Magpies of Swing @ the Globe - April 10

© Sheila H

Neil Hopper (drums, valve trombone); Nigel Robson (trombone); Lara Hopper, Polly Corbishley (trumpet); Lachlan Fotheringham (clarinet, soprano sax); Gill Bisdee (clarinet); Aleksandra Karpiuk (flute, vocal); Rachel Richman (alto sax); Fiona Finden (tenor sax, vocal); Stu Finden (baritone sax); Alex J. Gamble (guitar, banjo, vocal); Owen Jones (bass); Jordan Barnes (piano); Elise Rana (drums, vocal); Kate Stebbing, Darius (vocals)

The conventicle of magpies assembled both on and off stage - such were their numbers. Their supporters were out in force, the intention being to put some currency into the coffers to help fund the  repairs to the Globe's upper room. A worthy cause.

© Sylvia T

Stomping off with Fats Waller's Yacht Club Swing the floor was soon awash with bodies out-shimmying sister Kate. Sister Kate herself, Kate Stebbing, sang In a Mellow Tone and I'm Beginning to See the Light. Kate has a pleasing babyish voice that brings to mind Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw and bathtub gin.

Album review: Jacqui Dankworth - Windmills (Perdido Records)

Jacqui Dankworth (vocals); Charlie Wood (piano, arranger); Oli Hayhurst (bass); Ralph Salmins ( drums) + the Carducci String Quartet* (tks 2, 8, 10, 11, 12); BBC Big Band**(tks 1, 3, 4, 6) + Bedazzle!*** (tks 1, 5, 6, 9)

As her mother was before her, along with Norma Winstone, Jacqui Dankworth is now the benchmark for the current crop of singers with aspirations to aim for and they couldn't go far wrong by starting with Windmills.

Like all in the Dankworth dynasty: Cleo Laine, Sir John Dankworth and Alec Dankworth, jazz, a sense of swing, an individual approach and an appreciation of music in general is deeply embedded in their genes and never more so than this interpretation of some classic lyrics and not yet time-worn melodies.

Album review: Nel Begley - Small Flame (self-released)

Nel Begley (vocal); Paul Edis (piano); Honey Boulton (guitar); Luke Fowler (bass); James Law (drums); Harry Brunt (tenor sax on tks 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8)

A new name to me but, on the strength of this album, Nel Begley will surely become a voice to be reckoned with in the pantheon of UK jazz singers.

Cherokee sets the scene. The voice captured me from the opening bars - this promised to be something else, and it was. The approach is cool and laid back yet the sound is warm and the scat solo as logical as a horn chorus or the piano, guitar and bass solos that followed.

Preview: Jim Muirhead @ Stockport on Sunday (April 13)

This week’s Stockport Jazz gig at the Moor Club features Jim Muirhead on sax and clarinet with Dan Whieldon (piano), Ben Muirhead (bass) and Nathan England-Jones (drums).

Jim Muirhead was born in Lanarkshire and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.  In 1990 Jim became clarinetist for the Halle Orchestra.  Jim has also regularly performed as a soloist with the Halle, as a saxophonist in Christopher Gunning's 'Poirot Variants' and this season in the Hollywood film composer John Williams' concerto 'Escapades', based on his score for the film 'Catch Me if You Can'. In jazz, he has performed with Kenny Baker, John Dankworth, Roy Willox, Mark Nightingale, Julian Joseph Quartet, Branford Marsalis, and Bob Mintzer at the 2006 World Sax Congress in Slovenia. He is also a tutor at Chetham's School of Music, where he also directs the Big Band. PH

The 58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman's Jazz Club, Middlesbrough - April 3

Kevin Eland (trumpet/flugel); Donna Hewitt (tenor sax/clarinet/flute); Edd Maughan (guitar); Dave Archbold (keys); John Daniel (bass); Alex Cromarty (drums); Jan Spencelayh (vocals).                                                                                                                           

This guest band led by the well known trumpeter Kevin Eland gave a large and enthusiastic audience an evening of diverse and  exciting jazz,  including several new arrangements by Dave Archbold.

A fine start was made with a swinging  Clifford Brown number - Blues Walk. The full band intro was followed by solos all round clearly showing that we were in for a great night from these talented musicians. Jan then stepped up to show her lovely singing voice with the Buck Clayton version of All the Cats Join In.

Press release: Fini Bearman - Last Night of the World (Pastiche Recordings)

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer Fini Bearman will release her fifth studio album Last Night Of The World in April 2025, via UK record label Pastiche Recordings. Having built an impressive profile as an imaginative and expressive soloist and collaborator, gaining nominations for London Jazz Singer of the Year from the Global Music Foundation and a Deutsche Jazz Preis for vocal album of the year to name just two of many accolades, Fini Bearman presents her very best work to date, which is a culmination of the vast experience and burgeoning talent that she has gained and cultivated throughout her career so far.

Preview: Josephine Baker: the First Black Superstar (Tuesday 8)

First broadcast in November 2009, Josephine Baker: the First Black Superstar is being shown again this evening on BBC 4 at 10:00pm. This Saturday (April 12) marks the 50th anniversary of the death of the African-American singer and actor. Resolute in her opposition to segregation, Baker insisted audiences should be integrated. A courageous trailblazer, as the programme title suggests, Baker was 'the First Black Superstar'. Russell   

Preview: Bombay Jazz (Tuesday 8, BBC Radio 4 Extra)

The 1930s. New Orleans...Chicago...Paris...Bombay. Bombay Jazz (BBC Radio 4 Extra) is a revealing half hour shedding light on the thriving jazz scene in Bombay (now Mumbai), all of a century ago. Chic Chocolate (see photo), Micky Correa and others were at the forefront of Bombay's jazz world. Armstrong and Ellington would venture east, meeting up with Indian musicians to play jazz. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014, Sarfraz Manzoor narrates a fascinating story, tune in today at 10:30am and/or 4:30pm. Russell    

Magpies of Swing - Globe Fundraiser Thursday April 10

The response to the recent Globe Fundraiser was magnificent and it was set fair to go ahead with the much needed renovations and improvements. However, the best laid schemes of mice and jazz clubs oft go awry and the recent damage to the upstairs floor has done just that.

Step in the Magpies of Swing* who, this Thursday (April 10), will do their bit to help ease the unexpected additional financial burden. Now it's up to you to do yours. Tickets HERE. Alternatively, you could chance your luck and just turn up on a wing and a prayer with your fingers crossed and not walking under any ladders but, better to be safe than sorry. Lance

Sunday night @ the Globe: Leeway - April 6

© Sheila Herrick

Alan Law (piano); Jude Murphy (bass, vocals); Tim Johnston (drums)

In their own sweet way, to misquote the title of a Brubeck tune that wasn't played by the trio last night, this was as enjoyable as many an over-hyped gig played here, there and everywhere in recent years.

You can count the number of north east based jazz pianists who can (maybe) outswing Alan Law on the finger of one hand however, as that musician has now retired from public performing...

Is there a bass player who can can sing better than Jude? Is there a singer who can play bass better than Jude?

Add a driving, sympathetic drummer and the stage is set for - who knows?