, flute); Paul Bollenback (guitar); Michael Goetz (bass); Paul Rossman (percussion) + Caroll Scott (vocal on tk 5)

Looking back is a common approach amongst the mainstream core of jazz musicians. Of course  some look back further than others, often going as far back as the days when it all began. Others draw their repertoire from the 1930s, '40s and '50s - the years that spawned those GASbook classics that began life on Broadway or in Hollywood.

Although Richard Baratta has connections with the silver screen, like so many of his contemporaries in the jazz world of today, Baratta's retrovision only goes as far back as the pop and rock songs of the 1960s. That's okay, some good songs emerged as witness the ten tracks here.

Album review: Matt Holborn - For Stuff (BL Records)

Matt Holborn (violin); Fraser Urquhart (piano); Joe Dessauer (drums); Simon Read (bass) + Honey Boulton (guitar on tks 3, 6 & 8).

When it comes to jazz violin, history turns up many illustrious names: Stéphane Grappelli, Eddie South, Joe Venuti and, some might say, the granddaddy of them all -  Stuff Smith.

Likewise, the current jazz scene has no shortage of active fiddlers such as Emma Fisk, Seonaid Aitken, Daniel John Martin and the featured virtuoso here - Matt Holborn.

Not surprisingly, today's crop frequently find inspiration from their stylistic forebear which, in Holborn's  case is Stuff Smith.

Despite seemingly incompatible sparring partners both violinists had no qualms about stepping outside of their comfort zones - Smith with Nat Cole, Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald, Holborn with Nubya Garcia, Chaka Khan and Tomorrow's Warriors. 

Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland - Feb. 24

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

The best laid plans of mice and Tyne and Wear's Metro. Not one, but two new trains came and went, neither heading for Sunderland. Sometime later, much later, an old bone shaker pulled in. Sunderland here we come...

Better late than never, we rocked up at Sunderland's Engine Room, the Michael Young Trio in full flow. At the bar, no handpull. Food? The staff would ask the chef if he could be bothered. No handpull = Guinness. A pint of Dublin's finest, a plate of thick cut chips, fine dining here on Wearside. Where were we? Oh, yes, the Michael Young Trio - Young, piano, Paul Grainger, bass, Abbie Finn, drums. The Beatles' She's Leaving Home, the first of several by the Fab Four. Here, There and Everywhere, then the killer tune of the evening, a stonking take on Can't Buy Me Love, pianist Young outstanding.

Roberta Flack (1937 - Feb. 24, 2025)

Five time Grammy winning soul/r&b singer Roberta Flack died earlier today aged 88. Not an out and out jazz singer, although she was never too far away from the genre having been discovered singing in a club by Les McCann, her songs had an impact that few listeners could ignore irrespective of the genre. 

The haunting sound of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on the soundtrack to the Clint Eastwood movie Play Misty For me is pure magic. Sung by Roberta Flack, the film wouldn't be the same without it.

A truly great singer who will be sadly missed in every corner of the music world, may she REST IN PEACE. Lance

BBC obituary.

Jim Collins/John Hulme Quintet @ the Moor Club, Heaton Moor, Stockport - Feb. 23

© Jeff Pritchard

Jim Collins (tenor sax); John Hulme (flugelhorn, cornet); Robin Joiner (keyboards);  Peter Hartley (bass); Eryl Roberts (drums)

Although I'd heard Jim and John many times leading quartets at the now long gone Railway pub in Stockport, this was the first time I'd  heard them co-leading a quintet and I was looking forward to hearing what they had to offer. 

They opened up with a Clifford Brown blues Sandu and right away I knew I was going to enjoy this gig as the sound of tenor sax and flugel working well together is one that I love to hear. 

Album review: Tom Smith - A Year in the Life (Fey Moose Records)

Tom Smith (MD, alto/soprano sax, composer); Graeme Blevins (alto sax, flute, clarinet); Sam Glaser (alto sax); Alex Garnett, (tenor sax); Jessamy Holder (baritone sax, bass clarinet); Tom Walsh, George Hogg, Freddie Gavita, James Davison, Alistair Martin (trumpets, flugelhorns); Trevor Mires, Olli Martin, Dan Higham; Yusuf Narcin (trombones); Will Barry (piano); Jamie McCredie (guitar); Conor Chaplin (basses); Luke Tomlinson (drums) + Paul Booth (tenor sax tks 2 & 3) ; Liam Dunachie (Hammond B3 on tk 5)

Described as a celebration of London's thriving jazz scene, the line-up is certainly brimming with all-star talent. Big hitters every one, playing Smith's compositions and arrangements.

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

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

Playlist 23/02/25 (repeated Tuesday 25/02/25)

Requests: Humphrey Lyttelton.

Seasonal: Fats Waller, New Orleans Rhythm Kings.

RIP: Lou Donaldson, Roy Haynes.

Memories: Leroy Jones, Nina Simone, Count Basie/Buddy Tate/Buck Clayton.

Requests: Miles Davis Quintet, Sidney Bechet, Wilton Felder.

New Release: Julie Walkington/Jim Howard.

Grammy Award: Samara Joy.

Seasonal: Blossom Dearie, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins.

What’s on in the NE: Luis Verde, T J Johnson.

Memory: Chris Barber w Monty Sunshine.  

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

Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ the Glasshouse - Feb.21

© Russell

A monumental evening that will surely live long in the memory of those fortunate to be present on an evening of astounding, adventurous and forward looking music. A landmark in the advancement of big band jazz.

SSBB opened with Johnny Richards' Two Cultures, an atonal piece originally written for Stan Kenton. It was a good starting point and the band's new lineup was definitely up for it. This was to be a night to remember - a night where atonality was the norm.

Dave McKeague now appears to be the band's regular drummer and there are few who can power a big band like he does. Niall Armstrong occupied the baritone chair, Sue Ferris played flute exclusively and Alice Grace joined the section using her voice instrumentally.

The evening's star guest, Emma Rawicz, was warmly greeted by the audience who applauded respectfully whilst at the same time wondering if this 23-year-old saxophonist really was as outstanding a musician as word would have it? She was! - Was she not! 

Preview: Jim Collins/John Hulme Quintet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - Sunday Feb. 23

This Sunday, the Jim Collins/John Hulme Quintet, comprising  Jim Collins (tenor saxophone); John Hulme (trumpet/flugelhorn); Robin Joiner (piano); Peter Hartley (bass) and Eryl Roberts (drums), are at the Moor Club. 

Our man way out west, Mike Farmer, has waxed eloquently about previous gigs by the musicians involved so it should be well worth a visit. 

Support the Globe Crowdfunder

Ten years ago, The Globe was a failing pub. In 2014, Jazz Coop stepped in and transformed it into a community-owned, grassroots music venue and learning centre. Since then, we’ve built a space where people come together to enjoy an incredible variety of live music, club nights, and workshops.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-globe

When the pandemic hit, we refused to let our community be cut off from live music. While most venues were closed, we livestreamed performances across genres—from jazz to folk, rock to classical. These performances helped keep musicians afloat and brought joy to people isolated by lockdown.

JazzMain @ JATLP, Newcastle - Feb. 21

© Patti

Nick Gould (tenor sax); Steve Grossart (piano); Iain Harkness (bass guitar); Kevin Dorrian (drums) 

Edinburgh based JazzMain are no strangers to Newcastle having played the Newcastle Jazz Festival and the Globe on more than one occasion. However, I suspect that the majority of the audience today at the monthly Jazz at the Lit & Phil session were hearing JazzMain for the first time. They were in for a treat!

Although a set list was provided in the program, Nick Gould started his introduction by saying they would probably play what they felt as they went along. Given that they have been playing together, in his words, since ‘the last century’, I had no doubt that we were going to listen to an hour of four consummate musicians enjoying themselves.

Album review: Mette Juul - Thank You & Other Stories (Nilento Records)

Mette Juul (vocals, guitar); Peter Rosendal (piano, trombone, Rhodes); Lars Danielsson (cello, bass, melodica, Fender Telecaster, Rhodes, organ) + Xavier Desandre Navarre (percussion on tks 6 & 9) 

The seventh album by Danish jazz singer/songwriter Mette Juul maintains her high standard both as singer and songwriter, dwelling upon the storytelling aspect of her words in the latter category. The general theme relates to coming to terms with, and relating to, the dark and frightening world we live in.

Not all are doom and gloom. The dark despair of On Dragon Wings is countered with Thank You, a lyric that acknowledges being rescued by that special someone.

Be a Blessing to Someone - an ode to spreading that blessing to someone who needs it almost as much, maybe even more, than you do. 

James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Feb. 20

James Birkett (guitar); Emma Fisk (violin)

James Birkett and Emma Fisk are on a mission to present, promote and play the music of the pioneering Italian-American duo Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti. As our duo took to the stage, King's Hall was packed to its (very high) rafters. The printed programme for this afternoon's concert listed no fewer than twenty tunes. Birkett and Fisk would play a selection.

The Venuti-Lang composition, Cheese and Crackers, dating from 1927, opened the set, a set of three quarters of an hour. Violinist Emma handled the introductions and she and guitarist James did the playing and how! Two virtuoso musicians, wholly at ease, how do they do it?! An exquisite Stardust, a romping Sweet Georgia Brown (Emma saying there was no need to announce the number - she was right!), James' composition Eddie's Lament comfortably taking its place in the set list, every single note of each and every number bordering on perfection.

The Young Ones @ The Black Swan jam session - Feb. 18

Alan Law (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass); John Hirst (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Kate O'Niell (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Ruth Lambert (vocals); Sam Toulson (alto sax); David Gray (trombone); Edgar Ho (keyboards); Oscar Ho (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums); Liam Oliver (guitar); Leah Kirk (vocals); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Lara Hopper (trumpet); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Moyo (guitar); Jay Straughan (drums); Jamie Watkins (double bass); Darius (vocals); Harriett (vocals) 

Jazz is dead. Jazz isn't what it used to be. Oh, yeah? Those present at tonight's Black Swan jam session would beg to differ. Oh! Lady Be Good for starters, the house trio would play a blinder all night. Pianist  Alan Law is the man for any jam session, a great player and endlessly encouraging to those sitting in. And then there's Paul Grainger, house bassist and the ideal jam session MC. And drummer John Hirst is as good as they come.

Farewell Kenny Kirsopp

It wasn't your average  funeral - not if crowd numbers are anything to go by. We waited in the cold, the queue of mourners increasing with every beat of our hearts. It wasn't so much goodbye as a fond farewell to a much loved musician who, in a calling where  extrovert is the norm,  was perhaps the extrovert's extrovert.

We're talking about saxophonist and piper - Kenny Kirsopp (Kenny the Sax).