Cozyjo’s Cozy Christmas Concert @ Washington Arts Centre. December 4

(Review by Russell).

The City of Sunderland Youth Jazz Orchestra (Cozyjo, with a ‘z’) made a return visit to Washington Arts Centre on a cold winter’s night and couldn’t be happier upon seeing a capacity audience in the auditorium. Family, friends, supporters, they were out in force.

A one set performance of forty five minutes rattled along with more than one Christmas tune given a swing treatment. Chattanooga Choo Choo, C Jam Blues, Hark the Herald Trumpets Swing, Tuxedo Junction, the band did a grand job. Four altos, a tenor/clarinet player, a tenor/baritone player, four trumpets, a lone trombone, two guitars, piano, bass and drums, all acquitted themselves well. Beth on tenor was responsible for the dreadful Christmas jumpers on display (it was her suggestion!); Santas, sleighs, trees, holly and, shamelessly, out front, ‘Sir’ (aka Mr John ‘Redemption Jazz’ Hall) sporting a reindeer strewn number!

Alex Garnett's Bunch of 5 - Andromeda

Alex Garnett, Tim Armacost (ten); Liam Noble (pno); Michael Janisch (bs); James Maddren (dms).

(A musing by Lance.)

The CD isn't released until January 26 so this is not the official review - that will follow nearer the release date.

If it had been released this month it would be in with a shout for the Album of the Year Award - one of BSH's most coveted accolades - the other is "Who can drink the most beer without getting a round in?"

Imagine if the Jazz Couriers had arrived on the scene sixty years later - I think they may have bore more than a passing resemblance to the music here.

However, this isn't a CD review but an advance warning of the musical pleasure that awaits the jazz populace of Colchester on Jan 9 followed by gigs in Welwyn Garden City (Jan 18); 606 (Jan 19); Cardiff (Jan 20); Swansea (Jan 21); Bristol (Jan 22); Wakefield (Jan 23); Derby (Feb 6) and Reading (April 2).

Sadly, Derby and Wakefield are as far north as they get which is hardly north at all!

Could the jazz factions that rule from, say Leeds to Edinburgh (via York, Darlington, Newcastle) not combine to let the natives of Antarctica UK hear this tremendous group? 

As a matter of interest, my latest tax statement says that 8 quid of my contributions go to "Culture eg sports, libraries, museums" - is it possible for me to channel my coins to a "Cultural Activity" of my own choosing?.

Lance.

Bebop Spoken Here’s Faves Score in Downbeat Poll

(Comments by Russell).

Some familiar names to readers of Bebop Spoken Here feature highly in the prestigious Down Beat 79th Annual Readers’ Poll. Gregory Porter tops the chart as Male Vocalist. Second place goes to Kurt Elling and the promising Tony Bennett took third place. The Female Vocalist list contained some big names; all but three of them (Krall, Reeves and Spalding) denying Cécile McLorin Salvant top spot. 

The Jazz Artist category featured Porter in ninth place, Elling (13th) and 22nd (and one of only four women on the list) McLorin Salvant.   

Gregory Porter’s Liquid Spirit took fourth place in the Jazz Album of the Year category, with McLorin Salvant’s Woman Child making the top twelve.

Joshua Redman just missed out on third spot to Joe Lovano in the tenor saxophone poll. Hear the man in concert at next year’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival April 10-12 at Sage Gateshead. Third best in the guitar stakes went to John Scofield. Sco will also be joining Redman in an impressive line-up at Sage Gateshead next year. Festival tickets are available by telephone. Book now on 0191 443 4661.   

Russell.

CD Review: Darrell Katz and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra – Why Do You Ride?

(Review by Russell).

A press release accompanying Why Do You Ride? proclaims:

‘Darrell Katz and the Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra play music about Albert Einstein, the Zen of riding bicycles, and a six-toed cat.’

The CD cover art features a sepia-tinted photograph of Einstein riding a bicycle. Question: Will listening to this recording make your brain hurt?

The opening bars threaten cinematic horror. Fears quickly dissipate as Ellingtonian muted horns growl reassuringly, then just as quickly a menacing flute asserts, finally ceding to a  swinging (sixties tv theme) tune swirling around Rebecca Shrimpton’s soaring vocals. An accomplished raft of soloists step up; Phil Scarff (tenor), Hiroaki Honshuku (flute, EWI), Joe Doubleday (vibraphone), Mike Peipman (trumpet), Dan Zupan (baritone), bandleader Darrell Katz (guitar), all marshalled  by the superb big band drumming of Luther Gray.

Samuel Eagles Quartet @ The Globe - Dec. 3

Samuel Eagles (alt/sop); Ralph Wyld (vbs); Daniel Kasimir (bs)[ Eric Ford (dms).
(Review by Lance)
I'm not going to review this gig save for saying that it lived up to, and beyond, the expectations raised by listening to their CD. I raved about it in my review but did our readers take note? Did they ....! Well those sad souls missed out big time! The band replicated the album live and the few believers in attendance seemed to concur.

CD Review: Samuel Eagles Quartet - Next Beginning - LIVE TONIGHT @ THE GLOBE NEWCASTLE (8pm £10)!

(I make no apologies for re-posting this CD review as the band are appearing tonight at the latest Jazz Co-op gig at The Globe. If they are only half as good as they are on the CD it would still be one helluva gig! However, I confidently expect them to be even better live! Don't miss out! - Lance)
Samuel Eagles (alt/sop); Ralph Wyld (vib); Fergus Ireland (bs); Eric Ford (dms).
(Review by Lance).

What a talented family the Eagle Clan must be! Brother Duncan has already achieved recognition with the contemporary trio Partikel and now, Sibling Samuel has emerged from the eyrie in full flight displaying a technique well capable of expressing the multitudinous rush of ideas that flow from his head/soul via either alto or soprano.

Jazz Café Jam - Dec 2.

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Wight (dms) + Lindsay Hannon (vcl); Matthew MacKellar (dms); Mitch? (dms); Russ Morgan (dms); Nick Gould (ten); Jeremy (tpt); ? (vcl); ? (bs gtr) - maybe Uncle Tom Cobbly and all...

(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

The room was literally jam packed with jammers, lined up in an orderly(ish) fashion, eager to blow. And who wouldn't with the house quartet laying down such a solid foundation?

CD Review: Fini Bearman - Porgy and Bess.

Fini Bearman – voice, Matt Calvert – guitars, Ross Stanley – organ, piano, Wurlitzer, Jon Cox – bass, John Blease – drums, percussion.

(Review by Debra M.)

Fini Bearman’s second album Porgy and Bess is a reimagining of the Gershwin & DuBose Heyward opera ‘through the prism of the classic Miles Davis/Gil Evans’ album’, but clearly has many other influences too. She and her collaborators have interpreted the music quite differently to their predecessors, whilst maintaining the strength of the narrative.

CD Review: Maurizio Minardi - Piano Ambulance.

Maurizio Minardi (pno); Nick Pini (bs); Shirley Smart (cello); Jason Reeve (dms).
(Review by Lance).

I'm not sure what a "Piano Ambulance" is. Is it a furniture van that takes ailing pianos to the knackers yard? (If so, Jazz Café take note.) Maybe it's a mobile piano repair unit (If so, Jazz Café take note.) 

The album booklet isn't too clear on this either.

Leash: Splinter @ the Bridge Hotel. Nov. 30

Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs); Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

If ever the term Supergroup was to be applied to a North East (or anywhere) jazz combo then there can be few more deserving of the title than tonight's triumvirate of talent - truly the Cream of the crop "flailing" under a flag of convenience - Leash. Possibly because they've been let "off the leash" by the various other bands they are associated with - AVC, Zoe Gilby, Shiver etc.