Jason Isaacs Big Band "Swing Sensations" - City Hall, Newcastle, May 10.

Jason Isaacs (vocal/tenor) + Steve Norman (tenor/vocal); the Fenner Sisters (backing vocals); Dorothy Ellis (vocal); The Ambassadors of Swing.

Darren Irwin (trumpet/MD); Dave Hignett, Mark Webb (trumpets); Don Failey, Dave Brock, Alan Brady (trombones); Sue Ferris, Lewis Watson, Steve Blythe (reeds); Stuart Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (bass); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Simon Ferry (drums).

(Review by Lance).

The Ambassadors of Swing put us In The Mood for the world's most athletic, on stage, performer - Jason Isaacs. The ten foot tall (or thereabouts) singer bounded on to the stage well inside the Olympic record for bounding on stages and he did it Side Ways!

Very Sad News - Ron Pollard.

Just heard from Roly Veitch that Ron Pollard, organiser of the Gateshead Fell at the Legion Jazz Club died yesterday morning (May 10).

Such a shock - Ron and his wife Joyce have been strong supporters of jazz in the area for many many years and their often uphill struggle to keep The Fell Jazz Club afloat won them much admiration from fans and musicians of the traditional and mainstream persuasion.

Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Joyce.

In the photo (taken by Eddie Carson) the couple are seen celebrating their Golden Wedding at the club in 2011. As well as jazz Ron and Joyce loved dancing and were fortunate in being able to combine those two passions.

Rest In Peace.

Lance.

R.I.P. Joe Wilder

American trumpet player Joe Wilder died yesterday (May 9). Although not a name that drops off many fans lips these days, Wilder did stints with many big bands including Lunceford, Goodman and Basie. Under his own name he recorded a number of pieces by Henry Mancini for the TV series Peter Gunn. He also did a lot of studio and Broadway session work. The Obituary in the New York Times sums Joe Wilder up with its heading "Elegance was his theme song."

Joe Wilder was 92.
Rest in Peace.
Obituary.
Lance.

Paul Edis Trio @ The Jazz Café. May 9

Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell.)

Newcastle’s Jazz Café on Pink Lane continues to present the best in jazz and the monthly treat that is the resident Paul Edis Trio produced another five star performance. Regulars settled down for the treat, garrulous transients a peripheral distraction.

Pink Lane Jazz Co-op Launch @ Globe Hotel May 9

I don't know if all of the 200 shareholders were present but, at times, it certainly seemed like it! Pink Champagne and a buffet spread greeted the arrivals as did a form "to be filled in before you leave". I'd have preferred to have taken the form home and reflected upon the questions rather make than make rash statements and promises that even now have changed in the cold light of a pink champagneless morning. Nevertheless, it was good to have a tour of the building which included a perilous descent of the fire escape. In the meantime, John Rowland (tenor); Stuart Finden (guitar!); Ray Truscott (bass guitar) and Peter Ninnim (drums). were doing some nice things to In a Mellow Tone, Bright Mississippi and other numbers.

Dave Parker gave a welcoming speech and his Co-chair mini-skirted Minnie Frazer (which came first the name or the skirt? - I'll probably become the first shareholder to be expelled for a sexist remark but, in my defence, She wears it so well it would be churlish not to comment!)

Triptych @ The Lit & Phil. May 9

Paul Edis (piano & clarinet), Paul Susans (double bass) & Rob Walker (drums/percussion)

(Review by Russell/Photos by Jerry).

Three jazz gigs at the Lit & Phil this week – Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and today’s lunch hour set – perhaps accounted for a relatively low turn-out to hear Triptych. The trio of Paul Edis (piano), Paul Susans (double bass) and drummer Rob Walker have, in a short space of time, got something going with this new line-up. The set list combined standards, traditional songs and contemporary composition. The trick is in the approach and the arrangements of once familiar tunes.

Katherine Stone Quartet w. Paul Gowland @ Ashington Jazz Club May 7.

Katherine Stone (vocal); Stu Collingwood (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Steve Doyle (drums); Paul Gowland (tenor).
(Review/Photo by Peter S.)

The appearance of Katherine Stone and her Quartet drew a good crowd including members old and new. Ms. Stone, not long back after a lengthy engagement on "the high seas", had managed to get together a unique group of exceptionally good musicians. Although there had been little time to discuss arrangements before taking to the stage the group blended together seamlessly. This has always amazed me, how do they achieve that? It just goes to show how accomplished these musicians are. Three of them were appearing at Ashington for the first time and they expressed their enjoyment through the music they produced.

CD Review and Launch.The Lindsay Hannon Plus - The Spy". Lit and Phil. May 8.

Lindsay Hannon (vocal); James Harrison (piano); John Pope (bass); Tom Chapman (drums).

(Review by Lance/Photos by Ken Drew/CD artwork by Jim Sebright).

The Lit and Phil was buzzing, an air of anticipation hung in the air, as the audience assembled for this JNE assisted launch of The Lindsay Hannon Plus' CD The Spy. Many of us had been present for the live recording done late last year at the Bridge Hotel so we had a fair idea of what to expect and we got it - did we not!

A laid back double bass introduction interspersed with delicate  piano punctuations and tinkling cymbals led eerily, intriguingly, to Lindsay's smoky voiced take on the album's title track - The Spy. The Doors' classic has all the elements of a novel by Ian Fleming or John le Carré. The build up to the emotional, even violent vocal heights and the gradual release of tension.

The Virtuoso Jazz Trio @ The Lit and Phil

George MacDonald (clarinet); James Birkett (guitar); Tony Abell (bass); Bernice MacDonald (vocal).

(Review by Lance.)

The clarinet is the purest toned of all instruments and, arguably, the most difficult of the single reed instruments. No other wind instrument can be played with such clarity. Admittedly there have been many maverick clarinettists to whom clarity and purity of tone were low down in their priorities - Pee Wee Russell, Archie Semple, Jimmy Giuffre, local hero the late Stan Martin were some - and they all hold their own individual place in jazz history. However, and here I'm being subjective, the true masters of the instrument were, Buster Bailey, Barney Bigard, Artie Shaw, Buddy de Franco, Eddie Daniels and, of course, Benny Goodman.

Sad News.

Some of you will remember Don & Ann Grant who were regulars at the Blaydon Jazz Club till two or three years ago when health problems prevented them coming. I've just received the news that Don passed away after having been seriously ill for a few months. Ann is not in the best of health herself. Roly.

------

Willard Scott was a keen jazz fan, saxophone player who became World Judo Champion in his age group (65) in 2005 at the world championships in Canada. A great friend of Tommy Moran and a true gentleman.

Lance.

-----

We had the sad news last Tuesday that trumpet player/vocalist and bandleader John Hubbard of the Victoria Jazz Band had passed away, The Victoria Jazz Band was one of the first bands in the early 1970's to play one night a week at Neds, plus it was The Victoria Jazz Band with John Hubbard & Keith Vitty who give me my first gig in Hong Kong, so I will be playing for him at Grappa's this Wednesday, 7th, May at 8-00pm in a tribute to John Hubbard, with the VJB, & with other well known guest musicians from Hong Kong who played with John over the years. R.I.P. Colin.