Sassafrazz @ The Cherry Tree.

Siobhan Stanley (vcl); Mark Deeks (pno); Peter Morris (bs); John Forster (dms).
(Review by Lance.)

Sassafrazz, I suspect is a new band although no doubt they are all seasoned professionals - perhaps as seasoned as my Warm Salad of Confit Duck and Chorizo Sausage with which I started the evening.

I missed the first number just as Siobhan "Missed the Saturday Dance"  which she struck up with as I arrived. Well, just as they "Crowded the floor" in the song so did the diners crowd the tables both upstairs and down. It was a very good turn out although it has to be said that this was in part due to pianist Mark Deeks who, in a parallel    universe, is involved with the Inspirational Choir at The Sage and several of his choristers had come along in support - I don't think they would have been disappointed.

Ian Forbes breaks wrist in car accident.

Ian Forbes (pictured left) has been in a car accident and suffered a broken wrist. This means he is temporarily out of action. We send our best get well soon wishes.
Lance.

CD Review: John Surman – Saltash Bells (ECM 279 8108)

John Surman (various instruments.)

(Review by Wes.)

It has certainly been a great pleasure for me to have spent the last few weeks giving repeated listening to one of the new ECM recordings that is Saltash Bells by John Surman. I would however say that it is certainly one that presses the inevitable question of how well can you actually put into words a series of such spacious and free spirited musical compositions, for indeed music surely is it’s own language.

Farewell Maggie Ross

She fought long and hard but sadly, she lost. The death was announced yesterday of blues singer Maggie Ross - one of the finest blues gals around the north-east and indeed anywhere. Facebook had been overflowing with support for Maggie who only 10 days ago was interviewed on Look North. The tributes on the social network site have started and there will be a deserved deluge.

Only this morning I received an email from Anne (DeVere) Harper which gives an indication of the love Maggie inspired.
Hi Lance, don't know if you caught Maggie on 'Look North' last week. I worked with her at the Mayfair in the 80's. She has a huge following in the R&B venues and has a big voice for such a cutie. She has terminal cancer and if you track her on Facebook you can see all the posts--tragic as she was so vivacious and loved by all. The lass will fight to the end!!! Love Anne.
Listen to Hoochie Coochie Woman recorded less than a year ago at Stockton.

Lance. (Photo by Amanda Morgan).

CD Review: Arild Andersen / Tommy Smith and The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - Celebration (ECM 279 0947)

(Review by Wes)
I've been spending a bit of time listening to the Arild Andersen ECM 40^th anniversary Celebration album recently and it’s not hard to recognize that you are listening to musicians of an exceptionally high standard playing at the top of their game.

New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ The Dolphin Centre, Darlington. September 1

Band leader Dave Kerr, Steve Andrews (tenor saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Gavin Lee (clarinet & tenor saxophone), Alan Marshall (clarinet, alto saxophone & flute), Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto saxophone & vocals), Graham Hardy (trumpet), Alistair Lord (trumpet), Don Fairley (trombone), Keith Stephen (banjo & guitar), Emma Fisk (violin), Neville Hartley (piano), Phil Rutherford (sousaphone) & Steve Doyle (drums).

(Review by Russell).

Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club has a new home. The closure of Darlington Arts Centre precipitated a move across town to the Dolphin Centre in Horse Market. The Arts Centre was a favourite of many a jazz fan and it remained to be seen how many would  transfer allegiance to the council-run sports centre. A white-walled room, suspended ceiling tiles and windows lacking curtains or blinds made for a functional office setting. High back chairs in rows, one or two tables at the back of the room – one needed somewhere to rest a pint of Guinness – and things were set fair. 

FRED HERSCH - SOLO PIANO UK TOUR

OCTOBER 2012
2  LONDON, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre. 7.45pm. £20 - 0844 875 0073.
3  BURY ST EDMUNDS, The Apex. 8.00pm. £16 - 01284 758000.
4  BRISTOL, St Georges Bristol. 8.00pm. £21 - 0845 40 24 001.
5  SOUTHAMPTON, Turner Sims. 8.00pm. £18 - 023 8059 5151.
7  MUCH WENLOCK, The Edge Arts Centre. 8.00pm £16, £14 - 01952 728911.
9  LEEDS, The Venue, Leeds College of Music. 7.30pm £15 -  0113 222 3434.
10 MANCHESTER, Royal Northern College of Music. 7.30pm. £17, £14 - 0161 907 5555.
11 OXFORD, Church of St John the Evangelist. 8.00pm. £18.00 - 01865 305 305 (Note change of venue.)
12 EDINBURGH,  Queen's Hall. 8.00pm. £18, £16.50 - 0131 668 2019

Shame Newcastle isn't in there! However if you read Dave Brownlow's review again you may want to buy the CD!
Lance.

Prom 59 - The Broadway sound.

After missing out on Seth McFarlane at Ronnie's on Thursday I decided to watch tonight's Prom which featured, among others, Seth with John Wilson's Orchestra. Hearing Seth backed by the Geordie André Rieu is somewhat different to hearing him backed by the Ronnie Scott Jazz Orchestra - I wish! Nevertheless, he is a man for all seasons and he coped well on Sue Me from Guys and Dolls as well as the other numbers. A few jazzmen kicking around the orchestra. Matt Skelton on drums and I think that could have been Mark Nightingale among the trombones. Away from Seth, I liked Anna Jane Casey's Don't Rain on My Parade. AJC also led the team of dancers in the encore which was a splendid tap routine.

It's good to see The Proms expanding its horizons - the NYJO and Martin Taylor's Spirit of Django concerts were excellent. 

Tonight wasn't a jazz night but there were some nice moments for those of us who believe a song doesn't have to be decimated into a hundred choruses to be enjoyed! Personally I enjoy both the decimated and pre-decimated versions of the popular song.

Lance.

CD Review - Graham Dechter: Takin' it There.

Graham Dechter (gtr); Tamir Hendelman (pno); John Clayton (bs); Jeff Hamilton (dms).
(Review by Lance.)

A must for guitar buffs! Graham Dechter, a young guitarist from Los Angeles, lives up to his hype as being poised and polished, suave and swinging - he is all these things and more. Both Dechter and pianist Hendelman paid their dues in the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and it is fitting that the co-leaders of that orchestra complete the quartet here.

The 6 and 2 Threes Sextet @ The Sage. August 31

(Review by Russell)

The last in the summer series of gigs on the concourse featured a band of student musicians led by the impressive pianist James Harrison. Originally billed as the Henchmen Sextet, on arrival the poster at the door said 6 and 2 Three’s Sextet (sic). Was this the same band with a sudden change of name? 

The acoustics in the cavernous space don’t help musicians at the best of times and on this occasion, despite the assistance of a sound engineer, the sound balance was poor and PA announcements left an awful lot to be desired.