CD Review: Rik Harris Group - Errands.

Ric Harris (gtr); Micah Rutschman (vbs); Mason Cormie (bs); Tom Haugen (perc) + Daniela Bisenius (vln); Jack Scott (fl).

(Review by Lance).

Beautiful - a breath of fresh air amid some of the current sounds that are passed off as jazz. Reminiscent of the MJQ but with the feel of today about it I simply adored this.

Rutschman on vibes hits the perfect medium between the richness of Hampton and the sometimes "milk bottle"sound of Jackson. Harris is ahead of the game both as player and composer and is ably supported by Cormie and Haugen. Here's a YouTube clip of the vibists New York Uni Audition for his Jazz Masters Vibraphone degree.

Northern Monkey Brass Band - The Boiler Shop, Newcastle.

Graham Hardy, Alistair Lord (tpt); David Gray, Mark Ferris (tmb); Jamie Toms (ten); Brendan Murphy (bass drum); Alex Tustin (snare dm); Phil Rosier (tuba).

(Review by Lance)

This was the third of the monthly "Steamers" held in "The Robert Stephenson Boiler Shop" and the first one that I'd attended - or even heard of!

As the venue's name implies, in Victorian times, Robert Stephenson, son of George Stephenson, produced locomotive parts including boilers which led to the family becoming world leaders in the early days of locomotion.

On a sunny day like today, midst the beer, food and other attractions it was hard to imagine its industrial past although, take away the bars, the food stalls and the bric-a-brac, the fading walls and the iron girder beams may well have reminded you.

I digress.

Johnny Deps in Crook - Paul Edis Sextet at St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook, Friday 7, June 2013.

Paul Edis (Piano), Mick Shoulder (Bass), Adam Sinclair (Drums), Graeme Wilson (Tenor Sax), Chris Hibbard (Trombone) and Johnny Dunn (Trumpet and Flugelhorn).

(Review and photo by Jerry.)

7.30 p.m., summer sun (about time) streams through the high window, nibbles are on the tables, bottled ales are flowing and a chattering Crook crowd thinks they are in for a great evening. Adam’s drums rip into Administrate This, the chattering stops and the crowd know they are in for a great evening! Bring one of the region’s best bands to one of the region’s most welcoming venues and how can you fail?

Toyshop @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle.. June 2, 2013

Tom Dennis (trumpet), Michael Underwood (tenor saxophone), Sam James (keyboards), Conor Chaplin (double bass) & Corrie Dick (drums)

(Review by Russell).

A toyshop, a youngster’s dream. I'll have two sets of, let me see…hard bop, please. Toyshop, a quintet, got together at Trinity London, each member having fingers in numerous jazz jam jars and of late have acquired a taste for the music of the late, great, hard bop trumpeter Clifford Brown.

It was t-shirts and jeans on the stand but the music was that of the sharp-suited American heroes of the era; Brown, Roach, Blakey, Rollins and co.. Toyshop, unassuming, polite and so, so good. Cool, committed to the music, the frontline horns played unamplified and piano, bass and drums had their volume levels spot-on right from the start.

North East Four (NE4) @ The Star Inn, Newcastle. June 5.

Paul Gowland (ten); Alan Law (pno); Ray Truscott (bs gtr); Paul Wight (dms).
(Review by Lance)

The North East 4, not to be confused with the Birmingham 6, exploded at the Star Inn tonight. This is a new band of four good men and true who played an interesting mix of originals and standards - composed I guess by six string bass guitarist Truscott who wrote the originals and they were original! Standards were Stomping at the Savoy (re-titled Savoy Cabbage and Chick Corea's Spain.)

From Our Man in Hong Kong.

Hi All,

Now TV have been in touch, and have told me that they have the Ned Kelly's 40th Anniversary documentary that was shot last December, now on Youtube, they have told me that an English version will follow soon, so for those of you who missed it, and who are not on Facebook,  here it is in 3 parts, with some extra stuff which was not used  when it first went out.

Regards

Colin
Ned Kelly's Documentary Part One.
Ned Kelly's Documentary Part Two.
Ned Kelly's Documentary Part Three.

A Brace of Albums from Satoko Fujii - Time Stands Still & Spring Storm.

(Review by Steve H)

Satoko Fujii is a Japanese classically trained avant garde pianist, multi bandleader and composer and that information is probably enough for you to decide whether you will enjoy these CD’s or not. However if you are willing to give  ‘Free Jazz’ a go then I'm sure you will get a lot out of these fascinating and intricate discs.

RIP Ben Tucker

Bass player Ben Tucker died after being hit whilst driving a golf cart across a road.
Tucker, 82, had a long jazz pedigree and appeared on many recordings.
Details.
All About Jazz.
Lance.

CD Review: Nikolaj Hess Trio - TRIO.

Nikolaj Hess (pno); Tony Scherr (bs); Kenny Wollesen (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Denmark's Nikolaj Hess has combined with Scherr and Woolesen to produce an album that emphasizes the lyrical and poetic, mood-filled and simple, raw, unpolished and yet virtuosity and refined..
So reads an extract from the blurb.

I found it contained a delightful, reflective, almost pastoral use of light and shade. This was just so romantic! Not Wham Bang Thank You Mam rather the progression of a genteel courtship. An expression of love with only an undertone of lust as Hess displays a classical feel without loss of the jazz mood. If Chopin had been born in New York and received tuition from say Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett he may have sounded like this - even on the Bob Dylan pieces such as Make You Feel My Love (the courtship begins) or Masters of War (the passions intensify).

RIP Jack Laing

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of tenor saxophonist Jack Laing.

Jack played in innumerable bands for over 60 years - latterly with the Duggie Pugh group,  the Tees Hot Club and was a founding member of the Musicians Unlimited Big Band.

Jack was a great player with a wicked, dry sense of humour and a real pleasure to have on the bandstand.

He was also a fine tutor who taught and influenced many players in the North East.

The funeral arrangements for Jack Laing are as follows.

Friday 7th 3.30 pm at St. Bedes Crematorium Middlesbrough and then from 4.30 pm back at Guisborough Rugby Club for the rest of the evening.

Danny Allan’s band is playing but if any other musicians want to join in they are very welcome. He will be sadly missed.

Ian Bosworth

(Funeral details from Ron Hampton.)