OMG! I've just realised I haven't picked out any male singers! So, to make amends I've added, in no particular order, The following:
Lance
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas with Steve T on Nova Radio
Paul Edis' A Jazzy Xmas on Jazz FM tonight (Xmas Eve)
Paul Edis, whose annual, highly acclaimed show, A Jazzy Xmas, has been playing to packed houses across the region, last Thursday moved his theatre of operations closer to his adopted homeland with a concert in the Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall.
For this prestigious show, apart from Jo Harrop, the north east line-up was replaced by a team of London's finest. Glenn Wright reviewed the show for BSH and the actual gig itself was recorded and can be heard on DAB radio or via your smart speaker at 7:00pm. LINK. Lance
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Album review: John Pizzarelli - Dear Mr. Bennett (Green Hill Music)
A loving tribute to the late Tony Bennett, one of the great vocalists whose centennial is celebrated next year.
John Pizzarelli is the ideal choice. His voice is far enough away from Bennett's to avoid comparision whilst maintaining the same jazz feeling, maybe more so. Bennett was undeniably, one of the great GASbook interpreters however, his bel canto inspired jazz chops didn't quite cut it for me whereas Pizzarelli is the out and out jazzman both as a singer and a swinger on both voice and guitar. At the end of the day I wouldn't be without either.
R.I.P Jim Douglas (1942 - Oct. 7, 2025)
Sadly and unforgivably, I failed to post an obituary on BSH when Jim Douglas passed away on October 7. He was a guitarist that I enjoyed hearing live over many years, particularly during the 19 years he spent with that fine rip-roaring Alex Welsh Band. Thanks to the late Randy Heads, who introduced me to Jim after a gig by the band in a Sunderland park, I got to shake his hand!
Although doubling on banjo for the band's warhorses, he also brought sensitivity to it when he reverted to guitar and was often featured playing ballads such as the YouTube clip above recorded many years later. The mastery was still there - I guess he took it to the grave with him.
Greatly missed. Lance
R.I.P. Chris Rea (1951 - Dec. 22, 2025)
The passing of Middlesbrough singer, songwriter rock and blues guitarist Chris Rea on Dec. 22 may only be of marginal relevance to hard core jazz-heads but to many of us his talent crossed the genres and his slide guitar technique always came across as authentic.
Midnite Follies Orchestra @ The Spice of Life, London - Dec. 22
Mike Henry, Lewis
Taylor, Pete Rudeforth (trumpets); Michael McQuaid, Alex Clarke, David
Horniblow, (reeds); Alistair Allan (trombone, vocals), Rory Ingham (trombone);
Martin Litton (piano); Spats Langham (guitar, banjo, vocals); Malcolm Sked
(double bass, sousaphone); Richard Pite (drums)
Arriving 11:20 am at Cambridge Circus
in time for a 12:30pm start would be soon enough, wouldn't it? Well, yes and
no. The Spice of Life usually draws a decent crowd, however, an hour and a half
ahead of the down beat, this Monday lunchtime gig saw punters queueing up the
stairs and out onto the street.
The attraction? The Midnight Follies Orchestra, no less! Formed by the late Keith Nichols to perform the music of Duke Ellington, the MFO had lain dormant for quite some time. Dormant that is until Alistair Allan decided it was time to revive the ensemble.
Monday, December 22, 2025
Mike Hall Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - Dec. 21
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| © Jeff Pritchard |
A full house turned out to sèe that most erudite of local jazzmen Mike Hall with a stellar backing trio of Richard Wetherall on piano, Eryl Roberts on drums and bassist Gavin Barras.
As always Mike prepared a varied playlist and Chick Corea's Armando's Rhumba and Strayhorn's Isfahan gave pianist Richard a chance to display his prowess. Mike also played a couple of Bob Mintzer tunes Play Pretty and Papa Lips on which he was featured strongly. My favourite tune of the night was Ellington's Star Crossed Lovers which I first heard played by Dave Liebman and Mike Nock.
Album Review: Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra - 20/20 (New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings)
Atzi Muramatsu (cello), George Burt (guitar), Maggie Nicols (vocals), Ann Pearce (voice, electronics); 2. Mike Parr-Burman (guitar), Raymond MacDonald (saxophones), Aviva Endean (clarinet), Corey Mwamba (vibes), Allan Wylie (trumpet), Helen Svoboda (bass); 3. Rick Bamford (drums, percussion), Gerry Rossi (piano), Maggie Nicols, Ceylan Hay (voice, violin), Yasuko Kaneko (trombone); 4. David Robertson (percussion), Robert Henderson (trumpet), Una MacGlone (double bass), Armin Sturm (bass); 5. Jim Whyte, Tom Butler (synthesiser), Jessica Argo (theremin, cello), Cliona Cassidy (voice), Sia X-Ray (vocals, electronics); 6. Peter Nicholson (cello), Gerry Rossi; 7. Peter Nicholson, Maggie Nicols, Maria Sappho (piano), Daniel Wilfred (voice, clapping sticks), Corey Mwamba, Ken Slaven (strings); 8. Corey Mwamba, Daniel Wilfred, Ken Slaven, David Wilfred (digeridoo); 9. Raymond MacDonald, Una MacGlone, Rick Bamford; 10. Maggie Nicols, George Burt, Faradena Afifi (saxophones, strings); 11. Jim Whyte, Armin Sturm, Guro Gravem Johansen (vocals), Allan Wylie; 12. David Robertson, Mike Parr-Burman, Sia X-Ray, David Wilfred, Yasuko Kaneko, Daniel Wilfred; 13. Maria Sappho, Raymond MacDonald, David Wilfred, Maggie Nicols, Ann Pearce, Jessica Argo, Tom Butler, Faradena Afifi; 14. Atzi Muramatsu, Rick Bamford; 15. Ceylan Hay, Ken Slaven; 16. Rick Bamford, Maggie Nicols, Maria Sappho, Robert Henderson, Ceylan Hay, Una MacGlone; 17. David Robertson, Rick Bamford, Ceylan Hay, Robert Henderson, Armin Sturm, Una MacGlone; 18. Allan Wylie, Ken Slaven, Ceylan Hay, Helen Svoboda; 19. Corey Mwamba, Robert Henderson, Armin Sturm, Daniel Wilfred; 20. David Wilfred, Ken Slaven, Maggie Nicols.
Best of 2025
It’s that time of year again when we look back and cast half an eye into the next year. I have heard some excellent music this year, too much in fact to review everything I’ve listened to. There have been some great gigs in unusual places, some at odd times of the day and it seems to me that this music we love keeps on expanding outwards, both at the fringes of jazz itself, but also by bringing music from other genres into the fold. (Whilst typing this I am listening to Seb Rochford’s Finding Ways, as fine a selection of grunge jazz as you’re ever likely to hear. One of the most pleasant surprises has been finding jazz in places, such as Rothbury in Northumberland and Burford in the Cotswolds, which are away from the larger towns and cities. In both of those cases a group of enthusiasts are doing it for themselves because no one else will and I can only wish them every success.
Album review: Steve Lodder - 2 Sorts of 3 (Sleeve Records)
Electric
(Plugged) Trio: Steve Lodder (Rhodes Mk 8 electric
piano); Dudley Phillips (electric bass/acoustic bass
guitar); Nic France (drums).
Acoustic (Unplugged) Trio: Steve Lodder (Yamaha acoustic piano); Freddie Jensen (double bass); Marius Rodrigues (drums).
There is something quietly radical about 2 Sorts of 3, Steve Lodder’s latest release. It doesn’t announce itself with volume or virtuoso display; instead, it invites the listener into a carefully considered conversation about sound, space and choice. The album’s premise is deceptively simple: two piano trios, one acoustic and one electric, alternating across the record. What emerges is not contrast for its own sake, but a thoughtful meditation on how context reshapes musical meaning.
Lodder, long admired for his work across British jazz and beyond, resists the temptation to frame the album as a stylistic showdown. The acoustic trio — piano, double bass and drums — leans into lyricism, air and nuance. The electric trio, anchored by Rhodes piano and electric bass, brings groove, texture and a subtly modern edge. Rather than competing, the two line-ups feel like parallel narratives, each illuminating different aspects of Lodder’s compositional voice.
Paul Edis & Jo Harrop — A Jazzy Xmas Late Night Jazz @ the Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall Dec. 18
Paul Edis
(piano); Jo Harrop (vocals); Freddie Gavita (trumpet); Rory Ingham (trombone); Vasilis Xenopoul0s, Alex Garnett (saxophones); Gareth Lockrane (flutes,
piccolo); Johanna Bernhardt (violin); Matyas Hofecker (bass); Matt Home (drums)
Seasonal jazz can so easily tip into the dutiful, but A Jazzy Xmas — staged at the Royal Albert Hall as part of its Late Night Jazz series in the Elgar Room — felt anything but routine. Intimate, warmly conversational and smartly arranged, this was Christmas music handled with care rather than tinsel.
At the centre was pianist and musical director Paul Edis, whose curatorial instincts are as sharp as his touch. His reworking of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town nodded knowingly to Bill Evans — specifically the trio language Evans explored on Trio 64 — reframing a ubiquitous tune with poise and harmonic wit. It was affectionate without being reverential, a lesson in how to modernise the familiar without sanding off its charm.
Strictly Smokin' Big Band's Christmas @ the O2 City Hall, Newcastle - Dec. 21
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| © Stephen Beecroft |
Northern Orchestra: Bradley Creswick (Leader, violin)
This was something different! When is a SSBB gig not something different? Every concert is unique always a new theme. Admittedly Xmas isn't exactly new - it's been around for a while - and, in the case of SSBB, last night was its 15th Xmas concert and the first with the added strings and French horns of Bradley Creswick's Northern Orchestra.
There were many 'stars' in both ensembles but the one who stood tallest was surely Stuart McLean-Fowler. His arrangements and meticulous transcriptions were no less than amazing!
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Preview: Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ O2 City Hall - Dec. 21
Michal Urbaniak (1943 - Dec. 20, 2025)
Violinist Michal Urbaniak died yesterday (Saturday Dec. 20), he was 82. In his early days he worked with Zbigniew Namyslowski, later on he recorded/played with many big names including Miles Davis (on the Tutu album).
Rest In Peace.
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead - Dec. 20
A Jazz Attack performance is an opportunity to hear the next generation of musicians. In their early teens (some perhaps not yet teenagers!), tutored by experienced staff, the environment on the banks of the Tyne, is that of a hothouse under the domed roof of the Glasshouse.
Two trumpets, a flautist, a violinist, a pianist and drummer, under the watchful eye of their tutor (see photo of the tutor), the stars of the future played a short set in front of a large crowd, seated and standing, on the riverfront concourse.
My Little Suede Shoes (a feature for trumpet), Watermelon Man and Winter Wonderland made for a short set. Short, yes, but a glimpse into the future. In the coming years we'll be hearing more from these young musicians, that's for sure. Russell
Giles Strong Quartet @ The Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland - Dec. 19
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| © Ken Drew |
Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
On a cold 'Blackeye Friday' evening Sunderland's Cultural Quarter was buzzing with numerous attractions - the Empire, the Fire Station, the Peacock, Vesta Tilley's, the Dun Cow and Sunderland Minster.
The Old Black Cat Jazz Club made a considerable impact during its short time at 1719 in Hendon. Circumstances beyond the control of the OBCJC necessitated a move away from 'Old Sunderland' and when the opportunity arose to move to a more central location, it was grasped with all four paws.
Press release: Sunday night @ the Globe - Free party!
There will be live music all evening starting about 6:45pm provided by a range of musicians many of whom often play at The Globe.
The named acts include Milne Glendinning Band, Magpies of Swing, Fourpenny Rabbit, Triple Tap and regulars from Take It To The Bridge
There is a very loose programme but there's no point in publicising it because it will probably change on the night. Expect spontaneous improvisation.
There will be a free cold buffet made up of food that people have brought along to share.
Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (Dec. 18 - Dec. 24)
Stan Getz: I've Got You Under my Skin.
Billy Eckstine: Everything I Have is Yours.
Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz (?): Blues.
Carmen McRae: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
?: You Are Too Beautiful.
Sam 'The Man' Taylor: Harlem Nocturne.
Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass: At Last.
Chet Baker: On the Street Where You Live.
Dave Brubeck Quartet: Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).
RIP: Gordon Goodwin.
Seasonal Requests: Louis Armstrong/Benny Carter, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Gerry Richardson.
Memories: Bobby Timmins/Art Blakey, Cab Calloway, Chet Baker.
Seasonal: Chris Barber.
Requests: Ahmad Jamal, Emma Rawicz, Michael Bublé.
Christmas: Tim Boniface, Oscar Peterson, Peggy Lee.
Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington Area or via your smart speaker.
https://www.ayclifferadio.co.
A Happy Christmas to all our listeners.
Classic Swing’s Christmas Party @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec.19
Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); Neville Hartley (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards, raffle compere); Alan Rudd (double bass); Ian Stocks (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals).
The room was packed…30 minutes before the band started there was not a seat to be had. The regulars knew that Classic Swing’s Christmas party was not one to miss and they were out in force, Christmas hats and jumpers galore. Friends were hugged, gossip was exchanged and drinks were bought.Then we were off!
Friday, December 19, 2025
R.I.P. Alan Glen (1936 - Dec. 16, 2025)
Legend is an often exaggerated term when labelling the passing of someone and indeed can be, to say the very least, somewhat flattering.
Not so in the case of pianist, composer, bandleader Alan Glen who peacefully left us yesterday. In the annuls of north east jazz Alan was a legend's legend and probably the most complete musician to grace this neck of the woods.
Muscular problems effecting both wrists as well as his back curtailed his playing in recent years which must have been very frustrating for a man of his ability.
Fraser Urquhart@ Jazz at the Lit & Phil - Dec. 19
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| © Patti |
A quite delightful afternoon of quiet and gently restrained solo piano jazz. The mood was of a late night supper club without the distraction of cutlery clanging or waiters calling for two ham and eggs over easy and fries on the side. Instead it was more of a hip Amadeus jazzing up a European salon.
His back to the audience, the concert began with a reflective meandering exploration of Isn't it Romantic?. The answer was yes. After an extended build up, Sometimes I'm Happy emerged generating a nice easy swing before following up with a dreamy I Cover the Waterfront (Eddie Thompson used to introduce it as I water the front cover). Most people think of Glenn Miller (RIP) when Tuxedo Junction is played but wise owls know it was first recorded by co-composer Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra. The rolling rhythm of Urquhart's left hand told me that he knew it too.
Christmas Jazz and Carols – A Fundraiser for Peace @ St Peter’s Church, De Beauvoir Town, London - Dec. 14
Pete Horsfall (trumpet, vocals); Adrian Cox (clarinet,
vocals); Honey Boulton (guitar); Tom Ward (piano); Simon Read
(double bass) plus a choir of Hackney primary schoolchildren
A wonderful
seasonal evening in London at the beautiful St Peter’s Church De Beauvoir
organised by De Beauvoir Jazz Festival and in support of Médecins Sans Frontières. The evening opened with a talk by a doctor who had worked for Médecins Sans Frontières explaining the work they do and her work with this organisation. An all star
quintet of internationally renowned jazz musicians from the UK had been put
together for this concert most of whom needed no introduction.
This concert took place on the back of a very successful De Beauvoir Jazz Festival in July 2025 which included multiple concerts at various venues in the area to include not only St Peter’s but also the Scolt Head which acted as an HQ for the festival. The Festival organisers were responsible for this event with of course the support of the church which was packed to the rafters.
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Lazy River Band @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Dec. 17
Chris Perrin (keyboards, clarinet); Valerie Perrin (cornet, melodica, keyboards, vocals); John Farragher (clarinet, vocals); Brian Martin (banjo); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone)
'Tis the season to make big bucks. The Spanish City festive lunches are popular affairs and this afternoon's musical entertainment was provided by Tyneside's long-running Vieux Carré Jazzmen. Meanwhile, back at HQ on Cullercoats Bay, a depping band of some renown stepped into the breech.
The Lazy River Band playing a gig in the area is an occasional happening and this mid-December gig was one such occasion. No doubt some of the VCJ's loyal following made the short trip along the coast to Whitley Bay, others stayed put, loyal to the Crescent Club and its range of paninis and toasties.
Album review: Louise Balkwill - Chatterbox (Chatterbox Music)
This is rather special and if it had been scheduled for this month instead of February 2026 it would have been a top contender for Vocal Album of the Year. As it is, Chatterbox will be in the mix next year.
The blurb describes the album thus: "A love letter to the classic vocal jazz tradition, updated with fresh energy for new audiences, Chatterbox is a deeply swinging, warm-spirited collection of original vocalese, buoyant original compositions, and inventive reworkings of beloved jazz standards. With her instinctive sense of time, lyricism and storytelling, Balkwill bridges the lineage of classic vocal jazz with a contemporary, conversational voice — rooted in tradition while unmistakably her own." I'm not going to call them out on that, every word is spot on.
Caper at the Coffee House by Warren Barker
Further to my post about the old TV show 77 Sunset Strip, Maurice Summerfield, who was also a fan, as well as being Barney Kessel's authorised biographer, made a few observations on Kessel's role on that and other soundtracks...
Guitarist Barney Kessel played on the 77 Sunset Strip TV show's jazz-infused soundtrack, specifically contributing guitar to albums like the "Pop and TV Themes Go Jazz" compilation by Warren Barker and His Orchestra, alongside other top jazz players like Buddy Collette, Shelly Manne, and Red Mitchell, bringing cool jazz vibes to the detective show's popular theme and related tracks.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Stockport Jazz
For the final gig of 2025, Stockport Jazz welcomes the return of the Mike Hall (sax) Quartet featuring Richard Wetherall (piano), Gavin Barras (bass) and Eryl Roberts (drums).
Sunday 21st December 2025
8-10pm, doors open at 7.30pm
£5 entry on the door, all welcome
The Moor Club, 35 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport SK4 4PB (next to the Elizabethan PH).
Arts Council England - an independent review by Baroness Margaret Hodge.
(Chris Hodgkins' response.)
The independent review of Arts Council England by Baroness Margaret Hodge can be seen here
The organisations who responded can be seen here: Annex 7: Arts Council England (ACE) Review - Contributors to the Review
I could only spot three jazz organisations who responded - individuals are not disclosed. Lets hope there is a better response for the review of the BBC Charter.
The DCMS states that: "This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge. These organisations were all invited to provide evidence through a variety of means. This, however, does not mean all attended and provided evidence." This is clearly nonsense as the Parliamentary Jazz Group submitted its response through the consultation process and was not invited to give evidence or attend any meeting.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
77 Sunset Strip - The Office Caper (Season 3 Ep. 4)
77 Sunset Strip was my favourite show back in the day. Like Peter Gunn, Dragnet, Johnny Staccato and other black and white cop/private eye shows the music was always as hard-hitting as the action.
Sadly, no complete episodes are floating around in cyberspace - maybe one day they'll reappear although I'm not holding my breath.
This clip of a fight scene is something else! Lance
R.I.P. Marilyn Mazur (1955 - Dec. 12, 2025)
When Lance asked me to write a few words to mark the passing of American born Danish percussionist Marilyn Mazur on Dec. 12 aged 70, I had to confess I knew nothing whatsoever about her. When he admitted the same I felt in good company, and jazz is all about exploration.
Born in New York in 1955 to Polish and African-American parents, she moved to Sweden aged six where she would become a much-loved jazz musician, leading a number of bands before playing on Aura, the album that reunited Miles Davis with Gil Evans and she played in both of their bands as well as those of Wayne Shorter, Jan Garbarek and Denmark based Japanese pianist Makiko Hirabayashi.
Press release: Gearbox Records launch £1 token
Last week, our beloved Jazz insurrectionists Knats shared a genre-busting new track, a razor-sharp collaboration with indie band lots of hands..
Simply follow the link below, purchase the token for a nominal £1, and receive
1. Hi-Res digital download of “Take a Seat on the Settee”
2. 20% off all Vinyl and CDs at our official online store
3. 10% off our brand new clothing range at our official online store
You can take advantage of the discounts multiple times until expiry on 31st January 2026.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Jazz on the Tyne Christmas Special 2025
Paul Edis & Friends, Ezra Collective, Harry Connick
Jr, James Taylor, Laufey, Louise Dodds, Silje Nergaard, Bugge Wesseltoft, Diana
Krall, the Keith Brown Quintet, the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and
the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band.
You can listen to the show anytime HERE.
Plus, you can request tunes for future programmes by
emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com
or heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.
Presto Music Awards 2025 - Jazz Winners
The annual Presto Music Awards for 2025 have been announced - see graphic.
For full details go HERE.
Good to see Olivia Cuttill as the winner in the Newcomer in Jazz 2025 category - very well-deserved. Lance
Emma Fisk's Hot Club du Nord @ Hutton Rudby Village Hall - Dec. 14
Emma Fisk (violin); Dr. James Birkett, David Harris (guitars); Bruce Rollo (bass)
Hutton Rudby Village Hall, near Stokesley, has established itself as a nice little music venue, and this was HCdNs 3rd visit here. It was a special event, as Alan, who had originally persuaded the organisers to book HCdN, had unfortunately died earlier in the year, and all the proceeds from the night, including the raffle, were going to the British Heart Foundation, in his memory.
Jim Collins & John Hulme w. Paul Hartley Trio @ the Moor Club, Stockport - Dec. 14
John Hulme (trumpet); Jim Collins (sax); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Andy Bold (drums)
© Jeff Pritchard
A good night of modern jazz played by a quintet of local (north west) musicians three of whom Andrew Bold, Jim Collins and John Hulme play in Andy Bold's big band. The band played mostly modern jazz standards plus two lesser known tunes Bernstein's Some Other Time and Vince Guaraldi's Christmas Time is Here. My personal favourites were Lee Morgan's Ceora a feature for John and Benny Golson's Along Came Betty. The frontline was ably supported by Paul Hartley on guitar and Ken Marley on bass with Andrew Bold powering things along on drums.
Sugar; Ladybird; Ceora; Some Other Time; Speak Low; This I Dig Of You; There is no Greater Love; Christmas Time is Here; Old Folks; Along Came Betty; St Thomas Jeff Pritchard
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