Album Review: Sidney Jacobs - If I Were Your Woman

Sidney Jacobs (vocals/keys/perc); Gene Coye (drums); Solomon Dorsey (elec/acoustic bass); Josh Johnson (alto sax/flute); Chris Lawrence (trumpet); Josh Nelson (piano/keys); Greg Poree (acoustic guitar); Nolan Shaheed (trumpet/flugelhorn); Joakim Toftgard (trombone); Rickey Woodard (tenor sax); Munyungo Jackson (perc); Ron Feuer (keys)

First I made an appointment with the optician so that I could read the very small print on the purple and blue CD cardboard cover. I jest of course, but like many CD covers nowadays, it caused me eye strain. After listening to the album I decided that it should have been reviewed by Steve T as it is much closer to soul music than jazz, but needs must. Sidney Jacobs has a rich baritone voice and puts the songs across well, but I'm no expert on the soul style which isn't really to my taste.

Party in the Park: Durham Brass - July 16

Durham Brass 2022 staged its Party in the Park in the glorious setting of Wharton Park. Durham City's hidden gem is within spitting distance of the north bound platform at Durham Railway Station. Who knew it - Wharton Park, that is - was there?! Well, several thousand people did as the amphitheatre was packed to the gunnels. Concert or family picnic? The latter, most definitely. Was it jazz? Tangentially, yes. 

Barbara Thompson @ Darlington

Further to the sad news of the death of Barbara Thompson, Peter Bevan kindly sent me this flyer of the 1986 Darlington Jazz Festival at which Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia appeared headlining a stellar bill. The concert was referred to in Hugh's excellent tribute. 

Lance

Album review: Sheila Jordan Live at Mezzrow

Sheila Jordan (vocals); Alan Broadbent (piano); Harvie S (bass).

How do you pass judgement on Sheila Jordan? Or the Mona Lisa or a Shakespeare sonnet? The answer is that you don't, posterity has done it for you. However, unlike  the Mona Lisa sitting ageless in The Louvre or a Shakespearean sonnet  comparing someone rather datedly to a summer's day, Jordan, despite her 90 plus years continues to perform and wow the audiences (going by the applause at this venue).

Northern Monkey Brass Band @ The Gala, Durham - July 15

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Graham Hardy (trumpet, vocals); Alistair Lord (trumpet); Jamie Toms (tenor sax); David Gray (trombone); Jason Holcomb (trombone); Paul Susans (sousaphone); Adam Sinclair (snare drum); Brendan Murphy (bass drum) + Ferg Kilsby (trumpet)

Graham Hardy has got the band back on the road. Lockdown hit hard and it's only in the last few weeks that the Northern Monkeys have once again been let Loose in the Banana Patch. The Gala's audience didn't bargain for Hardy's troop coming at them from all sides - trumpet through one door, trombone through another, braying sousaphone out in the corridor, snare and bass drums rattling a few cages. 

Album review: Art Themen/Dave Barry Quartet - Hanky Panky

Art Themen (tenor/sop sax); Dave Barry (drums); Gareth Williams (piano); Dave Green (bass).

In an earlier post we contacted Art Themen about his acquisition of a Selmer Super Action tenor sax that had been previously owned by Ronnie Scott and, before that, Hank Mobley. LINK.

Although this fine album was recorded prior to Themen becoming the proud owner of such an enigmatic instrument the feeling conveyed here is that when the instrument did, three years later, eventually end up with Art Themen it had found a good and compatible home.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland jazz student awards announced

(© Tommy Smith)

(Press release)

The winners of the annual awards given to students on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland jazz course have been announced for 2022.

Drummer Chun-Wei Kang has received the George Duncan Prize for Jazz Composition and bassist Ewan Hastie has won the Mark McKergow Prize for Jazz Improvisation. Both of these awards come with a cash sum of £300.

In addition to these, the Alan McAuley Jazz Award, which comprises a certificate and $5000, this year goes to saxophonist Sean Megaw.

Newcastle Jazz Festival: August 18 - 21

(Press Release)

Now  in   its   fourth   season,  Newcastle   Jazz   Festival returns to Tyne Bank Brewery and other local venues for four days of live jazz from across the region and the UK.

Headliners at this year’s festival include the Ivo Neame Quartet, Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie and Emma Rawicz.

Ivo Neame is an award-winning pianist and composer based in London. At NJF this year he will be joined by three of the UK’s top musicians: George Cowley on tenor sax, Tom Farmer on bass and James Maddren on drums. In addition to leading his own bands, he has featured in several of Europe’s most forward-looking jazz groups and has collaborated with ensembles as diverse as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the London Sinfonietta.

Tyne Valley Big Band & Tyne Valley Youth Big Band @ The Phoenix, Hexham - July 14

The indefatigable Dave Hignett is soon to hand over the reins of running the Tyne Valley Youth Big Band to others. To mark the changing of the guard the Tyne Valley Big Band joined forces with its junior counterpart to enjoy an evening of big band music. The Phoenix Club, a short walk from Hexham Railway Station, has been host to the TVBB's rehearsal session for many a year and this evening there was a bumper turn out to witness the metaphorical passing of the baton.

Arriving in good time for the advertised start - seven o'clock - seemed like a good idea. However, someone forgot to mention that there would be an earlier start. No matter, catching the closing number of the junior outfit's set suggested that all - sections and soloists - were on top form.

Paul Hartley Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - July 12

Paul Hartley (guitar); Phil Nicholas (trumpet); Ken Marley (bass); Eryl Roberts  (drums).

Following a great weekend down south at the Swanage Jazz Festival I was recovering on Monday after a long drive home but the next day I was ready for my regular trip to the Railway to hear more modern jazz. In spite of the hot weather there was a reasonable turnout and the show commenced at 9pm with that bebop number based on the chords of Whispering which Dizzy Gillespie called Groovin’ High.  This was followed by an interesting work out on Willow Weep For Me which was done in 6/8 time with Hartley’s guitar alluding to the Miles Davis composition All Blues.