Bute 2013

To complement his tribute to Mike Durham and the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, Roly Veitch has sent me some superb photos of the WJRK (sadly without Mike who is pictured left in a publicity shot kindly supplied by Patti Durham) including a shot with Patti, the family and the band by Andy Wilson at this year's Bute Jazz Festival.
Photos.
Lance.

Preview: Gwyneth Herbert - The Sea Cabinet - Sage Gateshead Wednesday June 12

Gwyneth Herbert released her new album The Sea Cabinet, on the 20th May 2013. 

The Sea Cabinet, the singer’s sixth album and her first in three years, was launched with four nights at Wilton’s Music Hall – the oldest surviving music hall in the world. 

Her subsequent tour, her first in four years, will start at Sage Gateshead and culminate in a show at Snape Maltings, where the whole project was conceived and recorded. A second tour has already been confirmed for the autumn.

From Our Girl in China - Zoe Gilby Reports from Fengqingju International Jazz Festival..

"We did the first gig and it went really well. The audience was around three thousand Chinese!! The stage setup was like something from Glastonbury festival main stage. Filmed with top of the range camera equipment that was projected directly onto an enormous screen backdrop. They played some of my youtube videos on the screen before we went on and the play-on music was like something from the X Factor final. Although obviously not a "jazz crowd" I've never experienced such an enthusiastic audience before. Cheering and waving as soon as we got on stage. They treat you like you're really famous. When I introduced the guys they all cheered wildly but they went totally crazy when I introduced Andy as my husband, they seem to really like that. I moved around the stage a bit and anytime I went up to the edge that whole section of the audience went nuts! Cheering, waving and blowing kisses. After the set we were bombarded with autograph signing and posed pictures, even from the security staff. It was surreal but fantastic. We've had a taste of how the other half live!!"

Zoe.

Matt Roberts Quintet @ The Forum, Darlington. June 9, 2013

Matt Roberts (trumpet), Matt Anderson (tenor saxophone), Declan Forde (keyboards), Sam Vicary (double bass) & Sam Gardner (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Matt Roberts Quintet pay tribute to the great…Lee Morgan. So said the flyer around the Forum Music Centre. The bar was packed, the main hall would soon be similarly crowded to welcome home trumpeter Matt Roberts. A Darlington lad made good, Roberts served his apprenticeship in the ranks of the County Durham schools’ big bands, moved on to further his studies in Leeds, then London and here on home turf he was to be given a hero’s welcome. His quintet boasted some familiar names and faces from the Leeds scene - Matt’s frontline partner and namesake tenor saxophonist Matt Anderson, the two Sams - Vicary (double bass) and Gardner (drums) - and recent Leeds College of Music graduate, pianist Declan Forde.

Sue Ferris and Paul Edis Trio @ The Cherry Tree, Jesmond.

Sue Ferris (ten/fl); Paul Edis (pno); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance)

A day at the office type gig and none the worse for that. All four musicians were relaxed and worked their way through a tried and tested selection of standards with a couple of jazz classics (Doxy, Blue Bossa) thrown in for good measure.

A nice swingy My Romance set the right groove followed by Taking a Chance on Love. Sue went into orbit on this one with a cracking solo. Just Squeeze Me, Doxy, Alice in Wonderland (on flute) and All the Things You Are to round off the first set.

CD Review: Metamorphic – Coalescence

Laura Cole (piano, arranger), Kerry Andrews (vocals), Chris Williams (alto sax), John Martin (tenor/soprano sax), Paul Sandy (double bass), Tom Greenhalgh (drums, percussion)

(Review by Les)

 Until now, I'd never come across Metamorphic, who describe themselves as “a contemporary song-based jazz/folk sextet”.  They've been around awhile.  Coalescence is their second album, and is “a collection of largely song-based emotional journeys…some of which is inspired by dreams”.

Whilst their self-penned description didn't do much for my levels of enthusiasm or anticipation, having now heard the album, it sums them up quite well.

Once I put the CD in the player, any prejudices I might have been harbouring following the press blurb were immediately blown away.

Legohead @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle..

Lloyd Wright (gtr); Jon Proud (bs); David Francis (dms).
(Review by Lance.)

What can one say? This is the jazz version of Cream or maybe Forty Years After. Whatever, the triumvirate take jazz rock to an exalted level.

Lloyd is the spiritual descendent of the Tyneside jazz dynasty that weaves its way from Charlie Smith via Roly Veitch,  John Hedley, Terry Ellis, James Birkett, Rod Sinclair, Mark Williams to Lloyd and (in a different direction) Bradley Johnston.

Rolling Stones in Capheaton?

Keith Tulip mentions (on F/b) playing with The Char Wallahs. This brought the following memory back to me.

Some years ago I was cycling through the tiny Northumberland village of Capheaton (pop 160) when I saw a poster pinned to a tree. I got such a shock I almost fell off my bike!

I've reproduced the poster here from memory.

Lance.

Debra Milne Ensemble: Northumberland Tennis Club, Jesmond: Friday June 7.

Debra Milne (Vocals); Alan Law (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Bates (drums)

(Review by Ann Alex)

What could be better than jazz on a sunny summer’s evening in West Jesmond, sitting in a pleasant bar, with a view of leafy tennis courts? Debra said the band was feeling suitably relaxed and mellow (this was before they'd had a drink!). The two sets included lots of Latin numbers as well as some Horace Silver, and they produced rather a lot of musical excitement among the mellowness.  Well done!

Gavin Lee's Dixie Band @ Ashington Jazz Club June 5.

Gavin Lee (Soprano Sax.), Don Fairley Trombone. Dan McKeown (Banjo), Phil Smith (Bass), Steve Doyle (Drums).

(Review and photo on the left by Peter S.)

The Club has introduced to the members a variety of Jazz Styles and the June meeting was no exception as the Gavin Lee Dixie Band were welcomed onto our stage. An unusual front line of Soprano Sax and

Trombone and the efficient rhythm section behind created a pleasing combination and a first for the Club. The audience shared a delightful evening with this fine blend of musicians. The Sax and Trombone in tandem creating a very swinging blend of improvised Jazz within the selections over 2 sets. The backroom boys,