River City Hot Four @ Beresford Arms, Whalton, Northumberland - February 4

Gordon Solomon (trombone); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/vocals); Keith Stephen (banjo/guitar); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone)

(Review by J.T.)

The launch of a new band and a new venue made me hope that at long last the decline of live jazz in the area had stopped. I was not proved wrong. What an excellent night out we had on Monday at the Beresford Arms at Whalton to see the launch of “revival” band, the River City Hot Four. 

The recently refurbished pub provided an excellent pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord (no relation). A great log fire and very comfortable surroundings helped us all feel at home. 

YolanDa Brown and James Drake announce a new music prize The Drake YolanDa Award for emerging young artists

(Press release)

 Key dates:

Applications now open till 19 March 2019 11:00pm GMT

Shortlist interviews: 27 March 2019

Winners: 9 April 2019

https://www.drakeyolanda.org/

The award-winning saxophonist and broadcaster YolanDa Brown and philanthropist James Drake are thrilled to launch a brand new music prize for emerging artists between ages 16-30.

The Drake YolanDa Award will provide a platform for young artists to both showcase their talent and gain the means for taking the next steps to launch their career. In 2019, 10 promising artists will be awarded £3000 in total. The prize money is intended for supporting their artistic development, touring, recording new music, music videos, marketing, branding and purchasing new equipment. 

News Extra!

Tony Roberts has passed on the info that guitarist Bradley Johnston has joined the hard-bop sextet ALTER EGO and he'll be with them at the Globe on Sunday 10th February.

Sounds like one for the diary.

Lance.

Happy Birthday to our Number One Fan

Liz Harris - our Lady in York - has been a fan of BSH since day one almost 11 years ago and today (Feb. 4) is her birthday. In the attached photo, Liz is the stunning blonde between the guitars in the back row.

It's a family photo so, as you can see, they are/were a very musical/guitar family. In the front row, (l-r) are her late parents - her dad, Bob Goodall, was described in Van Wilson's history of popular music in York - Rhythm and Romance - as, "being as near to Django Reinhardt as you're ever going to get" and he was a regular on the York jazz/dance band scene in the post-war years. 

JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle - February 3

Nick Gould (tenor sax); Steve Grossart (keys); Iain Harkness (bass); Kevin Dorrian (drums).

(Review and photo of Nick Gould by Lance/Band photo courtesy of Sheila Herrick).

There have been many Scottish invasions - Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts but, with the possible exception of the Bay City Rollers, few of the marauders have made their mark - until last night that is. Last night, JazzMain took the Jazz Coop's groundfloor Jazz Bar by storm.

A hard-blowing session in the best Blue Note tradition with pieces by Horace Silver, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, George Coleman, Tubby Hayes and many others proving that, for one night only, the Hippest Cat in Hollywood was actually in Newcastle. Tomorrow he/they will be the hippest cat(s) in Holyrood.

CD Review: Nick Hempton - Night Owl

Nick Hempton (saxes); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Kyle Koehler (Hammond B3); Fukushi Tainaka (drums).

(Review by Lance).

Recorded direct to tape at GB's Juke Joint in NYC on May 2 last year this does what the title implies - an imaginary walk on the wild side via the bars and clubs, the all-nighters, the shuffles and the boogaloos that have been the soundtrack of the city since the heyday of Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack, Stanley Turrentine and many other legendary groove merchants.

Nick Hempton can hold his own in that exalted company. Gutsy tenor, soaring alto, six original compositions as well as individual takes on three gassers - After You've Gone bears comparison with Art Pepper, Sonny Stitt and other great alto players - whilst I'm a Fool to Want You has just enough edge to it cut it in any juke joint as this Long Island studio recording proves.

Take your SSBB seats...

Mark Nightingale's forthcoming Sage Gateshead appearance is close to selling out. The internationally respected trombonist accepted Michael Lamb's invitation to play a gig with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band and tickets have flown out of the door. 

With three weeks to go - Saturday 23 February, eight o'clock start in Sage Two -  a mere handful of tickets remain available. So, to be sure of your tickets to hear the man who has worked with everyone from the Dankworths to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, book now - call Sage Gateshead's ticket office on 0191 443 4661. 

Russell

Christmas has come a little late this year

Last October I had some business to attend to in London. During the course of which I bumped into a jovial Irishman browsing, like myself, the jazz books in Skoob Books just up from Russell Square tube station.

He gave me his card - Nigel Mooney - and mentioned he had a CD coming out. To my shame, I didn't follow it up until today when I, once more, came upon his business card.

I checked out his website and discovered he'd released his album on November 27 - a Christmas album! Not quite what I expected! Nevertheless, I listened to a track and it blew my mind!

This was the best Christmas song of them all - move over Irving Berlin!

Have a listen to Twenty-First Century Christmas Blues but don't wait till next Christmas!

A belated Merry Christmas Nigel see you in the bookshop - same time next (this) year!

Lance.

Paul Edis Trio: A Brief History of Jazz Piano @ The Gala Theatre, Durham - Feb 1

Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell)

The Gala Theatre's monthly lunchtime jazz concert series is a remarkable success story. Invariably there is a capacity audience - concerts often sell out weeks in advance* - and February's offering wasn't about to buck the trend. The first appreciable snowfall of winter failed to deter the Durham faithful and at the appointed start time of one o'clock, the second-floor studio space was full to overflowing. 

The Paul Edis Trio is a major draw anywhere, anytime and when the 'Brief History of Jazz Piano' forms the setlist it's a must-get-to occasion. Pianist Edis devised his potted history of the instrument and its famed practitioners a couple of years ago and the relatively few performances since have been nothing short of triumphant. 

CD Review: Nick Malcolm - Real Isn't Real

(Review by Russell)

Trumpeter Nick Malcolm's new album comprises five sections - Spiral I to Spiral V - with all but the closing section linked to a companion piece featuring a vocal contribution from, variously, Emily Wright, Marie Lister, Josienne Clarke and Lauren Kinsella.  

Real Isn't Real is the result of studio sessions spanning 2015 to 2017 with Malcolm revisiting the material last year to add electronic overlays. The band leader's regular associates - Alexander Hawkins, Olie Brice and Ric Yarborough - are well equipped to negotiate his compositional ideas, shifting effortlessly between the structured and the free.