Album Review: Oliver-Smith Incomparables – Stomp Your Stuff (Turtle Bay Records) - Take two.

Andrew Oliver: piano; Hal Smith: drums (1-9, 11-13); Colin Hancock: cornet (1-4, 7-9, 11-13), alto sax (7); Andy Schumm: clarinet (1-5, 7-9, 11-13), cornet (3); T.J. Müller: trombone (1-4, 7-9), 11-13); cornet (6), vocals (6); Jacob Alspach: guitar (1,2,4,8), banjo (3,7,9, 11-13); Dan Anderson: string bass (2-4, 7-9, 11-12), tuba (1, 13)

Over the last few years, there’s been a significant revival of jazz music of the late 20s and early 30s. Marvelous performers such as Bria Skonberg, Terry Waldo, Ricky Alexander, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks et al, have successfully mined the vast amount of music published during that era. With Stomp Your Feet, the Oliver-Smith Incomparables dive deep into the treasury of music from Chicago’s famed Melrose Publishing - at that time a key player in the genre. And, by brilliantly incorporating these here arrangements and orchestrations in the style of Jelly Roll Morton, the Incomparables provide listeners with a baker’s dozen outstanding selections.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (Aug. 13 - Aug. 19)

Monty Alexander: In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.

Karen Allyson: How Long Has This Been Going on?.

Hank Jones: 'Round Midnight.

Sonny Rollins: Three Little Words.

Etta James: Don't go to Strangers.

Frank tenor sax?: Polka Dots and Moonbeams.

Dinah Washington: Call me.

Frank Sinatra: The Summer Wind.

André Previn: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.

? : I'll be Seeing You.

LISTEN 24/7 HERE.

Album review: Zaccai - Sonoluminescence (TRRcollective)

Zaccai Curtis (piano, Rhodes, Yamaha keys, vocals, comp. arr.); Craig Handy (tenor sax, flute); Joe Dyson (drums); Brevan Hampton (congas, perc.); Luques Curtis (bass 1, 2, 3, 7); Mike Boone (bass 4, 5,6, 8) + Aurelien Budynek (guitar 4); Julie Acosta (voice 8) 

Sonoluminescence can occur when a sound wave of sufficient intensity induces a gaseous cavity within a liquid to collapse quickly - or so Professor Google tells me. Frankly it sounds about as exciting as watching a partial eclipse. The latter activity which, last night, seemed to have gripped the nation reminded me of Ronnie Scott's joke about the whole town turning out to watch the traffic lights change.

I'm not sure what, if anything, the big word has to do with the music although I'll find out if I make it to the last track 

Abbie Finn Trio: National Mackem Day @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland - Aug. 12

Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (double bass)

A once-in-a-generation event. No, not National Mackem Day, rather a near total eclipse of the sun, to be followed later in the evening by a meteor shower. A national shortage of eclipse glasses would mean many would forego the experience of looking directly at the sun. Some took an 'anti-woke' stance, staring straight at the burning orb. After all, it was some 93 million miles away, what harm could it possibly do? Oh, well...

Sheepfolds, standing in the shadow of Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light on the north bank of the Wear, attracted a capacity crowd for its National Mackem Day event. All manner of performances - music, theatre etc - would entertain the revelling Mackems. In a sea of SAFC shirts (the new season's pink away strip prominent) one or two Geordie interlopers kept a low profile. 

Dave Lee Trio @ Pizza Express, Soho - August 8

Dave Lee (piano); Alec Dankworth (bass); Winston Clifford (drums)

This was indeed, a historic concert. Pianist Dave Lee, will, on 12 August (today) be 100 years old. He is probably best remembered for playing in the Johnny Dankworth Orchestra from 1954 to 1959 and is fondly remembered by fans of that band. It was fitting that the Pizza Express was packed to the rafters for this lunchtime concert and equally fitting that two of the UK's finest players, Alec Dankworth and Winston Clifford, on double bass and drums respectively, were his accompanists, particularly Alec who is the son of the late, great John  Dankworth.

Dave opened the session by telling the audience that at the age of 5 he learned to play Empty Bed Blues from his dad's record collection.  It was by Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong.  In a droll fashion, he added that at the age of five he had never heard of Bessie or Louis. 'I learned the blues chords before my dad confiscated the record because I played it so much' he said 'and so we'll start off with some blues now'. 

The Total Eclipse

 

Given the mega publicity re today's forthcoming total eclipse this seemed an appropriate song for the event with its reference to flying up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun. Carly Simon may not be an out and out jazz singer but she can certainly help them out when they're busy. Lance

P.S.: Despite all this hype, we're advised against watching without special glasses or some jiggery pokery where you can have a gander with the help of a colander. There's something going on at the Glasshouse - bring your own colander.

Album review: Nicolas Meier World Group – Elysian Drift. (MGP Records)

Nicolas Meier (guitars); Alex Hutton (piano); Tom Mason (bass); Demi Garcia Sabat (percussion); Randolph Matthews (voice) + José  Almarcha (Flamenco guitar on A Night in Sant Cugat)

There are musicians who travel in search of inspiration and there are those whose music becomes a map of the places they have visited. Nicolas Meier belongs firmly in the latter camp. For years the Swiss-born, UK-based guitarist has built a musical language that comfortably inhabits jazz, Turkish folk traditions, flamenco, North African rhythms and contemporary European improvisation. On Elysian Drift, those influences don’t compete for attention—they coexist beautifully.

 

Inspired by journeys shared with his wife, artist Songul Yilmaz-Meier, whose evocative artwork graces the album cover, Elysian Drift feels less like a travelogue and more like a collection of memories. The destinations may stretch from the Mediterranean to the Middle East, but the real journey is emotional rather than geographical.

Album review: Mari Wilson - Girl About Town. (Beehive Records)

Mari Wilson (vocals, compositions) + unnamed support

The last time Mari Wilson was on my radar was at Harrogate in a show called Girl Talk where she sang in a triple dead heat with Barb Jungr and Claire Martin (see graphic). This was circa 2005 which was pre-BSH so I have no record to prompt my memory of the evening.

Since then whilst Martin and, to a lesser extent Jungr, have had their show of exposure within this realm, Wilson seemed to have vanished, like Harrogate Town from the Football League - until now!

Now, Harrogate has begun the return to respectability with a 5-2 win and Mari is releasing this album which, in its soul-retro pop genre, is about as good as it gets.

If These Walls Could Talk: James Pearson, Jamie Safir and an unforgettable evening of stories, songs and Soho @ Yamah Music

James Pearson, Jamie Safir (pianos, storytelling)

There is something rather magical about Soho on a warm summer evening.

 This summer in particular.

 

Long after office hours officially end, the streets refuse to slow down. Thursday has quietly become the new Friday, and nowhere illustrates that better than Wardour Street. By six o’clock the pavements were already overflowing. Pints balanced precariously on window ledges, wine glasses caught the evening sunshine and conversations spilled effortlessly from pubs into the street. There was laughter, optimism and that unmistakable feeling that London, when the weather allows it, remains one of the world’s great cities.

 

The sun beat down on pavements bleached almost white by weeks of relentless heat. It is a summer that will surely be remembered for years to come.

 

Jazz on the Tyne Welcomes Back Abbie Finn & Harry Keeble

In the latest edition of the podcast, presenter Colin Muirhead welcomes back to the show drummer Abbie Finn and saxophonist Harry Keeble.  Abbie and Harry talk about the Finn-Keeble Group, ahead of their gig at Pizza Express in Soho on 19^th October, as well as their other projects.  Along with music by the group, you’ll hear tracks by the Abbie Finn Trio, Five-Way Split, Omar Sosa, Fergus McCreadie, Fraser Fifield, The Scornful Four, and Knats.

You can listen to the show anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request music for future programmes, pass on news or leave feedback by emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or by heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.