Cool at the Coast - Warne Marsh at Whitley Bay 1975 NEW COMMENTS ADDED!

Listening recently to a tape I'd picked up somewhere along the way - "Freewheeling" by the Ted Brown Sextet - stirred a few memories and asked a few questions. The tape featured Art Pepper (alto) with Ted Brown and Warne Marsh (tenors). I'd obviously acquired the tape because of Art - over the years I've tried to grab anything that featured my favourite alto player - and he doesn't let me down. However, the question is who was Ted Brown? I've never come across him before or since yet he had the leader status over Art and Warne - both more familiar names. (Further investigation of the Warne Marsh site reveals that Ted is alive and well and still blowing age 81. See picture right.)

And the memory? For that we have to go back 33 years to the Corner House in Whitley Bay.

Who can recall (or should I say 'who can forget'?) that rather magical night when Warne Marsh, Lee Konitz, Dave Cliff, Peter Ind, Al Levitt brought the West Coast to the East Coast?

One person who remembers it vividly is Jack Goodwin, a former Vieux Carré trombone player who has since seen the light. Jack has produced an impressive website devoted to the work of Warne Marsh with what is surely the definitive discography of the tenorman. There are also photos, and recollections of the relatively unsung hero.

A must for anyone with a leaning towards the esoteric sounds of the Tristano disciples. Link to Warne Marsh site.

Lance.

Alan Glen Trio at the Chillingham

The monthly visits to the Chilli by the Alan Glen Trio never fail to entrance not least because of their seemingly endless repertoire. Tonight they kicked off with "A Weaver of Dreams" - not an overworked jazz standard - that set the mood for an hour long set. It is hard to believe an Alan Glen hour has 60 minutes in it so fast does the time go by. An up tempo "Falling in Love With Love", a reflective "Days of Wine and Roses" and "But Not For Me" as a mover were just some of the gems in a set that culminated with a tear up on "Night and Day." David Carnegie, as always, was right there when the heat was turned on whilst Lawrence Blackadder was a harmonic and melodic rock throughout.

Earlier, Take it to the Bridge played a good set with Dave's vocal chords working effectively on "A Foggy Day" and "Georgia on my Mind". Dave also exercised his larynx on "Night in Tunisia". The old bebop standard was selected by bassist John Pope - perhaps in deference to his beret. Who knows but that next week he will be sporting a goatee beard?

James the Guitar, pictured here between Dave and John, also had his moments.

For the final jam, Stephanie sat in on tenor - "Cantaloupe Island" worked.

Correction - I said 'Final jam'. The actual 'final jam' was at the Tyne Tunnel where maintenance work caused a tailback of traffic.

Photos.

Lance.

Some Like It Hot at the Star Inn York - by Liz

Why don't I do this more often? I thought after an enjoyable evening at The Star in York - I was celebrating my birthday (don't dare to ask me!) among a good friendly crowd & some great sounds. All people I know well. John Addy, whose band it is, named " Some Like It Hot" also sings, and he does it so well. I particularly liked an old Tony Bennett/Cole Porter number "I love you." I am sure you will know it Lance, it is in my head now so probably no sleep for ages. Tony sang it as a Bossa Nova... second line goes "I love you echoes the hills" then later on "It's spring again, and birds on the wing again, seem to sing again love's sweet melody, I love you that's the song I sing, and it all belongs to you and me.....or something like that!"

I'm sure you'd have enjoyed it.

Liz

Great North Big Band Jazz Festival News

More big band happenings with the sixth edition of the above event. This year it takes place on Saturday 7th March & Sunday 8th March at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St.Peter's Sunderland.

Once again, the two featured bands are the BBC Big Band on the Saturday night and the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra on the Sunday night. Trumpet player Steve Waterman is the featured soloist with the VOTNJO.

Last years event at the Stadium of Light was a hit with the fans even though the beer prices weren't. One chap said to me - "For what they're charging Sunderland should be able to buy Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney!"

Hopefully beer at the campus is cheaper!

There is also, on Saturday afternoon, a School Big Band competition and on Sunday afternoon a Youth and Open contest.

For more details contact Bill Watson on 01388 767208

Big Band Rehearsal at New Crown

The opportunity to eavesdrop on a rehearsal can be a rewarding experience, rather like watching a blank canvas evolve into a rich tapestry. It can also lead to you witnessing some lost souls up a creek sans paddle.

The Customs House Big Band went public tonight at the New Crown in South Shields preparatory to next months back to back gigs at the Customs House itself and I'm pleased to say they had paddles in abundance.

I'm not going to take away the 'Sound of Surprise' by revealing the actual numbers rehearsed. It will surely suffice for me to say that big band lovers are in for a treat.

Powerhouse brass, balanced saxes and a tight rhythm section. Add an MD controlling the dynamics and you have a very palatable recipe.

At the Customs House, Ruth Lambert will be taking care of the vocals and if you ain't heard Ruth with a big band behind her then, to coin a well worn, but nevertheless appropriate, phrase, 'you ain't heard nothin' yet'!

The band is on at the Customs House, South Shields on 24/25 March.

Vieux Carré Jazzmen at Trojan Rooms Whitley Bay - Brian Bennett

Hello, folks! In spite of the cold weather, our weekly Friday afternoon session is now 'up and running'. With a good crowd of supporters (most of them had the home-made soup and said it was superb) there's no doubt this is going to be a very popular Town Centre venue for Whitley Bay. Friday's session kicks off at 1.00pm prompt - see you there, Brian. Menu for Friday Afternoon: Homemade Soup of the Day with Bread Roll - £2.50 Quiche Lorraine, Sandwich or Baked Potato with Salad and Coleslaw - £3.00 Fillings - Tuna & Red Onion, Cheese Savory, French Salad, Ham & Emmental, Bacon Stilton & Mango, B.L.T. Tea & Coffee available - £1.00

Click for Pic.

Hank Crawford R.I.P

The alumni of the Ray Charles Band are dropping like flies as yet another one hits the road - Jack. Hank Crawford was the archtypal Ray Charles alto man. He could wail with the best of them; he could also blow hard bop and, like fellow recent departee David 'Fathead' Newman, made some soulful discs for Atlantic Records. On this clip he is introduced by David Sanborn whom Hank is said to have influenced. He died end of January age 74. Obit.

Laurie Shepherd/Nick Pride - Quadrata Café by John Taylor

Took two hours to get by bus from Ashington to Newcastle today only to find that the decorators were in at Central Square. The walls were covered in scaffolding and it seemed to improve the acoustics. Numbers were down - there wasn't room for any more because of the scaffolding!

Young Laurie Shepherd sang several jazz standards as well as numbers made popular by Amy Winehouse, Sade and others on the fringe of the jazz scene. Nick Pride was the ideal accompanist for Laurie giving a jazz interpretation to a very varied programme.

TONIGHT's SIDE GIG CANCELLED

The extreme weather conditions have caused the cancellation of tonight's NEJC gig by the ZOE GILBY BAND at the Side Café. Roly (pictured) said "What extreme weather? This is a Blaydon Summer."

Frank Rosolino

I've been listening to a lot of recently acquired tracks by the, oft mentioned within these pages, tenorist Richie Kamuca. They are brilliant.

However, Richie is not the only star; trombonist Frank Rosolino is, for me, the revelation. I'd known his work with Kenton - "Frank Speaking" was an outstanding feature - but had heard little of him until his untimely death in 1978.

On these sides, he sounds like a smooth Bill Harris or, conversely, a rough Urbie Green. Whatever, the result is some driving slidework from a greatly underrated player.

His vocal chops weren't bad either!

His death was a tragedy. In a state of deep depression, he shot his two children before turning the gun on himself.

He was 52 years old.

Click here.