CD Review: Isabel Stover - Her Own Sweet World

Isabel Stover (vocals); Jonathan Alford (piano); Fred Randolph (bass); Dave Tidball (saxopohone); Dave Bell (guitar).

(Review by Ann Alex)

Isabel Stover has sung in musical theatre, funk, r&b, classical opera and a jazz choir, and that wide musical experience becomes obvious when you hear this highly recommended debut CD.  And I’d guess that she can act as well, because she certainly brings out the full meaning of these songs in her richly textured voice. 

RIP Paul Horn

The death has been announced of flautist Paul Horn aged 84. Horn played tenor with Sauter-Finnegan then flute with the Chico Hamilton Quintet before moving into the Hollywood studios. In 1967 a visit to India saw him become a teacher of transcendental meditation resulting in him expanding his horizons beyond jazz into what he described as 'universal music'.
Paul Horn died on June 29, circumstances not disclosed.
Obituary.
Rest in Peace.
Lance.

EP Review: Katharine Timoney - Guilty Sin.

Katherine Timoney (vcl); John McCullough (keys); Dan McGeown (bs); Marty McCloskey (dms).

Katharine Timoney is an accomplished jazz and soul singer songwriter from Belfast. On this showing she deserves to be heard further afield than her native city where she is rapidly becoming well established at various clubs and festivals and on local radio.

A raunchy, no nonsense voice - is it my imagination or is there a touch of early Amy in there?- whatever, Ms Timoney hits you from bar one! 
Apart from the voice (a little bit Bonnie Raitt in there too) McCullough's bluesy piano work adds to the ambience, McLoskey's drums suggest what River Dance might have been like if it had been created in Memphis or Detroit and, although McGeown's bass isn't immediately noticeable it would have been if it wasn't there! The songs are powerful, and yet quirky, recounting tales of tumultuous relationships, betrayal and desire.  Experiences we all can relate to at some point in our lives. Timoney nails them!

YouTube.
Lance.
Guilty Sin is available to download on itunes and other sources.

On Working with Horace Silver by John McNeil

This article by former Horace Silver trumpet player John McNeil is quite a beautiful memory of an influential player.
Thanks to Natty Goehring for sending the link.
Lance.

The first jazz event at the UK’s first co-operatively-owned music venue

jazz, swing, funk, dance and poetry

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band

It’s big – 18 of the best jazz musicians in the region – and it’s smokin’ – mixing a deep reverence for the big band tradition with the immediacy of the 21st century to produce a truly classic yet highly contemporary sound.

Henry’s Swing Club @ The Brandling Villa. July 1

Need Your Love So Bad opened the show on a sweltering night at the Brandling Villa. Henry’s Swing Club house band the Lounge Lizards didn’t play too long, preferring a pint out of the spotlight. They hung around long enough to let Dave Heslop rattle the keys on Chuck Berry’s Reelin’ and Rockin’.

Thinman (a thin man guitar and vocals fronted trio) played post punk tunes (including original material) with well crafted monotone vocals. Craft beers vied with local micro brewery favourites on the bar. Mordue IPA won hands down.

Meanwhile, the main attraction (the reason to be in South Gosforth first Tuesday in the month) had arrived. Mick Cantwell (vocals and tenor sax) tore into Messin’ with the Kid backed by some smokin’ organ from Heslop. Stormy Monday Blues then Sonny Boy’s Help Me,  then he was gone. Cantwell is the real deal, make no mistake. If he turns up next month – Tuesday 5 August – you will be amazed. Be there.

Russell.

Arts Council England

Yesterday's publication of the inevitable, in the main, cuts to the funding of the Arts means that, as always there are winners and losers. Sage Gateshead seems to have been given a few lifebelts and Jazz North hasn't found itself paddleless however, without knowing the whole picture, I can't comment with any degree of accuracy. It would therefore be invaluable to hear the views of those involved in our area as to what the future holds in store for us.

Peter Bacon asks similar questions - and explores the subject in greater depth than I feel qualified to do - on his Birmingham based blog the Jazz Breakfast.

Lance
Sign the Petition.

Jam Session @ Jazz Café July 1

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms); Paul Skerritt (vcl); Josh Bentham (sop); Paul Gowland (alt); Ian Forbes (dms); Ray Burns (vcl/hca/gtr); Kath Jobes (vcl) + others.

(Review by Lance).

The Tuesday Jam at The Caff is a lovely way to spend an evening in Newcastle city centre. With the house trio setting the bar at a high level, it was good to report that most of the sitters in were up to the challenge.

After Jarrett's Memories of Tomorrow and Beautiful Love, ace crooner Skerrett, aided and abetted by Josh Bentham on soprano sax stepped up and gave us Georgia on my Mind, Don't Get Around Much Any More and My Funny Valentine before Josh went it alone (w. trio) on Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay.

Improvisation & Ear Training Workshop @ The Lit & Phil. June 30

(Investigative Journalism…)

A clarinet, an alto or three, tenor, whistle and voice, the range of instrumentalists in attendance at Paul Edis’ latest workshop session at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle. A note book (a scrap of paper) and pen (purloined from Paddy Power), yes, this is Gumshoe Bebop filing copy to Bebop Spoken Here’s news desk. What the Head Honcho (LL)   will make of it is anyone’s guess.

CD Review: Andrew McCormack - First Light

Andrew McCormack (pno); Zack Lober (bs); Colin Stranahan (dms)
(Review by Lance).
London born, New York based, McCormack is just one of the many UK pianists to make it across the pond (this month's New York Jazz Record favourably reviews a Dill Jones reissue from 1972) and it must be said that McCormack is a more than capable bearer of the torch handed down over the years by Marian McPartland, Shearing, Jones, Feldman and many others as this CD confirms.