The Magnolia Club

Good to hear from Alf Stone. How are you Alf? I didn't see you a couple of years ago at the Ushaw Jazz Festival. I approached this chap and said, "Hi Alf, long time no see." He replied, "My name is James!"

However, I digress. The photo is from 1952 at the Magnolia Club? I'm trying to recall the venue. I'm sure some of our, phrase this carefully, older gadgies will have memories.

The personnel is given as - (l-r) Dennis Reay (age 18), Mighty Joe Young, Brian O'Byrne, Pete Welsh, Clem Avery and Brian Richardson.

Let's hear from you.

Lance

Fever? Feeling Good!

This evening (Tuesday) and tomorrow morning (Wednesday) Peggy Lee and Nina Simone feature in two editions of BBC Radio's Soul Music series. At 6:30 this evening (on Radio 4 Extra) in a programme first broadcast in November 2002 Peggy Lee's daughter, Nicki Foster, talks about the success of the 1958 recording of Fever which was first heard two years earlier on Little Willie John's debut album. 

Liane Carroll: Livestream @ Ronnie Scott's - July 13

Liane Carroll (piano/vocals); Roger Carey (bass guitar); Dave Ohm (drums).

Like many other venues worldwide during these strange times, Newcastle's Jazz Coop and London's Ronnie Scott's are doing their best to keep live jazz available in one form or another. A common denominator linking these two venues, which are both socially and geographically distanced, is Liane Carroll.

A month ago, almost to the day, the singer/pianist played a stunning solo set from her home that was streamed via the Coop's Facebook page. Tonight she gave a trio performance streamed live from Ronnie's that must surely rank alongside some of the best gigs that that legendary club as seen and heard in recent years.

SSBB do a little moonlighting but they're still Just Friends.

The attached is not an official SSBB Lockdown session but something I wrote (with help from my arranging guru Mark Bassey) for the saxes plus rhythm and that the guys were all kind enough to record. Jamie Toms did the clever stuff of putting it all together. 

Laurie Rangecroft.
Link.

Globe Livestream: Zoë Gilby Quartet – July 12

Zoë Gilby  (voice); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums)

Zoë said it was great to be doing a live gig again and she meant it. This was a stellar performance, much appreciated judging by the comments made by the 39 or so households who were attending. I'd forgotten how good this quartet is, well together and with superb solos all round. And we have friendly chat from Zoë, and some songs with her own lyrics, which are impressive and interesting.

KIERON GARRETT PRESENTS: SYNTHONIC - Do You Remember?

(Press release)

Renowned jazz pianist breaks new ground with funk fuelled project

July 2020 marks the release of Do You Remember? The brand new album by ‘Synthonic’ – a funk fuelled, synth-led electronic project created by leading jazz pianist and composer Kieron Garrett.

As band leader of the Kieron Garrett Quartet (KGQ), Garrett has gained widespread praise for his innovative compositions and dexterous skill on keys, performing at leading international venues and festivals with an ensemble that includes leading UK saxophonist Dave O’Higgins.

A Tale of Two Cities

Orrin Evans (piano); Buster Williams (bass); Lenny White (drums) + Victor North (tenor sax).

It was the best of times (musically), it was the worst of times (non-musically) as BSH donned its gossamer wings and took a trip to Philadelphia for a Club Patio session on Evans' own patio as part of the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival. It was well worth the virtual trip featuring, as it did, some stonkingly fine piano from Evans, bass at its best from Buster, driving drums from Lenny White and excellent tenor sax from Victor North. All but the saxman were masked although even he had a visor such as hairdressers wear and his instrument was swathed in a variety of swaddling clothes held in place by a clothes peg - needs must in these strange times.

Adrian 'Birthday Boy' Cox's Sunday Service - July 12

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

Another Sunday sermon - socially distanced, of course - by preacher Adrian Cox. Clarinet and sanctifying vocals, hallelujah! Saints and sinners by the score took a virtual pew to hear 'the truth', that's the truth!   

Book Review: Jazz Journeys to Japan, The Heart Within by William Minor

I first came across Japanese Jazz - nowadays known as J Jazz - at the start of the eighties when it became something of a hype on the jazz-funk scene which was descending into smooth jazz.

I’d already become sceptical about jazz-funk as I began exploring Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Miles and Bird, but others were paying big prices for records by Japanese musicians , generally backed by top Americans, which seemed entirely lightweight and disposable, but with undeniably high sound quality for the times.

Album review: Dan Waldman Quartet - Sources

Dan Waldman (guitar); Will Vinson (alto/soprano sax); Ryan Berg (bass); Kassa Overall (drums).

It doesn't happen very often but, occasionally - and I do mean very occasionally - you hear the first few bars and you know that this is for you. It's the across a crowded room/face in a train that is passing by syndrome set to music.

It happened when I first heard The Atomic Mr Basie,  discovered Sinatra or Bird or Getz to mention but some. Now, I'm not suggesting that this is in that league but, who knows that in years to come it won't be?

More Rico & Andrew - July 11

Enrico Tomasso (cornet/vocals); Andrew Oliver (piano).

Another dress up Saturday although, compared to previous Saturdays, it was hardly the old Café de Paris. Rico did respond saying "What do you think the cravat is!" My apologies, I was expecting the dinner jacket and bow tie. Still, it's the music that counts and the numbers were high.

Opting for cornet this week, which fitted in with the Hot Five theme of the livestream, Cornet Chop Suey was a good number to stomp off with and, if my fading memory hasn't let me down, Rico more or less created the original note for note. Reflecting, this must surely have been the first virtuoso jazz cornet solo on record. It certainly set the bar.

SSBB Next Saturday ...

(Press release)

Following the success of our first live-streamed show, we can't wait to bring you an Evening of Music, with Strictly Smokin' Big Band & Beth Macari, live from Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House.

Host BBC's Radio Newcastle's Alfie Joey, will be joined by the North's most exciting big band; Strictly Smokin' Big Band, who will be performing a mixture of classic swing and contemporary big band jazz. In addition, Newcastle's own soul singer Beth Macari joins the line-up, for what promises to be a wonderful evening of live music streamed directly to your homes.