Stolen sax

Prior to last night's gig at Pizza Express I spotted this poster on a lamppost in Oxford St. I think the missing digit in the phone number is 6.

The question senior police officers are asking is, what was an unaccompanied tenor saxophone doing on Oxford St. in the early hours of June 30?

Lance

Ann Hampton Callaway: Jazz Meets Broadway @ Pizza Express, Soho - August 7

Ann Hampton Callaway (piano/vocals)

(Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Sebastian Scotney)

In this day and age it is a brave initiative to book a solo artist for 5 consecutive nights (2 at the Pheasantry and 3 at Dean St.) but, judging by last night, it paid off with many who had been at the Chelsea gigs following up here for a second helping and, I'm told, a totally different programme.

This was the final gig of my two day trip to our capital city and what a gig it was! The title "Jazz Meets Broadway" summed up the evening perfectly. This was jazz, cabaret style, in a manner that detracted from neither worlds. 

Matt Wates/Steve Fishwick Quintet @ The Spice of Life - August 7

Matt Wates (alto sax); Steve Fishwick (trumpet); Leon Greening (piano); Julian Berry (bass); Matt Fishwick (drums).

(Review by Lance).

A visit to London without calling in at the Spice of Life is, for me, like going to Paris and not visiting The Louvre and my latest visit did indeed produce some masterpieces. Hard bop certainly lives in London.

Although nothing could compare with the previous evening's session at Pizza this one came within a whisker - to be sure it did. 

The affable Irishman, Wates, blew breathtaking alto - Cannonball lives! - ably partnered by fiery trumpet man Fishwick, driven along by Fishwick the drum and held well together by bassist Berry. However, the star for me was pianist Greening. It had been some years since I last heard him which, I think, was at Scarborough Jazz Festival. He stole the show then and did so once more going by the reaction of the crowded room.

Leo Richardson Quartet: Album Launch @ Pizza Express, Soho - August 6

Leo Richardson (tenor sax); Rick Simpson (piano); Conor Chaplin (bass); Ed Richardson (drums) + Eric Alexander (tenor sax).

(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Martin Hummel).

Having reviewed Move and The Chase I knew this gig was going to be special and it was. I may have been to better gigs although, off the top of my head I can't remember when. This was driving hard bop with Leo blowing like there was no tomorrow and his rhythm section kicking it all the way. Rick Simpson, Conor Chaplin and Ed, no relation, Richardson on drums making sure the leader didn't flag - as if!

It seemed as though the whole world had turned out for the album launch and the pizzas and Peronis  were in great demand but, once the music started, food and drink took second place.

CD Review: Paul Booth - Travel Sketches

Paul Booth (tenor sax); Steve Hamilton (piano); Dave Whitford (bass); Andrew Bain (drums).

(Review by Lance)

Every so often a CD comes along that jumps the queue and this is just such a one. Booth, in his informative notes, describes the album as a conscious decision to go back to his roots as a tenor player. A decision he made whilst on various tours with Steve Winwood and others. These worldwide adventures brought him to many unusual and exotic places resulting in a series of musical portraits and landscapes.

Unlike so many original compositions where it takes a somewhat vivid stretch of the imagination to relate the tune to the title, here the two go together like Stanley and Livingstone or, better still, Stanley and Getz for Booth's sound has the lyricism of mid-period Getz when he recorded those albums with Eddie Sauter.

Dave Hignett & Friends @ the Globe Jazz Bar - August 4

Dave Hignett (trumpet/flugel); Niall Armstrong (tenor sax); Kevin Wright (keys); Conor Hignett (bass guitar); Dom Neeson (drums) + Barbara Hignett (vocals); Sophie Speed (alto sax).

(Review by Lance).

Swinging hard bop with a touch of funk and jazz rock. Blue Note is alive and well with an ace quintet plus 2.

The gaffa, and the term is appropriate, blew trumpet as if it were the eve of Armageddon with the thunder and lightning outside suggesting it might well be!  Yes, Gaffa Hignett had it, along with the wandering Roland pedal, taped.

Alongside him, Niall Armstrong whom I tend to associate more with baritone rather than tenor sax (catch him on the bigger instrument with Saxophonics) was an ideal frontline partner - think Hank Mobley or Benny Golson with the Jazz Messengers.

Preview: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe – August 8

Barry Keatings, Carrie McCullock, David Edgar, Miriam McCormick, Jen Errington (individual vocals); Stuart Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums)

You must not miss out on a chance to hear the Indigo Jazz Voices this next Thursday. Skilled jazz vocalists doing their stuff. You'll be able to listen to at least 4 songs from each singer, including the delightful I Can't Give You Anything But Love; the puzzling (to me) lyrics of Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me; and also the classic songs What A Difference A Day Makes and All Of Me.

Add to the mix three top musicians accompanying the singers and you're in for a treat.

Admission is just £5 and it all kicks off at 7.30pm

Be There!

Ann Alex

RIP Bob Wilber (1928-2019)

Colin Aitchison has passed on the sad news that soprano saxophonist and clarinet player Bob Wilber passed away either last night or early this morning. Bob was an occasional visitor to Ned Kelly's in Kowloon where he often sat in with the China Coast Jazzmen led by Colin. The two became good friends and Colin visited him at his home in Chipping Campden on several occasions where they enjoyed jamming together.

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Gala Theatre, Durham - August 2

James Birkett, Bradley Johnston (guitars)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair).

Another in the Gala Theatre's immensely successful monthly lunchtime jazz concert series presented the guitar duo of James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. BSH's County Durham correspondent Tony Eales reports that those turning up at midday in the hope of acquiring a ticket for the one o'clock start were to be disappointed as, yet again, the event was a sellout.

Birkett (pictured right) and Johnston wowed the audience with their expert survey of jazz guitar from its earliest beginnings some one hundred years ago through to contemporary developments. The duo love Djamgo Reinhardt and Pat Metheny in equal measure and their enthusiasm  for all things guitar ensured another successful day at Millennium Place.

Next Month (September 6) the Northern Monkey Brass Band will be bringing a touch of Geordie N'Awlins jazz to the heart of Durham. Book now or miss out - 03000 266 600. 

Russell

Blaydon Update

August 18th

'Two Trios' - Bradley Johnston Trio / Giles Strong Trio

Music from 7:30pm, £7

Two guitar based trios playing a set each. Bradley Johnston has already carved out a reputation as one of the region's finest jazz guitarists. It's amazing just how far he has come since first sitting in at Blaydon as a young teenager. With Brad are Paul Grainger double bass and Russ Morgan drums.

The other trio is fronted by Giles Strong, a superb jazz guitarist with a love of the best of the 'Songbook' in the style of players such as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Jim Hall. With Giles are Dean Stockdale (piano) and Ian Paterson on double bass.

September 15th - 35th Anniversary Concert (more info soon)

Bruce Adams with Paul Edis Trio

Music from 7:30pm, £10

October 27th (note - this is a Sunday afternoon concert - more info soon)

Vasilis Xenopoulos with Paul Edis Trio

Music from 1pm to 3.30, £10

Roly