Album review: Kokoroko -Tuff Times Never Last (Brownswood Recordings)

Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Anoushka Anguy (trombone, vocals); Chelsea Carmichael (tenor sax); Onome Edgeworth (percussion, flute whistle, vocals) Duane Atherley (bass, synthesizers, vocals); Tobi Adenaike-Johnson (guitar, vocals); Yohan Kebede (synthesizers, keyboards, vocals);  Ayo Salawu (drums, vocals); Ademola Azekel Bamidele Adesuyi, LuLu, Catherine Adenaike-Johnson, Fushara James, Miles James, Chaneti Tatiyana Stevens  (vocals)

This newly mellowed out iteration of Kokoroko may well be the sound of summer 2025, or at least those parts of the summer after the first bottle has been opened and we’ve stopped rushing around as if we were driven by a particularly hyper-active strain of FOMO. This is what you want to be listening to in our part of the world as you stand next to the barbecue and your thoughts turn to the question of whether or not charcoal floats.

Happy Birthday Kenny Burrell

Sincere birthday greetings to Kenny Burrell who is 94 today.

This version of Weaver of Dreams, from his 1956 Blue Note album (remastered in 2000) Introducing Kenny Burrell, is pure magic, bringing back memories of seeing him at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the early 1980s. Lance

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (July 31 - August 6)

Denny Farrell's programme for the next seven days:

Barrett Deems: Moten Swing.

Jim Beebe: Night Train.

Lionel Hampton: Jeepers Creepers.

Keely Smith: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening.

Dizzy Gillespie: Do Nothin' Till You Hear From me.

Eddie Higgins: Moon River.

Etta James: At Last.

Barney Kessel: I'm Glad There is You.

Tony Bennett: For Once in my Life.

Peggy Lee: You Don't Know.

Stanley Turrentine: God Bless the Child.

Beegie Adair: We'll be Together Again.

Lance

Listen 24/7 HERE.

The Jazz Cavern

My next show will be broadcast starting Monday, 4 August. It will be a tribute the the late Cleo Laine (1927- 2025) who died on 24 July 2025 at 97. It will include 1 hour's worth of her recordings from the mid 1970s to the present

On www.purejazzradio.com (from NYC) on Mondays at 12:00pm, Fridays at 6:00am and Saturdays at 7:00am - NYC time. (5 hours later in the UK)

None of the shows are available on a catch-up option. Frank Griffith

An August preview

It's the calm before the storm. Relatively speaking, August is a quiet month on the gig front. Come September, gigs will be stacking up here, there and everywhere. August's schedule is bolstered by the region's many weekly and monthly residencies which see no reason to shut up shop - good for them!

On the first of the month (Friday), Yorkshire-born, London-resident, saxophonist Matt Anderson returns to the region to play a Matt Anderson and Friends engagement at Saltburn Community Hall. It's a seven thirty start, tickets available online or pay at the door. Saltburn, Monday 4th sees the Saltburn Big Band opening up its Saltburn House Hotel rehearsal night to the public. Free admission, seven o'clock start.

An urban America BBC Prom (Thursday)

Ostensibly a classical music Prom, dig a little deeper and there should be something for the jazz fan. This evening's Albert Hall concert includes a Barraine symphony, a Copland clarinet concerto and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances. 

Add Clarinet Concerto by A. Shaw and things begin to look a little more interesting (to the jazz fan). A. Shaw, that's Artie Shaw, with Martin Frost playing clarinet, behind him, the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Joshua Wellerstein, it's all happening this evening down in Kensington. During the interval (7:15pm), writer and historian Leah Broad talks about the early American jazz scene. Tune to Radio 3 at 6:30pm. Russell   

Album review: Stefan Pasborg Trio* - Dear Alex (Stunt Records)

Stefan Pasborg (drums, perc.); Fredrik Lundin (tenor sax); Carsten Dahl (piano)

When the iconic Danish drummer Alex Riel passed away last June the loss was felt far beyond his home country. When Pasborg, Alex Riel's godson and himself a highly respected drummer, came across a handwritten list by Riel of his favourite tunes he decided he had to record them as a tribute the musician who had been such an inspiration to him.

Danny Boy may seem to be a surprise selection for a Danish drummer to include in such a list but, as it was also a favourite of Ben Webster's with whom Riel surely must have played with when the American tenor player was in town, perhaps it isn't so surprising after all. Lunden blows gutsy tenor.

Album review: Jennifer Lee and the Ever-Expanding Universe - Glimpse (SBE Records)

Jennifer Lee (vocals, piano 5, guitar 7,9,10); Peter Sprague (guitar 1,2,3,4,6); Adam Shulman (piano/Rhodes 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10); Gunnar Biggs (acoustic bass (1,2,3,4,6,7,10); Duncan Moore (drums 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10); Tommy Aros (percussion 2,6,8); Tripp Sprague (sax 4); Derek Cannon (trumpet 4); Rick Kuhns (accordion 5); Randy Brecker (flugelhorn 7, 10); Justin Grinnell (electric bass 8); Doug Porhorski (acoustic bass 9); Anton Schwartz (tenor sax 11); John Wiitala (acoustic bass 11); Vince Lateano (drums 11)

Back in the mid-60s there was a hit pop tune titled The Game of Love recorded by the English group, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. With Glimpse, her fourth album, celebrated vocalist Jennifer Lee offers an intriguing musical voyage across the game board of her personal relationship experiences. The 11-track album offers nine Lee originals, an outlier original, and a re-worked classic. 

The opener, I Caught a Glimpse of Your Soul has Lee and Rhodes rubato before lightly swinging. Frequent collaborator, guitarist Peter Sprague and pianist Adam Shulman offer fine solos. Samba is the presentation with Farewell to Comfort on which Lee effortlessly glides over the lyrics. The vocal overdubs here, penned by Sprague, are a nice production touch. 

Press release: Samara Joy - Flor de Lis (Upside Down) (Visualizer)

Five-time Grammy Award winner Samara Joy has released a new single, “Flor de Lis (Upside Down),” a fresh take on the Brazilian classic originally written by Djavan nearly 50 years ago. Sung in Portuguese and arranged by Joy’s drummer Evan Sherman, the track pays tribute to Brazil’s enduring influence on jazz, arriving just ahead of Joy’s tour dates in South America, July 27 through August 2. The “Flor de Lis (Upside Down)” cover artwork features a painting by Brazilian illustrator Anna Cunha.



Preview: Rossano Sportiello (livestreaming at 22:00 BST)

Live at the Flat # 131 continues Greenwich Village-resident pianist Rossano Sportiello's hugely popular livestream series. As lockdown days become a fading memory, thankfully some livestreams live on. Emmet Cohen's (now occasional) Monday evening stream opened a window on the NYC jazz scene (recent BBC Promenader Samara Joy a one-time guest), as did Sportiello's efforts. When he isn't away touring, Sportiello, elegance personified, continues to reach a worldwide audience via Facebook and/or YouTube. 

This evening (Tuesday 29) Sportiello will be joined by guitarist Pasquale Grasso, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer Keith Balla for episode # 131 - Be-Bop at the Flat! Logon at ten o'clock, open a(nother) bottle and marvel at four supremely talented musicians at work. Russell     

Album review: Olivia Moore & Adam Fairhall - Triangles (New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings)

Olivia Moore (violin); Adam Fairhall (accordion)

If, like me you find it difficult to exhume any enthusiasm for accordions from beneath a well calcified boulder of prejudice, you will approach this album with some trepidation. However, about half way through the first listen you will begin to understand why Wesley Stephenson, who is Mr NEWJAiM, was so keen to record this duo. We’ll park the usual questions about what genres it might fall into and let our ears do the thinking for us. I don’t think that we’re in the presence of greatness, but loveliness is definitely in the house.

And, speaking of genres, Triangles brings us shades of Indian classical music, European and American folk and contemporary jazz. It’s a blend that works and anyone fearing some abrupt changes of direction as one piece finishes and another takes us in a different direction will find nothing to worry about here. 

R.I.P. Tom Lehrer (1928 - July 26, 2025)

Tom Lehrer died last Saturday (July 26) at the grand old age of 97. His name may not mean much to today's anti-this, anti-that activists but back in the '50s his satirical lyrics were both cutting edge and poignantly funny at the same time.

I almost wore out my two Lehrer 10" LPs through repetitive playing. I almost got to see him in concert at Newcastle City Hall but that's another story.

Album review: Fraser Smith Quartet - Lifeline! (Lejazzetal Records)

Fraser Smith (tenor sax, compositions except tks 5 & 10)); Rob Barron (piano); Simon Read (bass); Steve Brown (drums)

Originally from Birmingham and now London based, Smith personifies what we once referred to as a 'tough tenor'. The term was particularly applied to those gutsy hard-blowing saxists who had one foot in the swing era and the other in bebop and its subsequent variants.

Players such as Illinois Jacquet, Dexter Gordon, Ike Quebec, Arnett Cobb, Sonny Stitt, Wardell Gray and maybe early Coltrane to mention but some. By his own admission, Smith acknowledges Jacquet as having been his biggest influence dedicating one of his compositions, Jacquet Jump, to the former Hampton and JATP legend. Red Prysock, Fathead Newman and Jimmy Forrest are also respectfully namechecked in Red Haze, Fathead and Like Forrest.

Well done 'The Lionesses'

Joe Webb called it on Friday night at the Fire Station after Soweto Kinch asked him who would win the Euro Cup Final? he replied, "It's coming home".

His prophecy came true after 120 agonising minutes and a penalty shoot out. 

As Sweden and Italy had previously, Spain thought "it's all over" until the Lionesses said, "it is now!"

An interesting footnote is that England super-sub Michelle Agyemang, as well as playing football also plays piano.

I look forward to her new single: Michelle 'The Lioness' Agyemang - Tiger Rag. Lance

Album review: Adrian Cox Trio - Club Croco (self-released)

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocal); Alex 'Honey' Boulton (guitar); Alex Gilson (bass).

Back in day when the threat of Covid hung over our heads like the legendary Sword of Damocles one of the few comforting places of refuge from the ravages of the pandemic were the livestreams presented by clarinet ace Adrian Cox as Adrian Cox's Sunday Service.

Those sessions, which were surely a better antidote to the disease than any prescribed medicine, displayed a master clarinetist totally in tune with the past masters of New Orleans' jazz that he paid tribute to every Sunday.

England Joy!

Today's the day! Tonight's the night! The Lionesses take on Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. It's a 5:00pm kick-off. The match is live on BBC and ITV, the choice is yours. Howay the Lasses! 

And that's not all folks. We've been waiting a week to relive one of the great BBC Proms. Last weekend's BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Samara Joy's Albert Hall debut was something else and this evening (Sunday) the concert will be shown, in full, on BBC4. Whatever you're doing, wherever you'll be, drop everything and plonk yourself down in front of the telly. Eight o'clock, Samara Joy, the brilliant Samara Joy Octet and the BBC Concert Orchestra (conductor Miho Hazama). Can't wait! Russell    

Musicians Unlimited - last one 'til autumn!

Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. One o'clock. Yes, today is a last opportunity until the end of September to catch Mick Donnelly's fabulous Musicians Unlimited. Teesside's premier big band is about to go off on its summer holidays, before it does, head down to Jackson's Wharf, it's going to be a busy one! Russell  

Fergus McCreadie @ Gateshead's Glasshouse - July 26

The BBC Proms have been all over Tyne and Wear. The Fire Station, Sunderland, Thursday evening for Soweto Kinch's 'Round Midnight presentation featuring Theo Croker, Joe Webb  and Rivkala, to a weekend of events at Gateshead's Glasshouse. This Saturday afternoon, the BBC's Introducing Stage presented a multi-bill culminating with the award-winning Fergus McCreadie playing a solo piano set. 

The concourse overlooking the Tyne works as an informal, inclusive space. However, the cavernous, curved roof doesn't do anyone any favours: announcements can be muffled, at best, the musicians' best efforts often disappearing into the rafters. And so to Fergus McCreadie...

Late night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (July 24 - July 30)

The current programme (July 24 - July 30) includes the following:

Duke Jordan: Summertime.

Diane Schuur: Come Rain or Come Shine.

Houston Person: Everything Happens to me.

Norah Jones: Don't Know Why.

Bill Evans: I Wish I Knew.

Mel Tormé: What is There to Say?.

Marian McPartland: There Will Never be
Another You.

Zoot Sims: Never Let me go.

Buddy Childers: Sophisticated Lady.

Johnny Hartman: The Nearness of You.

Paul Desmond/Jim Hall: All Through the Night.

Nat 'King' Cole: For All we Know.

As Denny (pictured) says, "They all tell a story."

Listen 24/7 HERE. Lance

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

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

Playlist 27/07/25 (repeated Tuesday 29/07/25)

Requests from Durham Brass Festival: Miles Davis Quintet, Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson.

Requests from Opus 4: Greg Abate, Charlie Parker Septet, Michel Legrand & Phil Woods, Duke Ellington/Johnny Hodges, John Coltrane Quartet, Illinois Jacquet, Nils Landgren.

Memories: Charlie Christian.

Requests: Tom Harrell Quintet.

Peace & Seasonal: Norah Jones, Tubby Hayes.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington Area & via 'Ask Alexa'.

Bold Big Band @ The Old Coal Yard - July 25

Jacob Lightfoot, Max Storey (alto saxes); Crissi Booth, Lucy McCartan (tenor saxes); Brian Wicks (baritone sax, MD); Billy Bradshaw, Sam Armstrong, Josh Skyrme, Euan O'Connell (trumpets); Alex Utting, Tom Dowling, Thomas McDonald, Simon Hirst (trombones); Ben Davies (guitar); Marcus Dawe (keys); Ifede Osiyemi (bass guitar); Josh Weir (drums); Cara Britton, Conor Polley (vocals).

As part of the Newcastle Fringe Festival 2025 The Bold Big Band further enhanced their growing reputation with a one hour set of contemporary classics, mainly Beatles, cleverly arranged for big band.

I opted for a seat which seemed to offer both comfort (ish) and a good view of the band. This was fine until the masses descended and les tout ensemble became hidden behind a wall of gyrating hindquarters. This wasn't an entirely bad experience but not as good as seeing, as well as hearing, an ace big band in full flight.

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - July 25

Maureen Hall (vocals); Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Alan Law (keyboards); Tom Derbyshire (double bass, vocals); Scott Adair (drums, vocals) + (second set) Colin Aitchison (trumpet, vocals); David Jobson (keyboards)

Maureen Hall has kept Rendezvous Jazz on the road for something like a quarter of a century. If it's a Friday afternoon, you'll find Maureen and the boys in Monkseaton. The Monkseaton Arms on Front Street has been home to the band for a good few years and this afternoon's session promised a sitter-in or two.

When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabama it's usually on time. However, this afternoon's 13:00 departure was delayed 15 minutes thanks to a malfunctioning keyboard. Alan Law dashed home to pick up a spare thingamajig, upon his return, our pianist soon remedied the situation and the Rendezvous Jazz express pulled out of the station - Choo! Choo!

Press release: Saltburn Big Band Open Rehearsal

Due to the success of our first 'Open Rehearsal' at Saltburn House we're intending to run this event regularly on the first Monday of each month. 

Although the Band will technically be rehearsing, with a few stops and starts in order to get things just right, this will be a live concert in reality.

The Band will rehearse between 7.00 and 9.00 on Monday 4th August and guests can arrive earlier and leave later, as the bar will be open all evening.

So please feel free to come along, bring your friends and family, and watch the musicians going through the ropes of learning new Big Band numbers.

There's no entry fee and all are welcome.

R.I.P. Cleo Laine (1927 - July 24, 2025)

La Grande Dame of Uk (and the world) jazz singing died yesterday at the age of 97.

What memories I have of seeing her and enjoying that distinctive throaty voice. Going back through the years to hearing her with, husband to be, Johnny Dankworth's Seven to the last time at the then Sage Gateshead in 2011.

On that occasion her daughter Jacqui Dankworth was also singing and her son Alec Dankworth was on bass. Both are still at the forefront of British jazz's greatest dynasty.

If they asked me I could write a book but so many words have been written already so I'll remember her with this beautiful rendition of Shakespeare's It Was a Lover and his Lass.

Farewell my lovely. Lance

BBC Proms: 'Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch @ the Fire Station, Sunderland - July 24

It's not every gig that I get to sit next to the city's mayor and mayoress and even rarer when the aforementioned dignitaries, in this case Sunderland's Councillor Ehthesham Haque and Councillor Lynda Scanlan, shake my hand. 

This was one of those occasions of being in the right place at the right time. The mayoral couple sat to my left whilst, to my right was north east folk legend Alistair Anderson. As I was, so to speak, piggy in the middle, after they had shaken hands, noblesse oblige dictated mine too was shaken.

The occasion, at Sunderland's cultural venue the Fire Station, was an 'out of town' BBC Prom presented in conjunction with Soweto Kinch's late night Radio 3 jazz show 'Round Midnight.

Last call to nominate in 2025 All Party Parliamentary Group's Jazz Awards

Time is running out if you have yet to submit your nominations for consideration in this year' All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Nominations must be in by Midnight tonight Friday (July 25). 

Don’t procrastinate but nominate now. This can be done HERE.

Lance

R.I.P. Chuck Mangione (1940 - July 22, 2025)

Another one of the all time greats has left us. Chuck Mangione, the Grammy winning trumpet player, passed away on Tuesday at his home in Rochester, New York.

One of those rare musicians that successfully covered several genres, he will be sadly missed by his many fans, friends and, of course, family. He was 84. Lance

Isobel Pearce Quintet @ Durham Fringe Festival - July 23

Isobel Pearce (vocals); Paul Stead (guitar); Brian Clemens (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

As your correspondent walked up Saddler Street to Palace Green, who should be making her way to the same destination (Durham University's Music Department)? None other than Isobel Pearce! Making a first visit to the Land of the Prince Bishops, Isobel would soon play the first of two Durham Fringe Festival concerts.

Isobel and her regular guitarist Paul Stead were names new to BSH, the bass and drums - Andy Champion and John Bradford - were very familiar faces. Originally billed as a quartet, Isobel confided there would be a special guest joining the advertised line-up. Step forward established Los Angeles pianist, currently residing in London, Brian Clemens. Casual attire (likewise Paul, Andy and John), seated at the Palace Green Steinway, would our West Coast visitor impress?

Frank Sinatra: Open-Air concert in Tokyo (1962)

Many thanks to Marc Myers of Jazz Wax for drawing attention to this classic 1962 Tokyo concert by Frank Sinatra.

It's a truly 'Swingin' Affair' with a difference. No Nelson Riddle Orchestra with all the brass and the strings. Instead it's with a sextet comprising Sinatra's long term accompanist Bill Miller (piano); Emil Richards (vibes); Al Viola (guitar); Ralph Pena (bass); Irv Cottler (drums) and Harry Klee (flute, alto sax).

Ol' Blue Eyes is at his peak and we're treated to 18 songs over 53 minutes of vocal magic.

They're all gems but, if I was faced with the unenviable choice of picking just one it would have to be Moonlight in Vermont. Possibly the greatest ballad of all-time and it doesn't even rhyme!

Check it out. Lance

Album review: Peter Johnstone - Resistance is Futile

Peter Johnstone (Hammond B3, composer); Joe Locke (vibes); Tommy Smith (tenor sax); Alyn Cosker (drums)

The hard-driving title track, Resistance is Futile hit me where it hurts and I didn't mind a bit! It's a powerful onslaught by these four jazzmen of the apocalypse with Smith's tenor shouting and screaming brushing aside all asunder. Locke's vibes are more restrained. Like Johnstone he takes a softly softly approach. Cosker, as always, dishes out the jazz version of a 'Glasgow kiss'.

New Beginnings is nice and swingy with Smith, as indeed they all are throughout the album, at the top of his game.

Stockport Jazz - news

This week’s Stockport Jazz gig at the Moor Club features the return of trumpeter Neil Yates, this time with his BYRO quartet.

BYRO (Bashford, Yates, Remon, Owston) is a quartet of acclaimed UK jazz musicians from different generations, playing a repertoire consisting of jazz standards and originals. 

Originally from Stockport and now based in North Wales, Neil Yates has a national reputation in the worlds of both jazz and folk music. As a jazz trumpeter he has toured with NYJO, the BBC Big Band, Johnny Dankworth, Gary Crosby's Nu Troop, Benn Clatworthy, and Patrick Cornelius. As a session player he has toured and recorded with a wide range of artists including Robbie Williams, Us3, Brand New Heavies, Supergrass, Lighthouse Family and Alison Moyet.

Album review: Ensemble C – Every Journey (Bandcamp etc.)

Brigitte Beraha (voice); Freddie Gavita (trumpet); Mike Soper (trumpet/flugelhorn); Anoushka Nanguy (trombone); Matt Carmichael (tenor sax); Rob Cope (baritone sax/bass clarinet/flute); Ant Law (guitar); Claire Cope (piano); Gavin Barras (bass); Jon Ormston (drums); Jack McCarthy (percussion)

I’m sure I’m not alone in finding that Jazzwise is the most expensive magazine on the racks at Smiths. It’s not the cover price but the collateral damage to your finances whenever you come across an article or a review and think “That sounds interesting. How much is the CD?" My most recent experience of this was reading about Claire Cope in a recent edition and then sending off for this album by Ensemble C for which Cope is the leader, pianist and composer.

New Century Syncopated Seven @ Blaydon Jazz Club - July 21

© Roly Veitch

Jim McBriarty (alto sax, clarinet, vocals); Gavin Lee (tenor sax, clarinet); Dave Hignett (trumpet, cornet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Keith Stephen (banjo); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Nick Ward (drums)

A little over a year ago it was the Syncopated Six. Now we have the New Century Syncopated Seven - a first gig at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club drew a large crowd, then this evening in Blaydon, there was a good turn out for more of the same Prohibition era sounds. Charts painstakingly arranged by Dave 'Svengali' Kerr, band manager Phil Rutherford (tuba) herding the cats (make that 'jazz cats'), we were ready to go.

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - July 21

© Ken Drew 

Gerry Richardson (organ); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

The Gerry Richardson Quartet is an occasional happening. Gerry Richardson's Big Idea is nothing like an occasional happening, it's more like a once in a blue moon event.* The former - Gerry (organ), Garry Linsley (alto sax), Rod Sinclair (guitar), Paul Smith (drums) - rocked up at Seaforth Street in Blyth for a Monday lunchtime (three quarters of an hour) gig at the town's Yamaha Music School.

© Ken Drew 

Comin' Home Baby (back in the day a hit for Mel Tormé) opened the show and the boys were 'on it' from note one. Soul Shadows (the Richardson vocal right on the money), My Mother's Eyes (dusted-off from the Gerry Richardson pad), time was flying. Solos shared between Gerry, Garry Linsley (alto sax) and Telecaster maestro Rod Sinclair were never less than excellent - what's new?! These guys could have played for an hour and three quarters, as it was, a mere forty five minutes and they would be done for the day. 

John Pizzarelli Big Band/Arturo Sandoval @ Tilles Jazz Fest ’25, Tilles Center Long Island, New York - July 19

This evening concert capped off what was a phenomenally successful daytime extravaganza of jazz performances that delighted the significantly large outdoor crowd.

Guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli opened the evening indoor concert, fronting a fine big band which was comprised of top New York City jazz musicians. Pizzarelli delighted the near-SRO audience, energetically performing selections associated with Frank Sinatra. Pizzarelli covered GAS warhorses such as Luck Be a Lady, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, and even a slick quasi-rendition of New York, New York.

Greg Abate @ the Moor Club, Stockport - July 20

© Jeff Pritchard

Greg Abate (alto sax/flute); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Phil Bennett (drums)

Having seen Greg playing many times  over the years during his tours of the UK I should know by now to   expect a night of brilliant bebop but even I was astounded at  how great this gig turned out to be.

He has many loyal fans in the North West and they were out in force to witness what could very well be the Moor Club's best Jazz Sunday night ever. There were at least two audience members who were actually two years older than myself but they looked younger.  The second number that Greg played in the first set was a request in honour of one of these 89 year olds, Benny Golson's Killer Joe.

Samara Joy on Radio 3 @ the Royal Albert Hall. July 19

Samara Joy (vocals);David Mason (flute. alto sax, arr.); Kendric McCallister (tenor sax, arr.); Jason Charos (trumpet, arr.); Donavan Austin (trombone, arr.); Connor Rohrer (piano, arr.); Paul Sikivie (bass, arr.); Evan Sherman (drums) + BBC Concert Orchestra: Miho Hazama (conductor)

I've been listening to jazz since I was in knee pants - or so my mama done told me. It's been a long long journey during which time I've been privileged to hear most of the legendary greats either live or on record. 

However, this surfeit of riches did not come without a price. Whilst my love of the music remained constant, in recent years I've become, for want of a better word, blasé, complacent, call it what you will, I began to sense that the thrill had gone.

Until last night that is when I tuned in to Radio 3 to listen to a 'Prom' concert from the Royal Albert Hall down Knightsbridge Way by no less a singer than Samara Joy.

R.I.P. Hal Galper (April 18, 1938 - July 18, 2025)

America pianist, composer, educator, Hal Galper, sadly passed away on Friday. Regretfully I never managed  to hear him live although I was familiar with his work on record with the brothers Adderley and the brothers Brecker.

Galper was with the latter siblings on a Berlin concert from 1977, released in 2021, that I reviewed and he kept pace with two of the fastest guns around at that time.

Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Opus 4 Jazz Club, Darlington - July 18

Greg Abate (alto sax, flute); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

The second of two gigs in a day for visiting American alto saxophonist Greg Abate. Earlier, the man from Woonsocket, Rhode Island played to an encore-demanding full house up the road in Newcastle, this evening the setting was somewhat different. The Traveller's Rest is the sort of hostelry which allows the resident jazz club to get on with it. The upstairs room on West Auckland Road attracted considerably more punters than of late - clearly word had got around!

Greg Abate tours the UK twice a year (July and November) and in visiting these shores for the best part of a quarter of a century, Darlington was new territory. Looking at the portraits on the walls around the room (see photo of Abate playing flute), Abate concluded he was the special guest of a 'modern jazz' club. Opening with On Green Dolphin Street he hit the spot with the regulars, his hard bop alto sax was just what Darlington's Dr Jazz ordered. Whoops and hollers told Abate all he needed to know.

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

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

Playlist 20/07/25 (repeated Tuesday 22/07/25)

Seasonal: The Modern Jazz Quartet, WDR Big Band w Anat, Avishai & Yuval Cohen.

Requests from Paul Skerritt's Bishop Auckland gig: Oliver Nelson Septet, Ella Fitzgerald, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, John Scofield.

Other Requests: Benny Goodman Quartet, Blue Mitchell Quartet, Flying Horse Big Band, Pat Longo & His Latin Jazz Band, Dave Brubeck/Laurence Mason, Bix Beiderbecke.

What’s on in the NE: Isobel Pearce, Ragtime Rewind.

Chamber Jazz Sextet.

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

Samara Joy: BBC Proms (Saturday)

Samara Joy sings the Great American Songbook! At 25, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy is riding the crest of a wave. BSH first came across Ms Joy when she was one of Emmet Cohen's livestream guests. The reaction then was: Wow! Subsequently, BSH has been lucky enough to hear the New Yorker sing at Ronnie Scott's, then Birmingham Town Hall, on both occasions the reaction was: Wow!

R.I.P. Chris Kaberry (August 1, 1963 - July 17, 2025)

© Russell

It is with great sadness that I've received the news of the passing of saxophonist, composer, arranger and bandleader Chris Kaberry on Thursday (July 17).

For many years Chris' baritone provided the anchor role in the sax section of the Customs House Big Band and I was fortunate in being able to hear Chris with that band on many occasions.

He later lead his own band - the Vermont Big Band - who delighted both dancers and listeners in and around North Tyneside. In the photo Chris can be seen, looking as dapper as any of the leaders at the Oxford or the Mayfair back in the day, leading the band at Cullercoats Crescent Club in 2019.

Our thoughts go out to Val who, I'm sure, has been a tower of strength throughout this sad time.

May he Rest In Peace, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Lance

Late Night Chicago Jazz Radio with Denny Farrell (July 17 - July 23)

Here's this week's hot list of cool sounds from the Windy City:

Oscar Peterson Trio: You Look Good to me.

Chris Connor: Lullaby of Birdland.

Barney Kessel: Embraceable You.

Julie London: A Foggy Day.

Larry Branchetti: I Can't Give You Anything But Love.

Sally Blair: You Make me Feel so Young.

Georgie Auld: Taking a Chance on Love.

Nina Simone: He Needs me.

Carmen McRae; Easy to Love.

Lyle Lovett: Good Intentions.

Buck Clayton: Rock-A-Bye-Basie.

Maxine Sullivan: Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Blue Moon.

Lance

LISTEN.

Bob Caswell Funeral

It has been announced that the funeral of singer Bob Caswell who died on July 13 will take place at Kettering Crematorium, NN16 8XE, on Wednesday July 30 at 10:30am. 

R.I.P. Lance

Greg Abate w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ the Lit & Phil - July 18

© Patti

Greg Abate (alto sax, flute); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Faced with a circa six hours train journey from Exeter to Newcastle for a lunchtime gig at Newcastle's 200-year-old (to the very day) Literary & Philosophical Society many of the audience, including myself, wondered if Greg Abate would: a) arrive on time, b) just go through the motions or c) deliver the bebop blast we have grown to expect from him on his many previous visits to Newcastle?

The opening On Green Dolphin Street quickly dismissed our fears. He soared like an eagle who had just dined on fried yardbird. His fingers dexterously manipulating the keywork of Selmer's vintage flagship - the Mark VI alto saxophone - and the ideas flowed. It seemed effortless but how many hours did he spend in the woodshed to achieve such greatness - it wasn't thrust upon him?

Press release: APPJG deadline extended

Due to popular demand we  have extended the deadline for close of nominations till Friday 25th July at Midnight. We still have a tight time frame this year due to raising funds for the awards and finding a suitable venue. We are grateful to the Musicians's Union for their support of the houseband and this year's venue is the World Heart Beat near Nine Elms tube station.

Here are the links:

To nominate please go to: Nominations Parliamentary Jazz Awards

Here is the link for the avoidance of doubt: https://forms.gle/zRFf76aedGiq8qYE6

Voting closes on Friday 25th July 2025 at Midnight