Zoe Gilby @ Hoochie Coochie November 2.

Zoe Gilby (vcl); Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs); Richard Brown (dms).

(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

What can I say? The girl just gets better and better! The originals, the covers and the standards are non pareille.

The originals make me wonder how such a good singer can also create such wonderful lyrics? I mean how many lyrics have Frank, Tony or Ella written? Then you think Peggy - Peggy wrote almost as many songs as she sang so no problem there!

James Harrison, Ian Simpson and Friends at The Jazz Café - November 1

James Harrison (pno); Ian Simpson (gtr). + David Gray (tpt/tmb); Kathryn Lowdon (vcl).

(Review by Kath J).

A night out with my pal Kathryn Lowdon, we popped into the Jazz Café to hear a Saturday night duo of James Harrison and Ian Simpson… but this was to be a night of surprises, with several friends being asked to join the guys over the course of the evening.   I had no plans to review this evening, but by the end, I thought it deserved something appropriate to go on the blog, so I snaffled James’s set list so that I could relay the tunes played with some accuracy… although I have to be honest and say it would be difficult for me to pick out solos… they were all fab, and my memory ain’t that good!

CD Review: Euan Burton - Too Much Love

Euan Burton (bs); Adam Jackson (alt); Tom Gibbs (pno); Alyn Cosker (dms).
(Review by Lance).

The title comes from the notion that so many of the things that go wrong, or the mistakes people make, come from a place of either people having misplaced love or having so much love that they don't know how to deal with it and channel it properly. I guess it's a rose-tinted way to look at certain darker and more upsetting aspects of life and this struck me as a good starting point for writing a new album, this idea of 'Too Much Love'.

So wrote Euan Burton on the press release to this album.

RIP Acker Bilk

George Watt, followed closely by Peter Bevan, have related the sad news to me that trad legend Acker Bilk left us today aged 85.

Loved by many as both a jazzman and an entertainer, Acker was respected by musicians and fans from far beyond the restrictions of his chosen style. Saw him a few years back at Sage Gateshead with Kenny Ball and Chris Barber - well Kenny's gone and Acker's no longer a stranger on these shores ...

Rest In Peace Acker, like another departed great, you did it your way, and it wasn't such a bad way.

Buena Sera I'll raise a glass of scrumpy to you tonight..

Obituary.

Lance.

PS: George Watt notes, poignantly, that it was on this date, 58 years ago, that he met his wife Dorothy.

Clark Tracey Drum Workshop - The Globe, Newcastle. November 1.

Also, an interesting drum workshop arranged by the Jazz Co-op took place earlier, in the afternoon (a mini-Masterclass).   I wasn't there but photographer Ken Drew was and he reports that there were lots of examples of styles and approaches, discussed and demonstrated, with good interaction from those attending.

In Ken's photo Clark can be seen handing down pearls (or should that be Gretsch's?) of wisdom to (someone remind me on the young man's name)?.

Lance.

Clark Tracey Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle, November 1

Clark Tracey (dms); Chris Maddock (alt/ten); Henry Amburg Jennings (tpt/flg); Harry Bolt (pno); Daniel Casimir (bs).

(Review by Lance/ photo courtesy of Ken Drew ).

This first major gig by the Jazz Co-op was a major coup for the organisers. We've got a Jazz Club!

The lift installed and operational, the table and chairs set out and occupied, drinks served, lights lowered, and strategically draped curtains to soften the somewhat garish colour scheme, the scene was set. Not surprisingly there were several drummers in the audience and so there should be given that we were in the presence of one of the country's finest. Steve Crocker of NORVAL drove up from Leeds (and won a bottle in the raffle) begging the question as to why those members of the North East jazz hierarchy who live somewhat closer weren't!

RIP David Redfern

Russell, our intrepid scourer of the obituaries, reminded me that I hadn't noted the passing of David Redfern, possibly one of the UK's if not indeed the world's finest jazz photographers. I well remember drooling over his classic images of the jazz greats in his Jazz Album which I purchased at Dobell's back in the 1980s. They're still as good as ever even though (or possibly because) they're from the pre-digital age.

David Redfern passed away on October 23. He was 78.
Sadly missed and my apologies for not posting earlier.
Obituary.
Lance.

Barber for Sage Gateshead

(Preview by Russell).

The year is 1949. A young trombone player (and sometime bass player) hit the road playing one nighters up and down the land. Fast forward a mere sixty five years and Chris Barber is still at it. The tour bus has millions of miles on the clock, the service stations of the European road network familiar markers along the way, is it simply a matter of time before Barber calls it a day?

Nigel Price Trio @ Ushaw College, October 31

There's an ineffable joy in hearing music performed with impeccable execution and the purest of intention. Musicians who are playing what they hear, who know what they want to say and believe every word. Music that swings so hard that you actually can't keep still!

Last night, the Common Room at Ushaw was the setting for an outstanding performance from Nigel Price (guitar) Ross Stanley (Hammond organ) and Matt Home (drums). A selection that included Wes Montgomery's tune '4 on 6' - (only in 6) Emily Remler's Blues for Herb, Jobim's 'most miserable tune' Gentle Rain alongside Price originals and other standards.

This was the first ever jazz concert at Ushaw, and what a way to start! On December 12th the plucking marvellous Djangologie are coming to Ushaw, and there are more gigs in the spring (see below).

27th February - Paul Edis Sextet

6th March - Virtuoso Trio  

17th April - Customs House Big Band

1st May - James Birkett and Bradley Johnston.

Paul E.

Philip Clouts Quartet - Jazz Café. October 31

Philip Clouts (pno); Tom Ward (alt/sop); Tim Fairhall (bs); Dave Ingamells (dms).

(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley.).

The streets were awash with Draculas, Frankensteins, Ghouls, Wizards and Witches - the children too were dressed for the occasion which of course was Halloween. 

No such frippery at the Jazz Café - the Werewolf was well and truly kept from the door.

Fortunately, the Philip Clouts Quartet were allowed through the portals en route to Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline).