Jazz Co-op Live Stream: Fergus McCreadie - May 31

Fergus McCreadie (keyboard)

Fergus McCreadie makes interesting viewing, very dramatic and enthusiastic, head bobbing, body bending towards the keyboard, unruly hair. I'm not surprised that he is a prize-winning performer as he played mostly original compositions with great aplomb.

Unfortunately the first 20 minutes or so of tonight's gig was marred by cutouts after every few notes. After Fergus made some technical adjustments this was sorted but it was rather frustrating and people may wish to catch up on the YouTube recording.

Album Review: Andrew McCormack - Solo

Andrew McCormack (piano)

A solo album by Andrew McCormack has to be checked out even though some of the tracks were first put down in 2016. Listening again in 2019, he decided there was something there and that it was worth developing further which he has duly done.

Like so often in contemporary jazz piano music it is sometimes difficult to draw a line between jazz and modern classical piano.  Is there actually a line? If there is, does each listener's positioning of that imaginary line differ?

Ewan Bleach's Sunday Serenade - May 31

Ewan Bleach (piano, clarinet, vocals)

An uncooperative Facebook denied access until fifteen minutes in...arrrgh! At which point a shaggy-haired Ewan Bleach was in the process of introducing Irving Berlin's Sunshine as a piano-vocal. In mentioning his regular piano gigs at Camden's Green Note, Bleach requested audience participation for three songs about drugs...Willie the Weeper, piano and vocals (sing-a-long), The Ghost of Smokey Joe (piano, vocals) and Jerry the Junker (piano, vocals). 

Why This Jazz Festival In Birmingham Is Like No Other

(Press release)

Ever since our very first festival way back in 1985, July has meant one thing - live jazz and blues taking over the pubs, shopping centres and squares of Birmingham and the surrounds.

It's hard to imagine summer in Brum without the jazz festival, which is why we couldn't bear the thought of cancelling this year's edition. So we're pleased to announce that you'll still be able to look forward to 10 straight days of live music in 2020, this time at the slightly later dates of 16th to 25th October.

Once again, we'll be putting on a mostly-free programme of good time Jazz, Blues, Swing and Rhythm & Blues, with performances in unusual places: museums, libraries, shopping areas, public squares, canals, a furniture store as well as in bars, cafes and hotels.

And there’s more. A lot more.

Adrian Cox's Sunday Service - May 31

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

A Barney Bigard special this week. From Morton to a long stint in the Ellington band to forties' recordings and beyond, Adrian Cox plotted Barney Bigard's career with numerous musical illustrations - My Little Dixie Home, Clarinet Lament, a collaboration with the little known Roger Kay (Adrian consulted Alyn Shipton) on Soft and Warm and Portrait of Louise. Cox played clarinet and sang on Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? inspired by Bigard's part in the 1947 film New Orleans working on screen alongside Louis, Billie, Zutty, Kid Ory, Red Callender and Woody Herman, to name just a few. 

Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie - Weathering the Storm - Latest review

In case you think I was taking a parochial view when I waxed eloquently about Jo and Jamie's album Weathering the Storm, just have a butchers at what Dave Gelly had to say about the album today in one of the posh papers - The Observer/Guardian (online) no less!

Thank you Russell for bringing this 4/5 star review to my attention.

Lance

Link.

BBC 2: Jazz Divas Gold - May 30

Following on from Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things on BBC 2 (Saturday - see Ann's review) there was more of Ella and a whole lot more from a host of 'jazz divas' in Jazz Divas Gold. The term 'diva' is often applied derogatorily, much better to simply enjoy the singing of some of the most famous jazz faces - and voices - of the twentieth and twenty first centuries.  

Much of Jazz Divas Gold (produced by Mark Cooper and Sarah Duncan in 2013) was in black and white. Following Ella we heard from, variously, Cleo Laine, as ever accompanied by husband John (Johnny) Dankworth, Sarah Vaughan on Saturday Night at the Mill from 1981, late-career Peggy Lee, a Late Show appearance by Nina Simone and comic contributions from three funny men of the time. 

The Life of Ella Fitzgerald: BBC2 – May 30

As I've said before, we never sleep here at BSH, so Saturday night found me watching TV from 9.30pm until midnight, on BSH duty. More of midnight later. The Ella Fitzgerald offering gave us an interesting account of Ella's life and career, aided by observations from the likes of Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvulu and also Ella's friend Norma Miller, and her adopted son Ray Brown Jnr. There were of course examples of her music and the atmospheric black and white cuts showing the singer performing were especially evocative.

Our Man in Hong Kong - Update on Ned Kelly's Last Stand

At Neds, we still have no live music as we have to follow the government guidelines but we are open for that pint or two and some food from 11:30am - 2:00am.

In the meantime, a video clip from the YouTube CCJazzmen archives. A wonderful visit in 2014 from trombonist/bandleader Fred Wesley and tenor sax player Ernie Fields Jr and a rockin' version of Watermelon Man.

Colin

The Link. 

Jazz Leeds Lockdown Video Show - Today (May 31)

More refreshing jazz and blues for you on this week's Jazz Leeds lockdown session this afternoon! We'll be featuring more music from the Jazz Leeds video archives with Billy Buckley's Wagon Train, Saxman Jean Toussaint, pianist John Taylor with Diane Torto and Julian Siegel, Impossible Gentlemen, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton the ever popular Nonet led by Leeds multi instrumentalist Al Wood.plus a specially recorded session from Leeds vocalist and pianist Nicki Allan. Enjoy! 1.30pm start on our video site - https://vimeo.com/424405011. 

Steve Crocker.

Saturday Night Rico - May 30

Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/vocal); Keith Nichols (piano/banjo/double bass).

I met Rico's dad and his uncle before even Rico had met them! Well, I didn't actually meet them but I heard them playing clarinet and trumpet respectively with Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight on the radio when I was still a schoolboy which was some years before Rico was born. It was a good band playing arranged Dixieland in the manner of Bob Crosby's Bobcats as well as doing the pop tunes of the day. I wonder if Rico ever played with the band in later years?*

I'm in retro mood - must snap out of it!

Kai Hoffman: Livestream - May 29

Kai Hoffman (vocals); Roger Lewyn (piano).

I missed the first 53 minutes thinking I'd be just in time to catch Kai's last number. 

I was wrong! I caught her last five numbers!

I blinked! Was this Kai? Last time I saw her was upstairs in Ronnie's where she was launching an album. On that occasion she was the archetypal blonde bombshell and the party was like something out of Some Like it Hot (BBC2 tomorrow, 3:40pm) with Kai in great voice.

This was back in 2013 and the American expat has toned down her hair but not her voice!

Streaming Rico 'n' Keith - May 29

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Keith Nichols (piano)

Minutes before going online, Rico Tomasso received a delivery from the Sussex Downs...a few bottles of beer from Harvey's Brewery. So, in addition to the tip jar, there are some perks associated with these live streams! Joining our host this week...Mr Keith Nichols! Rico's Popup Louis took its usual form - three numbers interspersed with convivial, and invariably, informative chat. 

Album Review: Niels Lan Doky: River of Time

Niels Lan Doky (piano); Tobias Dall; (bass); Niclas Bardeleben (drums).

A Danish trio  led by a very prolific pianist - if led is the correct term to use when the three musicians are of such comparable standing - playing Doky's original compositions.

After building a career in Denmark, Doky moved to NYC in 1980 and forged a career playing with just about anyone who was anyone. The blurb lists 60 of the biggest hitters of the past 40 years finishing off with "...and many more". By which you'll gathered he's been accepted!

Remembering Benny Waters

Dave Kerr kindly sent me this poster of a concert by American sax legend Benny Waters advertising a gig he did with the Savannah Syncopators back in the early 1980s.

Waters, whose career stretched back to the days of King Oliver, was still a formidable player in his eighties and frequently appeared with the Savannah Syncopators at local venues in Newcastle and South Shields as well as at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival.

Paul Edis: Lockdown Live #11 - May 29

Paul Edis (piano/vocals).

Is it 11 weeks already? Doesn't time just fly when you're enjoying yourself?!

Once again Doc Edis produced a lot of  numbers previously unplayed in this ongoing series of GASbook goodies.  

How High the Moon delivered in a more balladic style as opposed to the normal thrash by singers such as Ella and June Christy.

Tony Eales requested Waltz For Debby and Paul obliged with a fine version of the Bill Evans' classic. Bernie's Tune by Bernie Miller had me wondering why Bernie didn't write more tunes.

Strictly Smokin' Livestream #2 - May 28

Michael Lamb (trumpet/flugelhorn); Keith Robinson (alto/soprano sax); Steve Summers (tenor/soprano sax); Paul Donnelly (guitar).

A second opportunity to see another four ace players from the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's stable of stars strutting their stuff, with varied degrees of success, at great length - some might say at very great length.

As the band's number one fan, I can be forgiven for describing this as the proverbial curate's egg.

Good in parts? - I hear you say - well let's have the good parts...

Hexham Clap Sessions #7 : I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free

Who is the headless trombone player?

Back in 1986 there was a crit (criterium for the non-cyclist) around Newcastle City Centre and, as was often the case, a jazz group was entertaining the crowds in between laps - sheltered from the rain in one of the entrances to Eldon Square.

The band, on this occasion was a mix of the ancient and modern with, left to right, John Wheatley (sousaphone); ? (drums); Roy Willis (banjo) ? (trombone); ? (trumpet); Sid Warren (soprano sax) & Mike Gilby (trumpet).

Paul Edis: ICMuS LIVE Concert at Home - May 28

Paul Edis (piano)

As the Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in March it brought an abrupt halt to Newcastle University's LIVE in King's Hall public concert series. Now, albeit at a digital distance, the International Centre for Music Studies' Thursday lunchtime series has resumed. Last week Jane Nossek (violin) and Gabriel Waite (cello) played classical pieces and today it was the turn of pianist Paul Edis to entertain for half an hour or so. 

Album Review: Callum Au and Claire Martin – Songs and Stories

Claire Martin needs no introduction and is well established as the doyenne of British jazz singers with many admirers, not least on BSH! She has won British Jazz Awards eight times, been awarded an OBE and received a BASCA Gold Badge Award for her services to jazz. Trombonist Callum Au has composed and arranged music in numerous genres, but especially for big band and large jazz ensembles.