Stockport Jazz

This Sunday Stockport Jazz welcomes Stockport-based tenor saxophonist Zac Harrison to the Moor Club, accompanied by Paul Hartley (guitar), Peter Hartley (bass) and Eryl Roberts (drums).

Sunday 8th February 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)

Album review: Asaf Harris - I Thought I Was Ready (Self. Distributed by ECN Music)

Asaf Harris (tenor sax); Guy Moskovich (piano); Omri Ever Hadani (bass); David Sirkis (drums) + Onn Yosef Kadosh (oud tk 8)

Middle Eastern sounds and gentle cinematic colour is how the press release describes Israeli tenor saxophonist, composer and educator Asaf Harris' sophomore album I Thought I Was  Ready.

Eight originals* inspired by self-reflection on  various events that have shaped his life to date. Before actually listening my first reaction was that this is going to be a load of pretentious twaddle.

I couldn't have been more wrong!

February goodies

As the days slowly but surely begin to lengthen, there is a long list of gigs well worth going to during February. Here's a relatively short list. On Friday 6th, Encounters in Concert is a coming together of two big bands at Saltburn Theatre. Durham Alumni Big Band and Saltburn Big Band will share the stage on Albion Terrace, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, it's a seven thirty start, it promises to be a memorable occasion.

Tees Bay Swing Band meets at Hartlepool's Blacksmith's Arms on Saturday (Feb 7th, 1:30pm). It's an open rehearsal and you're invited to pop along, sit with a drink and listen to the band as it's put through its paces and it's free admission! Up the road in Newcastle on Sunday evening (Feb. 8th) one of the great bands makes a swift return to Jazz Co-op HQ. In October last year Gerry Richardson's Big Idea sold out the Railway Street venue and the nine-piece band is on course to do the same thing this weekend. The Globe is a thriving, independent music venue, to show your support, book in advance at: www.theglobenewcastle.bar. Do it now or miss out! 

Southport Jazz Festival: Claire Martin @ the Grand Hotel, Southport - Feb. 1

Claire Martin (vocals); Nikki Iles (piano); Karen Sharp (sax, clarinet); Ewan Hastie (bass) 

Fans of top quality vocals were fully pleased, impressed and satisfied at the closing show of the fourth annual Southport Jazz Festival on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the spacious and well appointed Grand Hotel. The multifaceted vocalist, Claire Martin delivered a two hour concert of a winning and eclectic mix of jazz, classic standards and 1970s' pop songs.

The trio of pianist, Nikki Iles, saxophonist/clarinettist, Karen Sharp and Ewan Hastie’s bass accompanied her with sensitivity and aplomb in equal measure. The slightly unconventional absence of a percussionist was more than made up for with Hastie’s driving bass along with Iles’ relentless rhythmic fluidity of comping and fills. Sharp’s seamless verve in her swinging melodic solos, scored highly in lifting the bar of intensity and depth to engage the audience throughout.

Farewell to Ken Peplowski (1959 - Feb. 2, 2026)

The sad news has filtered through that saxist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski passed away yesterday (Feb. 2) after playing a set as part of the Jazz Cruise. Although he'd had health problems in recent years he seemed to be on the mend.

I have so many memories of seeing and hearing him over the years both live and on disc.

A Corner House gig with the Bill Harper Trio in, I think, the late '80s/early '90s got me hooked, Around about then he also took part in one of the all-time greatest north east jazz concerts at the (then) Saville Exchange, North Shields...

Marty Grosz (guitar, vocals) and Ken Peplowski (tenor sax, clarinet) were not only musically compatible but could also lay claim to be the best comedy duo to come from America since Abbott and Costello.

Grammy Awards (jazz)

Best jazz vocal album

• Winner: Samara Joy – Portrait
• Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap – Elemental
• Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell – We Insist 2025!
• Michael Mayo – Fly
• Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold & Rachel Eckroth - Live at Vic's Las Vegas

Best jazz instrumental album

• Winner: Sullivan Fortner feat Peter Washington & Marcus Gilmore – Southern Nights
• Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade – Trilogy 3 (Live)
• Branford Marsalis Quartet – Belonging
• John Patitucci feat Chris Potter & Brian Blade – Spirit Fall
• Yellowjackets – Fasten Up

Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle - Feb. 1

Annie Brown Caldwell (vocals); Deborah Caldwell (vocals); Anjessica Caldwell (vocals); Willie Joe Caldwell Sr. (guitar); Willie Caldwell Jr. (bass); Abel Aquirius Caldwell (drums)

The Globe on a Sunday evening usually wins out. However, occasionally there is an unfortunate clash with a gig elsewhere. This evening was one such occasion. The Cluny, down in the Ouseburn, opened its doors to a gospel/soul musical family all the way from West Point, Mississippi. Touring the UK, Annie & the Caldwells were on a mission.

Annie Caldwell sat for the duration, her daughter Deborah Caldwell standing to her right, to her left, daughter Anjessica Caldwell. The daughters were more, much more than backing singers. The three women shared the vocals, their sheer power shaking the foundations here on Lime Street. Sitting behind Annie, Deborah and Anjessica were Mr Caldwell and sons. Father Willie Joe Caldwell playing guitar (Mississippi swamp, hill country, soul-blues and more), sons Willie Caldwell Jr., bass guitar, and Abel Aquirius Caldwell, a powerhouse among powerhouse drummers. 

R.I.P. Andy Cooper (1942 - Feb. 1, 2026)

Sad to hear of the passing of Andy Cooper at the age of 83. I only heard him live once - at Newcastle City Hall with Kenny Ball. This would probably be mid to late '60s. I was impressed, he seemed to be a better clarinetist than most of the trad men around at the time.

I later heard him many times with Ball on record. 

He will be sadly missed.

Rest In Peace.

Lance

Sunday Night @ the Globe: The Ollie Styles Experience + Jenny Baker and guests - Feb. 1

© John Lyons

Olly Styles (tenor/soprano sax); Emma Tomlinson (keys); George GriVith (bass guitar); Jack Littlewood (drums) + Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Jennny Baker (voice, guitar)

The room was crowded, there was a feeling of youthful pizzazz in the air. An air of eager anticipation from the younger element and curiosity from those of a more mature persuasion. Come the end of the evening both factions were happy with what they'd heard.

© John Lyons

Not that I personally was in any doubt. Styles, a student of tenor ace Lewis Watson, has absorbed the great man's teachings to the extent that Lewis will soon be looking over his shoulder...

Leading from the front he led his troops through a mix of well crafted originals and a few contemporary standards that were after my time but which I loved anyway. Several numbers had unaccompanied tenor passages in which his rich tone shone through whilst others displayed his formidable technique only rarely travelling too far in to the harmonic extremes of the instrument. The same agility was applied equally effectively to soprano. Olly Styles is the real deal.

Album review: Tina Carr - Moon Over Mildmay

Tina Carr (vocals); Matt Robinson (piano, M.D.); Aanu Sodipe (violin); Miguel Gorodi (trumpet); Kieran McLeod (trombone); Sam Newbould (alto sax); Tom Ollendorf (guitar); Oli Hayhurst (bass); Rob Oughton (drums)

Every so often, an album arrives that feels less like a release and more like a quiet revelation. Moon Over Mildmay is exactly that - a record that sidles into your life with the intimacy of a late-night conversation and leaves you wondering how this voice has been hiding in plain sight.