Cheltenham Jazz Festival: The Puppini Sisters @ Cheltenham Town Hall - May 2

Rosanna Schura, Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins (vocals); Martin Gormley (guitar); Henrik Jensen (bass); Peter Ibbotson (drums)

Day 2 had started well with a great gig by Joshua Redman and we returned to the Town Hall soon after for the Puppini Sisters. Now Steve booked this one, and thought he was getting something sophisticated and jazzy. I had more than half an inkling it would be more comedy cabaret based solely on their contribution to Micky Bubble’s Christmas Album and that was what we got. It reminded me of Girls Talk, the group made up of Claire Martin, Barb Jungr and Mari Wilson who were around about twenty years ago, (no one who saw them could ever forget Jungr’s unladylike, bovine bellow of It should have been me).

Nick Mondello interviews Paul Mercer Ellington

Nick Mondello - "Our Man in New York" - interviews Paul Mercer Ellington.

Paul, grandson of Duke, currently leads the 2026 version of the Ellington band and offers fascinating information about both Duke and his (Paul's) father Mercer Ellington who played trumpet with Duke as well as leading his own band. Lance

LINK

Press Release: Ticket Offer Newcastle Jazz Festival - Friday 26th – Saturday 27th June 2026

Newcastle Jazz Festival returns for its eighth season with a carefully curated programme spanning two days across Live Theatre venues in Newcastle city centre.

TICKETS

The 2026 festival celebrates the breadth and depth of contemporary British jazz, featuring leading figures in the UK jazz scene alongside musicians from our beloved North East.

Headlining Saturday evening is Mercury Prize-nominated trumpeter Laura Jurd, presenting a special concert re-imagining the legacy of Miles Davis on the centenary of his birth. Jurd's distinctive approach to the trumpet is internationally recognised, and this one-off concert brings together leading musicians for what promises to be a significant evening of music. Her programme draws on Davis's catalogue across his career, translating his energy and innovation into contemporary idiom—rock-tinged, groove-based music that honours the spirit of Miles whilst forging new territory.

Stockport Jazz

This Sunday Stockport Jazz welcomes the Vince Dunn Quartet to the Moor Club. The band features Vince on drums, Michael Hughes on vibes, Richard Wetherall on piano and Dave Lynane on bass.

Vince Dunn has over 30 years of experience as a drummer and musician. He has performed throughout the world with a wide and eclectic mix of artists with his own Orchestra and on sessions. These include Courtney Pine, The Funk Masters, Cleo Laine, Osibisa (New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival), Derrick McKenzie, award winning Blues Harpist Errol Linton, and BBC Jazz Award Winner Liane Carroll, and more.

Press release from Lancaster Jazz Festival - See you next time

It’s with a heavy heart we have to let you know that there will be no Lancaster Jazz Festival this year. Despite extensive efforts, we have been unable to secure funding from our primary funder and subsequently, we are not able to deliver the festival in 2026.

Since 2011, we have hosted a festival in the city of Lancaster, presenting artists and audiences with a welcoming space to come together and share in the celebration of contemporary jazz music. It’s been a hub for connectivity, collaboration and a spring board for some of the UK’s most innovative artists, creating so many spectacular performances over that time.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival: Joshua Redman Quartet @ Cheltenham Town Hall - May 2

Joshua Redman (tenor/soprano saxes); Paul Cornish (piano); Philip Norris (bass); Nazir Ebo (drums)

An early afternoon start for this one and I entered the Town Hall with mixed feelings. Despite being a more than capable composer himself, Redman has, in my ever so humble opinion, too often reverted back to playing the Great American Songbook and I think that this does both him and his audience a disservice in that, whilst this frequently makes for entertaining albums, you can’t help feeling that he is playing within himself and actually has more to offer.

Cheltenham Musings 1 - May 1

I trundled into Cheltenham Spa on a late running Cross Country train from Morpeth that had taken us to see Barnsley as a picturesque addition to the route. Don’t mention the points failure near Northallerton. This late arrival meant I had less than an hour to get to the DEYA Arena in the main festival site after dropping off luggage at the internationally acclaimed Clematis Guesthouse. This Steve and I managed to do with only 40 minutes to spare allowing us to enjoy the scenery on our walk.

Cheltenham is a lovely town. Originating as a spa town, (its original name is preserved in that of the two platform station with Starbucks café), it has Regency period buildings galore and a sub-Trevi fountain, (the Trevor Fountain?). There is the shop where my daughter and her husband bought their wedding rings and there is the Cheltenham Ladies College where, during Jazz Festival Week posh young ladies can go and have their ears assailed by the latest Norwegian skronk jazz. As you wander round the historical centre of town you can imagine Jane Austen setting off from Ashington to visit the best of Georgian society at the Spa (“Wor ye gannin, wor Jane?” “I’m gannin doon ta Cheltenhyam, mother, for ta tek tha watters.”)

The Chet Set @ The Globe, Newcastle - May 10

Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The Globe was the latest stop for Pete Tanton's winning project. His subject - Chet Baker - has pulling power. This evening the award-winning Railway Street venue pulled a decent crowd. What's more, it would prove to be an attentive, listening crowd. 

But not for me...I get along without you...The more I see you...Time after time...the lyrics so very familiar, beautifully sung by bandleader Tanton. Pianist Alan Law, a man who gives the impression he is never in a hurry, invariably finds the right chord under Tanton's vocal and he did just that this evening, time after time. 

Have you voted? I have!

Only three days to go to submit your nominations for the 2026 APPJG awards.

The public  vote closes on Friday May 15 so don't procrastinate but show your support for those you favour so Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

NOMINATE HERE!

Please note the criteria for the different categories:

Jazz Album of the Year (released in 2025 by a UK band or musicians).
Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK). 
Jazz Newcomer of the Year (UK-based artist, musician or group with a debut album released in 2025).
Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK).
Jazz Media Award (including broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings, photographers and books).
Jazz Venue of the Year (including jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters).
Jazz Ensemble of the Year (UK-based group who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (UK-based musician who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Vocalist of the Year (UK-based vocalist who impressed in 2025).

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired by Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Sextet @ Moor Club, Stockport - May 10

© Jeff Pritchard

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Graham South (trumpet); Kyran Matthews (tenor sax); Ellie Whiteley (trombone); Rich Jones (keyboards); Johnny Hunter (drums)

As soon as I saw the line-up for this gig I knew that it would be a night to remember and that's what it turned out to be. There were many exciting moments  provided by all six members of this fantastic ensemble. All the music played tonight were originals but as the band had already done some gigs in Liverpool and Stockport  they sounded like a well rehearsed unit. One front-liner I don't recall seeing before was Ellie Whiteley and she really nailed the trombone part. I particularly liked her unison work with the double bass on some of the tunes. 

The 58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - May 7

Kevin Eland (trumpet, flugel); Josh Bentham (tenor/soprano saxes, flute); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Dave Archbold (keys); John Daniel (bass); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Alex Cromarty (drums/vocals).

This guest band of well known and respected local jazz musicians led by Kevin Eland gave an enthusiastic audience a night of diverse well-arranged, exciting jazz. 

Curious George from the film of the same name was a good choice to start the night. The full band intro was followed by solos all round clearly showing we were in for an evening of high quality jazz. 

A nice arrangement of Sonny Rollins' Doxy was well played before Jan then took to the stage to sing one of Ella Fitzgerald's favourite songs Angel Eyes beautifully sung with a nice piano intro from Dave and mellow solos from Josh on tenor Kevin on flugel and fine guitar work from  Paul.

The Merry Month of Miles

This year, 2026, will be remembered for many things most of which we'll probably want to forget. However, one person's name will live on long after the centennial of his birth - Miles Davis (May 26, 1926 - Sept. 28, 1991).

So not only is this his year but May is also 'his month' and celebrations are taking place world wide. Venues large and small, magazines, blogs and record companies are unlocking their vaults. I don't think even Louis, Duke, Dizzy or Bird had quite this much attention devoted to them.

To celebrate the occasion two of his most influential and iconic recordings have been remastered.

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (May 7-13)

Joey DeFrancesco: Fly me to the Moon.

Tony Bennett: I Left my Heart in San Francisco.

Joe Pass Trio: Love For Sale

Linda Ronstadt: Skylark.

Flip Phillips/Scott Hamilton: A Smooth One.

Tito Puente: Mambo Diablo.

Kenny Burrell: Satin Doll.

Johnny Hartman: To Each His Own.

Paul Desmond/Jim Hall: Polka Dots and Moonbeams.

Chet Baker: Daybreak.

Gerry Mulligan: Song for Johnny Hodges.

LISTEN 24/7

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

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

Playlist 10/05/26 (repeated Tuesday 12/05/26)

Requests from Darlington New Orleans Club: Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong & His Hot Seven, Johnny Dodds and the Dixieland Jug Blowers.

What’s on/New release: Bridget Metcalfe, Freddie Benedict.

Requests: Stan Tracey, Edmund Hall, Art Pepper.

Memories: Keith Jarrett, Mary Lou Williams, Red Nichols, King Oliver & His Orchestra, JC Higginbotham, Red Garland, Gil Evans.

What’s on in the NE: Conor Emery Quartet.

Seasonal: Tina May.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area or via your smart speaker.  

Single Review: A Little Sailboat – Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle

Jay Patten (vocals, saxophone); Crystal Gayle (vocals)

Nashville-based vocalists, Jay Patten and Crystal Gayle deliver a picturesque offering of what might be categorized as “Trop-jazz” with the light and lovely, A Little Sailboat. A brief acoustic guitar and rhythm launch things before Gayle and Patten dive in. The groove here is indeed equatorial and is indescribable in the nicest way. It’s not a Getz bossa nova and it’s not crab shack Jimmy Buffett. As they paint their vivid picture, the duo simply glide over both melody and lyric with ease. It’s an involving listen.

Jeremy Sassoon @ Pizza Express, Dean Street, Soho - April 25

Jeremy Sassoon (vocals, piano); Harry Greene (guitar, saxophone); Chris Rabbit (bass); Pat Illingworth (drums)

There are nights at Dean Street where the room settles before the music even has a chance to. Low light, that gentle clink of glasses, conversations tapering off not because they’re told to, but because something in the air says it’s time.

This was one of those nights.

 

Jeremy Sassoon walked on and, almost immediately, it stopped feeling like an album launch. No grand statement, no sense of occasion being forced. Just a man, a piano, and a band in a room that seemed ready to listen. He joked that the previous night had been the rehearsal and this was the real one, but what unfolded didn’t feel rehearsed at all. It felt lived in.

 

That’s where Sassoon sits best.

 

Press release: The Globe Wins National Music Award

Stephen Ferrell accepts the award

Tyneside’s community-owned music venue The Globe won a major music industry award announced at a prestigious event held in London on 7 May. The Globe triumphed in the publicly-voted category of Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene, supported by the Music Venue Trust.

The Music Week Awards are the UK's only music awards that recognise labels, publishing, live, A&R, radio, marketing and PR - all the parts of the industry that make music happen. 

Accepting the Spirit of the Scene award on behalf of The Globe, Stephen Ferrell, the volunteer events manager, said: “Thank you, but this is not just for The Globe. This is really a win for all the grassroots venues that help to keep live music alive.”

Lady Blackbird @ Ronnie Scott's - May 4

© Monika S. Jakubowska

Lady Blackbird (vocals); Chris Seefried (electric & acoustic guitar, piano); Johnny Flaugher (bass & double bass); Tamir Barzilay (drums) + Jo Harrop (vocals)

There’s a moment in every artist’s life when they move on and up. From a club to a hall, and for some a stadium. Financially it makes perfect sense… but artistically, something can get lost in the translation. And it’s not until they return to the type of space that first defined them that you realise what’s been missing.

Nights like this.

There was a sense of anticipation as we approached Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the queue stretching right up to The Dog and Duck—not the usual split between members and general admission, not the quiet slipping in for an early seat and a drink. Just one line. One shared purpose. And the fact this sat alongside three other shows that had vanished in minutes during the members’ pre-sale told you everything. This was an internationally acclaimed artist capable of selling out thousands of seats across multiple dates… choosing instead to stand in front of just 250 people in the type of space that first made audiences fall in love with her.

Farewell to Norman Redhead - May 7

Today we said goodbye to a staunch supporter of the Tyneside jazz scene. A fair few folk filed into St Peter's Church, Monkseaton. They came from across Tyneside and further afield (Edinburgh) to pay their respects to Norman Redhead. 

Prayer, eulogy, address, commendation and farewell, the jazz element came in the form of Norman being played in by Miles Davis' Flamenco Sketches, a reading of Howard Dietz's lyrics to Alone Together, before being played out to Nat Adderley's One for Daddy-O.      

Press release: manchester jazz festival: lighting up venues across the city this May!

The festival season is now well and truly up and running

• Manchester’s longest-running music festival is back this Summer for 10 days of jam-packed festival fun and musical vibes across the city this May!
• manchester jazz festival (mjf2026) will take place between 15-24 May 2026 at venues and sites across Manchester, celebrating the latest up and coming talent from across the North, and the best names in contemporary jazz.
• Headliners include: China Moses, Andy Sheppard Trio, Yellowjackets, Toni Kofi/Denys Baptiste Quintet, Cassie Kinoshi’s seed., Bel Cobain, Lau Noah, NOUT, Cotonete, Sarsen Drift + Tom Cawley, Olivia Cuttill & Friends, Orchestra Mambo International and many more...

Farewell to a friend...

My thoughts are with the family and friends of Norman Redhead whose funeral takes place today at St. Peter's Church, Monkseaton at 12:30pm.

A quiet and unassuming person (unusual characteristics for a drummer) I have yet to meet anyone who had anything other than kind words to say about him.

One of the good guys.

Condolences and apologies for not being able to attend in person.

Rest In Peace.

Lance

Globe wins Music Week Grassroots Venue of the Year 2026

 

Well done the Globe we were all rooting for you and you delivered! Lance

Press release: Cheltenham Jazz Festival Celebrates Record-Breaking 30th Anniversary Year with Record Ticket Sales

Cheltenham Jazz Festival has celebrated its most successful year to date, with its 30th anniversary edition welcoming record numbers of festivalgoers to Montpellier Gardens, connecting over music across a sun- soaked Bank Holiday weekend.

Marking three decades of world-class music, the 2026 Festival (29th April – 4th May), brought together international headliners, genre-defying artists and emerging talent in a vibrant celebration of past, present and future. With over 41,000 tickets sold - more than ever before - this landmark year reaffirmed Cheltenham Jazz Festival’s place as one of Europe’s leading music festivals.

 

30 Years Young: A Festival Looking to the Future

At the heart of this year’s Festival was a renewed focus on the future of jazz, with GRAMMY award-winning singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae stepping into her new role as Guest Curator for 2026–2028. Across the week Corinne immersed herself in the Festival, not only performing a standout show in the Festival’s Big Top but also supporting emerging artists and spending time at the Jazz It Up programme, reinforcing her commitment to music education and access.

 

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE, FOR ...

It's time to put on your thinking caps and cast your votes. I'm not talking about those Jacks and Jills seeking sanctuary in your local town hall - BSH is above such things, we are impartial.

No, it's the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) awards where you can nominate your favourite blog, venue, album, instrumentalist etc. for consideration. But hurry, hurry, hurry the public vote closes 'Round Midnight on May 15.

NOMINATE HERE Lance

Stockport Jazz

This Sunday Stockport Jazz welcomes the Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Sextet to the Moor Club. The band features Joshua on double bass, alongside Graham South (trumpet), Kyran Matthews (tenor sax), Ellie Whiteley (trombone), Rich Jones (piano), and Johnny Hunter (drums). 

Sunday 10th May 2026

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)

Five-Way Split @ Pizza Express, Soho - April 27

Quentin Collins (trumpet/flugelhorn); Vasilis Xenopoulos (saxes); Rob Barron (piano); Matyas Hofecker (bass); Matt Home (drums)

There’s something about a Monday night at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho that always feels like it’s holding something back… like the room knows more than it lets on. You walk down those steps, past the hum of the street, and the world tightens. Sound sharpens. Conversations soften. And then, without fuss, five musicians walk on and remind you why this place still matters.

 

Five-Way Split don’t arrive with ego. They arrive with intent. A collective in the truest sense—no bandleader, no hierarchy, just five voices moving as one. You feel that immediately. Not in what’s said, but in how they listen to each other. Space is shared, not taken.

 

There’s a danger in calling a band a democracy—it can sometimes feel like a soft compromise, a levelling out where edges are dulled and nothing quite catches. That’s not what’s happening here.

 

Five valve trombonists

Juan Tizol, the long term member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra is probably best remembered as the composer of such jazz standards as, among others, Perdido and Caravan. However, it was as a valve trombonist that he made his mark with Ellington and later Harry James, Louie Bellson and various singers including Peggy Lee and Nat 'King' Cole. Listen to his sympathetic accompaniment to Cole's 1956 recording of Blame it on my Youth HERE. 

Brad Gowans played 'em all. Cornet, clarinet and slide trombone although to most of us of a certain age it is as a valve trombonist that we have him filed under. Listen to this 1946 recording of Jada by his New York Nine HERE - it's quite a blast!

Legendary North Sea Jazz Festival Reveals Full Line-Up For Historic 50th Anniversary Edition

 North Sea Jazz Festival 2026

Charlie Puth • The Roots with special guests Bilal and Jon Batiste • John Legend • The Isley Brothers • Thundercat • Questlove & Friends • Burna Boy • DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak) • Robert Glasper • Flea and The Honora Band • Pat Metheny • Nile Rodgers & CHIC • Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest • Diana Krall • Cécile McLorin Salvant  • Marcus Miller • Esperanza Spalding • Jalen Ngonda • Nate Smith • Kokoroko • The RH Factor • Christian McBride Trio • Shabaka • Joe Armon-Jones • SML • Dee Dee Bridgewater • Sienna Spiro • Joy Crookes • Julian Lage • Annie & The Caldwells • Charles Lloyd Quartet • Hiromi's Sonicwonder • Cassandra Wilson • Sun Ra Arkestra • Joshua Redman • Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane • Incognito • Amaro Freitas• Bill Frisell • Fred Hersch • Nils Petter Molvær • Alex Isley • Adrian Younge • Emma Rawicz and more

*Cécile McLorin Salvant is this year’s Artist In Residence and will perform a different set on each day of the festival*

**Tickets are on sale now via www.northseajazzfestival.com**

Newcastle Jazz Festival 2026 - June 26-27

 INFO/TICKETS

Album review: Joe Webb Trio - Neath Beat (Edition)

Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (bass); Sam Jesson 

Mercury Prize nominee Joe Webb is the quiet phenomenon of the UK/European scene. Not just for his piano technique, which is prestigious, but for his ability to reach corners of the music world that jazz rarely penetrates to any great depth.

Part of this may be due to his relative youth and affinity to Britpop and bands like Oasis - rare common denominators amongst your average jazz musician.

Neath Beat refers to the town of his Welsh birthplace where he studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before moving to London. 

Leah Rose Kirk (Jazz Voice): Final Recital @ Band Room, Music Studios, Newcastle University - May 5

Leah Kirk (vocals) with Alan Law (Piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Theo Nolan (drums)

Leah Kirk's time at Newcastle University seems to have flown by. First heard at Newcastle Arts Centre's fabled jam session, this afternoon, third year music student Leah gave her final recital. Taking to the stage with three Black Swan (Newcastle Arts Centre) jam session regulars, Leah presented seven songs for consideration by the examiners. 

Opening with Leonard Feather's lyrics to Benny Golson's Whisper Not, it was immediately clear that, nervous or not, Leah was in fine voice. Accompanists Alan Law, Paul Grainger and Theo Nolan did what they were there to do - provide sympathetic support to the examinee. 

Nick Mondello chats with Cat Connor

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqnHYStCnxc

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (April 30 - May 6)

Sonny Rollins: Night and Day.

Ray Brown: Just a Gigolo. 

Sarah Vaughan: East of the Sun.

Toots Thielemans: Unforgettable.

Diane Schuur/B.B. King: At Last.

Eddie Higgins: Moon River.

Buddy DeFranco: Twelve Tone Blues (dedicated to BSH).

Nat 'King' Cole: I'll String Along With You.

?: You Belong to me.

Rosemary Clooney: I Wished on the Moon.

Buck Clayton: After Hours.

LISTEN 24/7

Tom Waits for No Man: Neckties & Boxing Gloves @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay - May 3

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Brendan Murphy (percussion, old boot, spanner)

A new venue (new to BSH), a new album, a sold out concert performance. All on a dank bank holiday afternoon down at the coast. Tom Waits for No Man were in town and, so it seemed, every member of Lindsay Hannon's large fan club.

The new album - Neckties and Boxing Gloves - would be played in its entirety, wouldn't it? Wrong! In a move that wrong-footed your reviewer and probably everyone else on the premises, Lindsay chose to play just one number from the album, instead opting to play numbers from Tom Waits' extensive back catalogue.

Album review: Ben Wolfe - Any Time After Now (Resident Arts Records)

Ben Wolfe (bass); Joel Ross (vibes); Sullivan Fortner (piano); Chris Lewis (tenor sax); Aaron Kimmel (drums)

An album of sheer delight and beauty. Ten originals by bassist, composer Wolfe and perfectly executed by five of New York's finest including the leader himself.

Any Time After Now: The title track of the album more or less lays down what it's all about - gentle swinging sounds that were born in the 1950s and, like good wine and single malt whisky left to mature until potable to the palate. An up tempo romp recorded last year with solos all round 'cept that of the leader who's content to provide solid support,

Waltz II: As the title implies, a cool "May I have the next one?" type of number. Ross's vibes featured at length it's a delicate, handle me with care, number and, of course, Ross does just that.

Vocalist Vangie Gunn-Goodwin, GoodGunn Creative, Inc. and Grammy®-Winning Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band® to Launch The Big Phat Podcast®

May 4, 2026 Locust Valley, NY –  Vangie Gunn-Goodwin in conjunction with GoodGunn Creative, Inc. and the Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band has announced the launch of the inaugural Big Phat Podcast. The 13-episode video podcast which will launch on May 25^th, 2026. will feature Gunn-Goodwin along with co-hosts Andrew Kesler, et al, will be a unique multi-media presentation all about the life, compositions, arrangements, recordings and ancillary activities of Grammy-winner Gordon Goodwin and his world famous, award-winning Big Phat Band. The Big Phat Podcast will be available via YouTube® and all other podcast platforms.

“This unique podcast series is a special acknowledgement and retrospective of the incredible legacy of Gordon Goodwin, his life, compositions and arrangements, diverse projects, and his 25-year history leading the world-famous Big Phat Band,” said Gunn-Goodwin. She added: “Over the years, we have had so many inquiries about Gordon and his music. The podcast will allow us to share all things Gordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band with fans and students  world and cyberspace wide.”

Midnite Follies Orchestra @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - May 2

Alan Barnes, Richard Exall, Michael McQuaid (reeds); Mike Henry, Pete Rudeforth, Rico Tomasso (trumpets); Alistair Allan (trombone, vocals); Gordon Campbell (trombone); Dean Stockdale (piano); Tom 'Spats' Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Malcolm Sked (string bass, sousaphone); Richard Pite (drums)

The late Keith Nichols' legacy lives on. A couple of years ago, trombonist Alistair Allan set about reviving the Midnite Follies Orchestra. Putting together an ace line-up, the twelve piece ensemble can be heard on occasion, whether in London (recently at the Spice of Life) or here in the 'far north', ie Darlington. 

This afternoon's Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club promotion attracted a large turnout, little wonder considering the calibre of musician on show. Essentially an Ellington programme, to the strains of C Jam Blues, one by one, members of the ensemble strolled onto the stage. Their ever-increasing number upped the decibel count, we were in the Cotton Club, Harlem, NYC. From here on in, the Midnite Follies could do no wrong.

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

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

Playlist 03/05/26 (repeated Tuesday 05/05/26)

Seasonal: Dulcie May.

Requests: Dave Brubeck, Benny Golson, Walter Smith III.

Memories: Alan Skidmore.

Requests: Jean Goldkette & His Orchestra, Eddie Condon and His All Stars. MJQ + Wynton Marsalis, Oscar Peterson.

Tony Eales' Best of British Big Bands: Guy Barker.

Requests: Mal Waldron, Tina May.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area or via your smart speaker.    

Vintage jazz on vintage TV

Watching an old episode of The Cheaters on Talking Pictures - a grainy TV series from the early 1960s starring John Ireland - I was impressed by the soundtrack which captured the essence of what was happening on screen - rather like the pianist's back in the day when pictures were silent.

I had to wait until the credits rolled before I discovered that it was no less a musician than Bill le Sage!

Apparently Bill, seen here with a recreated Dankworth Seven, provided the soundtracks for all 29 episodes. The only other musician mentioned by IMDB is Ronnie Ross.

Jazz is out there, you just have to look for it between the ads for 'Pure Cremation' and 'Sun Life Insurance'. Lance

More Duke Junction @ the Globe

© Ken Drew

Further to Sylvia's review of Duke Junction's contribution to the Globe's celebration of International Jazz Day at the Jazz Co-op's HQ on the corner of Railway & Plummer (I know it doesn't sound as hip as '12th Street & Vine' but what the heck...?) Ken Drew sent me some additional photos.

Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms - May 1

Maureen Hall (vocals); Herbie Hudson (harmonica, vocals); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Alan Law (keyboards); John Robinson (bass guitar); Scotty Adair (drums, vocals)

May Day. Monkseaton. Blue skies. Warm sunshine. A bustling Front Street with its small, independent retailers, cafes, micro pubs (three of 'em), not one, but two chippies, how many out on the street knew that a weekly jazz gig was about to begin on their doorstep? 

International Jazz Day @ the Globe: Duke Junction - April 30

© Sylvia T

Nadim Teimoori (tenor saxophone);  Jeff Hewer (guitar);  Martin Longhawn (Organ);   Steve Hanley (drums) + Richard Hall (guest tenor saxophone on two numbers).

There were several reasons to celebrate at the Globe on  April 30. The first was that it was International Jazz Day. The second reason was that it was the Globe’s 12th birthday as a community run music venue and the third was that Duke Junction were appearing.  Little wonder then that by 7.30pm the house was filling up  and tables and chairs were being brought in to fill any vacant corner.

© Russell

Duke Junction bill themselves as being inspired by, amongst others, Art Pepper, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington (from where they took their name), and although  there was only one Ellington number in the set, it was the beautiful Prelude to a Kiss with a lovely guitar intro by Mr Hewer.  However,  there were a couple by Billy Strayhorn, Ellington’s long time collaborator. The others included tunes by Jack McDuff, Booker Little, and Grant Green who’s Jean de Fleur Mr Hanley took round the block and back again! There was also an intriguing original entitled  Anemonia by Nadim Teimoori which, apparently means nostalgia for things that never existed.

Buxton International Festival 2026 - Jazz

Thanks to some astute programming by the recently appointed Jazz Director for Buxton International Festival, Wesley Stephenson, the jazz content of this year's festival looks particularly appetising.

Tyneside based Wes, a director of Jazz North East and organiser of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music has put together 19 concerts featuring many top jazz acts both national and international.

Details of the various concerts taking place at the festival - which runs from July 9 - 26 with an emphasis on the 'Jazz Weekender' (July 9 - 12) - can be found HERE. Lance

Single review: Freddie Benedict - Colours (self)

Freddie Benedict (vocal); Chris Bland (piano); Kieran Gunter (guitar); Luke Fowler (bass); Floyer Sydenham (drums)

There’s something about a debut that tells you whether it’s going to be a moment… or just another tune that drifts past. Colours doesn’t drift. It moves. It shifts. It finds its shape as it goes - never settling in one place for too long.

This isn’t a tentative first step. It carries a kind of natural assurance, the sort that comes from understanding how to let a song unfold rather than trying to pin it down. Nothing forced, nothing overplayed. Just a line set in motion, and the confidence to follow where it leads.