Dave Douglas and Uri Caine @ Leeds Assembly Rooms May 2.

Check out this excellent review by Steve Crocker of Dave Douglas and Uri Caine's concert at Leeds Assembly Rooms on Friday.
Link.
Lance.

CD Review:Mike McKoy - Ludwig Manhattan's Germaican Blues

Mike McKoy (narrator, vocals, guitars); Toni Belenguer (trombone); Vicent Coloques (keys); Matt Baker (bass); Ignacio Aguilar (didgeridoo/harmonica).

Let me say first of all that this is the most unusual work I've ever had to review! I'm not quite sure where to begin except to say that, whichever category it is allotted to it will be unbeatable!

Confused? I bet you are! Brilliant? You're darn right! So, let's have the Alfie (What's it all about?)

Imagine an all encompassing work that contains The Bible, The Decameron, Plato, Noel Coward, Charlie Mingus and a whole gang more of musicians, writers, philosophers and ladies of the night!

A Fine Way to Treat a Steinway!

Watched The Great American Songbook on BBC 4 after reading Steve Andrews' comments on F/b. Although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I must say that I didn't get a kick out of Jamie Cullum bringing his foot down on the keyboard of the grand piano - I bet he doesn't do that at home!

Lance.

Greg Spero - coming to a venue near you!

I'm getting confused - easily done these days - but it seems to me that Greg Spero and his Stateside quartet are due to appear at just about everywhere which, let's face it, is an absolute coup for the region. So, for my benefit as much as yours, the ace Chicago pianist is doing the following dates:

May 10: Fuse Media Centre, Prudhoe (Workshop).

May 11: Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - (Quartet session).

May 12: Fuse Media Centre - (Quartet session).

May 15: Recital Room, Newcastle Uni. 8pm - (solo set in support of Roger Beaujolais).

May 17: Dacre Hall, Lanercost, Cumbria - (workshop with quartet.)

There may be others!

Details for most of these gigs can be found in the LH column. Those who remember Greg's last appearance in the area will be ticking off the days in anticipation!

Lance.

Cheltenham and more on BBC Radio

Saturday 3rd May Jamie Cullum (Radio 2, 3:00 pm) presents highlights of this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival including Get the Blessing (the band’s Jake McMurchie played Schmazz at the Jazz Café earlier this week). Geoffrey Smith’s Jazz (midnight Saturday 4th, Radio 3) celebrates Billy Strayhorn’s contribution to the success of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. On Sunday 4th Clare Teal (Radio 2, 9:00 pm) broadcasts live from Cheltenham with guests Lianne Carroll and Billy Cobham. Holiday Monday (5th) on Radio 3 (11:00 pm) Jazz on 3 presents an exclusive set from Stephan Crump and Mary Halvorson and there’s more from Jamie Cullum at Cheltenham in his regular Radio 2 slot on Tuesday 6th (7:00 pm) including Jason Rebello and another sighting of Get the Blessing.  

Russell.           

CD Review: Holly Hofmann - LOW LIFE The Alto Flute Project

Holly Hofmann (alto flute); Mike Wofford (piano); John Clayton (bass); Jeff Hamilton (drums) + Anthony Wilson (guitar on  4 tracks). (Review by Lance.)

I think I'm correct in saying that this is the first album I've heard where alto flute is featured exclusively. Not an easy task. The alto flute - like the bass clarinet - isn't an instrument for grandiose flourishes. It has to be nurtured, coaxed, almost made love to to release its full potential. That Holly Hofmann succeeds is perhaps not surprising given her mastery of the standard concert flute.

School Reunion, Shelly Manne & Bireli Lagrene.

School reunion - it had been awhile since the last one and I looked forward to meeting up with those guys and gals who were part of my formative years. I went for the number 27 bus only for the driver to ignore my gesticulations for him to wait whilst I crossed the road - fingers were directed in his direction! 

Standing at the bus stop awaiting the next 27 I suddenly realised that, not only was it raining but it was also cold. To make matters worse, the zip on my leather jacket had ceased functioning and I was far from warm. I vowed that when I reached Newcastle I'd go to the nearest charity shop and purchase a sweater or something to prevent my body temperature dropping into the danger zone.

Global Jazz

It’s Ours!

At noon yesterday Pink Lane Jazz Co-op Ltd became the owners of The Globe, Railway Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7AD.

We believe that The Globe is the first music venue in the UK to be owned by a co-operative, certainly the first to be owned by a jazz co-op.  We now have over 200 members.
Yesterday was also International Jazz Day.  How appropriate!

We’d like to say a big thank you to all the people who have helped to make this possible including those who have invested or lent us money, those who have given us their time and expertise free of charge, the other jazz and arts organisations that have supported us and the many people who have promoted us through social media and mainstream media.

There’s a bit of refurbishment to do before The Globe will be up and running on both floors.  We will keep you informed of progress.

Thank you all

Minnie Fraser and Dave Parker

Co-chairs of Pink Lane Jazz Co-op Ltd

Zoe Gilby Interviews Ian Chalk

Zoe Gilby interviewed Ian Chalk of the Firebird Quartet who are this coming Sunday's (May 4 - 8.15pm) Splinter @ The Bridge band. Zoe's questions are in blue.

Tell us a bit about your band. How it formed? band line up and their influences?

The band in its current form was created about 4 months ago.  Previously I had a quartet for 4 years (Ian Chalk Quartet) which, although fun to play in and they guys were great, wasn't really going in the direction I wanted to go.  So the decision was made to create a quartet to perform contemporary jazz with best the musicians I could find to force me to up my game and they've certainly done that! The name of the band was changed to reflect the new start ....'Firebird Quartet' (and to remind people of our Sunday night residency at The Phoenix in York).

CD Review: Bobby Avey - Authority Melts From Me.

Bobby Avey (pno); Miguel Zenón (alt); Ben Monder (gtr); Thomson Kneeland (bs); Jordan Perison (dms).

(Review by Lance).

An hour long suite, composed by Avey who found his inspiration in events surrounding the Haitian Revolution and built his masterpiece around the rhythms found in Haitian Vodou drumming, Such is the complexity of the rhythmic foundation that it seems incredible that only one drummer is behind the wheel. Perison's your man if you get a gig in Port au Prince (or anywhere else come to that!)