Album review: The Manhattan Transfer - Fifty

Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, Trist Curless (voices) + WDR Funkhausorchester.

Man Tran, as The Manhattan Transfer are affectionately known amongst the aficionados have, believe it or not been around for 50 years. It just seems like yesterday when I first heard their classic versions of Operator, Tuxedo Junction, Blue Champagne and On a Little Street in Singapore. 

With the exception of the previously unrecorded version of Artie Shaw's take on The Man I Love which is quite boppy, all the tracks are new arrangements of numbers from previous albums including On a Little Street in Singapore.

The Central Bar Sextet plays Kenny Dorham's 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia @ The Central Bar, Gateshead - Nov. 14

Pete Tanton (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Giles Strong (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums) + jam session: Steve Summers (tenor sax); Ian Douglas (alto sax)

At long last an audience turned up at one Tyneside's best sessions. The Central Bar Quintet (this evening working as a sextet) guys have kept plugging away and they received just reward with a full house there to listen to a selection of numbers from Kenny Dorham's Blue Note album 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia. Pete Tanton as Dorham, Sue Ferris as JR Monterose, Giles Strong as Kenny Burrell, and the rhythm section, Alan Law as Bobby Timmons (no pressure!), Mick Shoulder taking the role of Sam Jones, and drummer John Bradford as Arthur Edgehill. 

Livestream: Benefit for Jason Yarde @ 606 Club - Nov. 14

(Hexagonal)

Too much happening to give a blow by blow account of this benefit gig for Jason Yarde who suffered a massive stroke last year in Toulouse whilst performing REPORT but the quantity and the quality of the musicians who donated their services speaks volumes about the esteem Jason is held in by his peers.

Duke’s “Sweet Letter” to the Queen features in Orchestral Celebration Concerts in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow

(© Derek Clark)

(Press release)

Music composed by jazz pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth will feature in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s In the Spirit of Duke concerts taking place in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow from 1st to 3rd December.

In 1958, Ellington met Her Majesty following a performance by his orchestra at an arts festival in Leeds. The two reportedly got on famously and Ellington, smitten, composed a suite of music that he recorded on a single gold disc, at his own expense, and sent to Buckingham Palace the following year.

The SNJO’s founder, saxophonist Tommy Smith, when receiving his OBE from the Queen in 2019, asked her if she remembered receiving the one and only copy of an LP Duke Ellington had created especially for her and the Queen confirmed that she did.

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Sam Braysher Trio - Nov. 13

(© Ken Drew)

Sam Braysher (alto sax); Andrew Robb (bass); Alyn Cosker (drums).

Music, and jazz in particular, is a funny old thing. You go to a gig and, afterwards, can't wait to buy the album. Conversely, you buy the album and look forward to hearing the band live. In either scenario the results aren't always what you expect.

Last night was just such an occasion. In March last year I'd waxed eloquently over Sam's album Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man - the album from which much of the evening's programme was drawn - and enjoyed it immensely. However, there's a difference between listening to something in the comfort of a centrally heated bedroom (those were the days) with the volume and the thermostats turned up and shivering your timbers down some mean streets in a north eastern winter only to find the band were starting late as they were dining in a Persian restaurant - as if there weren't any caffs in Newcastle.

Album review: WDR Big Band - Birth of a Bird.

Johan Hörlan, Luigi Grasso (solo alto saxes) + WDR Big Band (see graphic for personnel, soloists etc.) Arrangements by Michael Abene.

Put WDR Big Band on the cover of an album and you know you're in for something special. Adding two outstanding alto saxists playing numbers associated with Charlie Parker ups the ante to something extra special which is what this album most certainly is.

Hörlan and Grasso are both in scintillating form - they had to be to do the music justice. Fifty/sixty years on the essence of Bird's music is uppermost albeit not without the players' own input.

Livestream: Peter King Memorial: Saxophone Summit @ 606 Club - Nov. 12

Mornington Lockett, Simon Allen (tenor sax); Graeme Blevins (alto, tenor sax); Karen Sharp (tenor, baritone sax); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Adam King (bass); Mark Taylor (drums).

Four top sax player in various permutations backed by an ace rhythm section paying a deserving tribute to the late alto sax giant Peter King.

Most 'streams from the 606 run for about one hour. Although fashionably late (8 mins) this one ran for nigh on 90 minutes or the duration of nearby Chelsea football club's 'pointless' trip to Newcastle earlier in the evening. Maybe the delay was due to the ill-founded hope that Chelsea would score an equaliser - they didn't!

You win some, you lose some and, musicwise, Chelsea's premier jazz club, as always, were runaway winners.

Album review: The Cookers - Look Out!

Billy Harper (tenor sax); Donald Harrison (alto sax); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); David Weiss (trumpet); George Cables (piano); Cecil McBee (double bass); Billy Hart (drums)

A septet of vast experience (between them they've contributed to more than 1000 studio recordings), it would be difficult to think of a better post bop outfit. The Cookers' latest album, the sixth in twelve years, features the established line-up: veterans Billy Harper (tenor sax), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), George Cables (piano), Cecil McBee (bass) and drummer Billy Hart, alongside the younger generation of David Weiss (trumpet) and Donald Harrison (alto sax).

Just Friends @ Dorman's Jazz Club Middlesbrough - Nov. 10

Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Dave Archbold (keys); Ron Smith (bass guitar); Mark Hawkins (drums).

After the advertised band (Calvert And The Old Fools) was unfortunately cancelled on the day due to illness Ian Bosworth managed to get Just Friends together at very short notice to play as this month's guest band.

Formed from  well known local musicians, Just Friends played to an appreciative audience that included fellow jazz musicians Dougie Pugh, Ray Dales and John Brett.

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30pm-8.00pm (repeat Tuesdays 8.00pm-9.30 pm)

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen/

Playlist 13/11/22. (Repeated Tuesday 15/11/22)

Remembrance: Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee, Glenn Miller.

Requests from Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party: Eddie Lang, Kenny Davern, Jabbo Smith's Rhythm Aces (Ikey Robinson), Fess Williams, Clarence Williams, Jack Teagarden, Harry Reser’s Six Jumping Jacks, Bix Beiderbecke, Peggy Lee, Fletcher Henderson, TJ Johnson, Tuba Skinny. Jiggs Whigham.

Remembrance: Ella Fitzgerald, Horace Silver, Andrews’ Sisters, Neil Young, Elvin Jones.