CD Review: Dave Stryker - Eight Track Christmas

Dave Stryker (guitar); Stefon Harris (vibes); Jared Gold (organ); McClenty Hunter (drums/perc) + Steve Nelson (vibes – 1 track).

(Review by Lance).

I’d vowed not to review any Xmas albums this year but, to not do so, would be like telling the neighbourhood kids to f… off and come back when they’ve learned the words to Good King Wenceslas. 

However, I digress, DownBeat – in its wisdom – allocated 4 stars to this album which meant that I should, at least give it a listen. After all, in the same issue, Quentin Collins’ Road Warrior only managed a 3* hit and that was fantastic!.

The Eales' Report - Nov 8

On Friday, occasional County Durham correspondent Tony Eales attended two highly successful concerts. Fresh from a superb gig at the Black Swan, Newcastle (see LL's review, Thursday 7), American bop master Greg Abate made the short trip down the road to Durham's Gala Theatre for a lunchtime duo engagement with pianist Paul Edis. Yet another advance sell out on Millennium Place greeted the alto saxophonist from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Unsurprisingly, Eales reports the one hour performance was an unalloyed success with Abate and Edis picking up where they left off the night before. 

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov.3

Sunday evening - Nov.3

(Review by Russell)

Close on three hundred people had foregone sleep to ensure they caught every last minute of an exhausting but hugely enjoyable festival. Beginning late night Thursday with the annual 'welcome concert', the Classic Jazz Party was about to hear the bell for a thrilling Sunday evening last lap.

Andy Schumm is the nearest living, breathing approximation of Bix Beiderbecke and sought to emulate his hero as he entertained the Classic Jazz Party's audience with a half hour piano Professor set. Yes, Schumm, just like Bix, could play the piano! Bix's men - Arthur Schutt and Frank Signorelli - featured in the set alongside two or three of Schumm's own compositions, one of which, he conceded, wasn't exactly jazz!  

Preview: Sugaray Rayford @ The Cluny - Nov 12

(Preview by Russell)

Caron Nimoy 'Sugaray' Rayford is touring the country. On Moday night he'll be at the 100 Club, London, then twenty four hours later the man from California can be found down in the Ouseburn Delta. The Cluny's stage isn't the biggest which makes it an all-the-more enticing prospect that the 6'5", 300 lbs soul-blues voice will be jostling for space with his seven piece band in front of what is likely to be a hot 'n' sweaty adoring crowd.

CD Review: Greg Abate - Gratitude

Greg Abate (alto/tenor/baritone saxes/flute); Tim Ray (piano); John Lockwood (bass); Mark Walker (drums).

(Review by Lance).

Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas 'Hit Man' Hearns & Floyd Mayweather Jr. were some of the boxers who won titles in four or more divisions. All great fighters.

Now, transfer that to jazz and the DownBeat annual polls.  Greg Abate, on the strength of his JNE gig at the Black Swan in Newcastle on Thursday night should have aced the Flute and Alto Sax categories - this year and every year. And, after listening to Gratitude, his latest album, he should have also been a shoo in to top the baritone and tenor sax lists. I guess he doesn't have enough of those bells and whistles for the contemporary jazz crowd - Sugar Greg Hit Man Abate, the peoples' champion.

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov.2

Saturday evening - Nov.2

(Review by Russell)

The second of this year's three half hour Professor spots featured Andrew Oliver. The man from Oregon, USA first came to the attention of BSH more than four years ago when the pianist visited Newcastle's Jazz Cafe leading the Kora Band. That was very much a contemporary outfit, here at the CJP Oliver fully immersed himself in the jazz of the twenties and thirties. Stride, ragtime, Jelly Roll Morton a current obsession, Oliver, soon to return to the States after several years domiciled in London, gave a brilliant, robust barrelhouse display. 

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel - Nov.2

Saturday afternoon - Nov.2

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Jonathan Holmes and David De La Haye - link)

The Village Hotel's packed function room settled down for an afternoon of the niche, the obscure and the zany. A goofus, a bass saxophone, a violin, a washboard, a cigar box and a xylophone - your everyday selection of musical instruments one would expect to hear at a gig. Only at the Classic Jazz Party!

The Goofus Five set referenced the 'goofus'. The rarest of instruments wasn’t actually featured on stage, nevertheless set leader Mike Davis (trumpet) ensured the twenty first century's Adrian Rollini, aka David Horniblow, took centre stage grappling with the big beast bass saxophone. 

Greg Abate w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Black Swan - Nov. 7

Greg Abate (alto sax/flute); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).

(Review by Lance).

It’s dead simple really – they don’t get any better than this! Not now, not ever! A strong statement I know but this was the best alto playing I’ve heard since Sonny Stitt at Gateshead Town Hall over 50 years ago - apart from on Greg's previous visits to Newcastle that is. On that occasion, Stitt was with the Malcolm Saul Trio. Tonight Abate was with the Paul Edis Trio who have built on the legacy of the late Malcolm Saul and the domiciled Bill Harper – the keys of the kingdom are in good hands.

Apart from his alto playing, Abate’s fluting is equally world class. I have a theory. Flautists who don’t play sax tend to have got into jazz as failed classical musicians. They have the technique but their initial grounding shows when they start blowing jazz whereas the fluter who began as a saxer (my word) already has the jazz feel – just a thought and I know there are exceptions to disprove my thoughts.