Autumn in Old York - by Liz

Today, whilst in M&S, I heard Sinatra-like sounds floating down from the first floor. Up I went, and there was this young guy looking splendid in D.J. and singing " Just The Way You Look Tonight." He was so good, so natural too with the mike, and smiling at all the ladies. It was a Macmillan charity event. Next to him they were giving away free chocs... What with the lovely melody, the chocs & the warmth of the store, it was almost too much at 1 o'clock in the afternoon... I felt quite overwhelmed, and wished it was for real !!

Liz

Pete Churchill Trio - King's Hall, Newcastle Uni.

There may be better ways to spend an hour on a Thursday afternoon but if there are, I can't think of them. This afternoon's celebration of the art of popular song by the Pete Churchill Trio - Pete Churchill (pno/vcl), Steve Berry (bs) and Eryl Roberts (dms) - was pure afternoon delight. Great standards, good vocals, punchy piano playing and entertaining descriptions of the songs, their composers and their lyricists. Pete told us how contemptuous Cole Porter was of those composers who collaborated with a lyricist unlike himself (Cole Porter) who wrote both words and music. During the hour that Pete had at his disposal we heard examples and stories of Porter, Noel Coward, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen, Phil Silvers (guess which tune he was associated with!) and Frank Loesser; to mention but a few.

Steve Berry and Eryl Roberts were the perfect rhythm section; also impressing with their own flights of fancy. In the words of Mr Porter, this was 'a trip to the moon on gossamer wings' yet much more than 'just one of those things'.

Perhaps the manager of Blackwells should have been there.

Photos

Cross at Blackwell

Prior to this afternoons Pete Churchill gig at Newcastle University I called in to Blackwell's; the bookstore adjoining the campus. I asked where the Music Section was and the girl told me they didn't have one.

I apologised to the girl for my facial expression explaining that it was because I'd been suddenly gobstricken.

By way of an explanation she said that they were 'an academic shop'.

I hope that my "Really?", delivered with a slow laconic drawl, conveyed my opinion of the store.

Probably didn't.

Ruth Lambert Trio - Egypt Cottage, Newcastle

This delightful soirée was a somewhat intimate gathering of discerning aficionados who nevertheless enjoyed Ruth, Paul and Mick's selections from the gasbook. Ruth, despite singing to a less than crowded room, was in good voice - particularly on "Trouble is a Man" - a fine Alec Wilder composition that I first heard sung by Carol Kidd many years ago. Sarah Vaughan also did something with it. Mention of Alec Wilder brings another tune to mind that I would like to hear Ruth put her stamp of authority on - "I'll Be Around."

Paul Edis, on piano, continued his winning streak from Monday at the Side with more brilliant solos as well as a few bursts on flute. Mick Shoulder handled the responsibility placed on his shoulders (no pun intended) of being the bass player in a drummerless rhythm section with ease as well as soloing effectively.

For a bonus, John Wheeler blew a couple of numbers on tenor; he should be heard more often; he gets a good sound.

The trio worked hard; in fact the only person who had an easy night was the doorman (me).

Photos

Graeme Wilson and Paul Edis Trio at the Side Café

When threatened with an evening of 'original compositions' I usually sit near the exit. However, Graeme Wilson's compositions really are original and not thinly disguised versions of standards; tonight they showed him off to perfection. Up tempo storming and rhapsodic balladry fell beneath his fingers, seemingly without effort as he took the changes in his stride. This was top quality tenor playing.

No less impressive was Paul Edis on piano his powers of invention increasing by the minute and not without the occasional humorous musical aside - did I detect a quote from 'Mona Lisa' somewhere along the line? A few Brubeck inflections here and there too.

Mick Shoulder (bs) and Adam Sinclair (dms) were perhaps less flamboyant than the other two but their contributions no less essential.

All that was missing was the audience; perhaps they had a consultation with Dr John over at the Sage - he should have prescribed the tonic being dispensed across the river.

Bollywood to Barbados via Basin Street - The Grand Union Orchestra at the Customs House

There are good gigs, bad gigs and gigs that simply blow you away; not least because the end result is so unexpected - that old 'Sound of Surprise' again. Tonight was just such an occasion. An occasion, I have to be honest and admit, that I only turned out for because it was free! I'd vaguely heard of the Grand Union Orchestra but never actually heard them. I heard them tonight alright; it was a night I'll never forget.

Promoted by Hindu Nari Sangh and rubber stamped by the Mayoress of South Tyneside, her Rubenesque charms encased in a sari for the evening, the Grand Union Orchestra gave a performance that left me breathless. Not totally jazz, in fact not totally anything! Imagine Machito linking up with Mingus and Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra. Throw in a beautiful vocalist from Bangladesh (Lucy Rahman), a bootiful Aussie tenor player (Louise Elliot), Chris Biscoe doing Johnny Hodges and some fiery trumpet from Claude Deppa and Paul Jaysinha and you've almost got the picture - almost!

Calypso, Reggae and African slave songs went into the mix as well as a rock 'n roll (ish) vocal from tabla player Yousuf Ali Khan and a steel drum happening from Trinidadian, Ken Johnson.

Leader, Tony Haynes, led from the piano occasionally moving over to trombone on some numbers.

Sixteen men and women swinging and just too many moments to remember them all.

This was world music that was out of this world and, not only was it free but there was food for the audience afterwards although I didn't actually stay to sample it! I'm sure it wouldn't be fish and chips.

I'm still up there floating on a cloud.

Photos

STT + GB + BH - ST + DN = PDG. The Sage Gateshead.

When I discovered that 81 year old Stan Tracey was unable to make the sell-out Sage Foundation Hall gig I must admit I was fearful for the man. When his son, drummer Clark Tracey, announced that Stan's incapacitation was caused by his reaction to a Flu jab I was also fearful for myself; me having a 'spiking' appointment on the horizon.

These things aside, and despite Stan's non-appearance, replacement piano man Dave Newton more than filled his piano stool --musically speaking of course --he was simply tremendous.

Meanwhile, entrenched on the front line, Guy Barker and Dutchman, Benjamin Herman, on trumpet and alto respectively, had moments when the muse descended. In particular, Monk's "Bright Mississippi" brought a slow moving first set up to speed with Guy sounding at times like Roy Eldridge and the Dutchman reincarnating Charlie Parker via the medium of the latter day Lee Konitz. I also liked the shoes on the hooves of the horns. Guy favoured Italian style black patent leather with toes so pointed he could have cleaned his finger nails with them whilst Dutch sported a pair of two tone black and white brogues that would have done credit to Charles Boyer in a 1930s movie.

The second set saw the band move up a gear, not least because of an improvement in the sound and all five punched their weight on "I Want To Be Happy".

As befits a Tracey concert, even if the only Tracey present was Stan's son Clark, Monk figured prominently in the program and Benjamin played rather beautifully on the high priest's composition "Pannonica".

Throughout, Andy Cleyndert on bass was a tower of strength but, for my money, Dave Newton was the man of the match.

A good gig that seemed to simply fly by.

As an afterthought; I had the impression that Andy Cleyndert was also from the land of dams and dykes but it turns out he was born in Birmingham - how did I pick up that misconception?

NEWS FLASH! Stan Tracey ill.

Stan Tracey, 81, has been taken ill and will be unable to appear at the Sage tonight; Dave Newton takes over on piano. The rest of the line-up remains the same.

Bean and the Boys at Blaydon - The Swing Quintet.

The spirit of Coleman Hawkins lingered over Blaydon tonight in a fine session by the Swing City Quintet which is in fact the Swing City Trio augmented by Jeremy McMurray (pno) and Billy Shields (dms). The SCT is, of course, Roly Veitch (gtr), Roy Cansdale (bs) and Steve Andrews (ten/clt).

No bebop here tonight just good old fashioned - and I'm not speaking derogatively - totally honest, middle period jazz.

Steve plays Hawkins to perfection, albeit not without a nod towards Ben Webster, Chu Berry and possibly even Ike Quebec; there's also a lot of Steve Andrews in there too.

On piano, Jeremy was as awesome as ever whilst Roly, being Roly, comped away unobtrusively in the background emerging from time to time for a relaxed vocal or a tasty guitar solo.

Bass player Roy duetted delightfully with Steve (on clarinet) for a surprisingly delicate "Tishomingo Blues". I say 'surprisingly delicate' after Steve's announcment that he first played Tishomingo with the late Peter Gascoigne; most people would agree that 'Gassy' didn't do 'delicate'!

On drums, Billy Shields did the business; rock steady as always.

Enjoyable.

Photos.

Suddenly It Jumped!

Despite the presence on vibes of former Squadronaires - and I mean the 'real' Squadronaires - drummer Lawrie Brown, the first set meandered aimlessly along in workshop mode. Some numbers gelled and some didn't. Lawrie had his moments on "Besame Mucho" and "Moonglow" whilst Dave W did something with Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way". All in all, at this stage, a fairly routine evening.

Come the second set however; the hoards descended! The room was overrun with trumpets and saxophones and basses and guitars and vocalists and sellers of raffle tickets (Allan pictured above) not all of whom made it to the bandstand.

The turning point was Freddie Hubbard's "Chicken Wings". This was 'Chicken Supreme' with Chilli Sauce added and everyone playing out of their skulls. Unfair to single anyone out as it was total interactive inspiration.

The night finished off with Shorty Rogers' "Short Stop". It swung mightily, with Lawrie, who'd sat out most of the second set, returning to turn in a pulsating solo that kept the pot boiling.

One of the better ones - eventually - and Dave has to be applauded for his efforts to keep modern jazz alive whilst providing a scenario for young players to hone their trade.

Photos.