CD Review: Delfeayo Marsalis Uptown Jazz Orchestra - Jazz Party

(Review by Lance)

Whilst the Marsalis family may not have quite as many varieties as Heinz, they aren't far short. Wynton, Branford, Ellis, Jason and Delfeayo are the known ones, are there any more at home like these?

I find out there is at least one, but more about that later...

The current dynasty has laid down some impressive moments some of which have been northeast related.

Wynton has played concerts at both the Newcastle City Hall and, across the river, at Sage Gateshead. He even said "hello" to Crombie at the old Jazz Café on Pink Lane and Branford played Newcastle with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers as well as being a regular sideman with Sting.

Delfeayo, to the best of my knowledge, has yet to appear up north but, on the strength of this album, he would be more than welcome.

Music Under Arrest!

Police Notice! Drummer and film soundtrack composer Stewart Copeland presents a three part series on music exploring the art form's power to unite people from different backgrounds and cultures. Along the way Copeland chats to former colleague Sting about the art of songwriting. 

The first part of Stewart Copeland's Adventures in Music will be broadcast at 9:30pm, Friday (Jan 17) on BBC Four. 

Russell

Preview: OFFGRID Presents The Unthanks + Thomas Dixon Trio @ Cobalt Studios CIC - Feb. 14

(Press release)

Sublime acoustic music, limited places, candlelight, lanterns, no power at all, cash only. No whirrs, whizzes or distractions – just distilled music in an intimate environment.

Following the success of our first OFFGRID we are delighted to let you know that The Unthanks have agreed to take to the candlelit stage and grace us with their crystal clear unaccompanied harmony and beautiful, magical and at times haunting stories.

A Biscuit King!

Opening a festive box of biscuits there it was...Mr B.B. King! - Russell

Bird's Great Life

This week's edition of BBC Radio 4's Great Lives is well worth catching. If you missed Tuesday's programme presented by Matthew Parris there is a quick repeat tomorrow (Friday) at 11:00pm. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke nominates Charlie Parker as a Great Life. Jazz writers Richard Williams and Val Wilmer help make the case and there is archive material featuring Dizzy Gillespie and Annie Ross.    

Russell  

CD Review: Stu Collingwood, featuring Paul Booth - Beep Bap Bop.

Stuart Collingwood (keys/composer); Paul Booth (tenor sax/flute); John Trotter (drums/percussion); Mark Austin (guitar); Neil Harland (bass on 3 tracks) + Ryan Quigley (trumpet); Trevor Mires (trombone).

(Review by Lance)

Last Sunday afternoon I dropped by Charts on the Newcastle Quayside. I was too late to browse the stalls that sell everything from a hairpin to the High Level Bridge (maybe throw in the Swing Bridge for cash) but I was in time to catch the Jazz Social (reported in a previous post)

Pianist Stu Collingwood is  highly rated in northeast jazz/music circles so that when he mentioned he'd made a CD of his own compositions and the album included some very big hitters I knew I had to hear it.

CD Review: Laura Noejovich - Laura Has New Standards

Laura Noejovich (voice); Takeshi Asai (piano)

(Review by James Henry)

Laura Has New Standards is a clever play on words, and in this debut album Laura Noejovich gives us a mixture of old standards in new ways, and other less familiar songs that might become new standards.

Laura Noejovich has an unusual background for an aspiring jazz singer. Originally trained as an opera singer, she then completed a degree in neurosciences in Skidmore College, NY, where she is currently a laboratory associate.  In this debut album Laura Noejovich is accompanied on piano by Takeshi Asai, originally from Japan but now based in New York, and an alumnus of Berklee College. Restricting the accompaniment to piano without a conventional rhythm section is a bold thing to do on a debut album, and Noejovich’s classical training and presence help her carry this off.

Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Sage Gateshead - Jan 5

(Review by Russell)

Sage One's level one stalls and level two seats were sold out as Ray McVay's orchestra took to the stage at fifteen hundred hours. A well-drilled unit, the personnel, set list and choreography much the same as on previous sorties. Miller in civvies, Miller in AAF uniform, this afternoon performance would stir memories for many in the audience.

Hello Gateshead! We were off to a good start, veteran bandleader Ray McVay remembered where he was. In the Mood to Flying Home to vocalist Mark Porter's opening contribution - The Nearness of You - the UK Miller band was well and truly airborne. Pennsylvania 6500 required audience participation. Pennsylvania, six, five thousand couldn't be that difficult, could it? Oh, yes it could! Half the audience missed its cue, the other half managed a barely audible effort. The band stopped playing, disgusted with this Gateshead effort. So disgusted the band walked off stage - quite right, too! McVay stood there, all alone. Come on guys, come back! Our bandleader joked the boys in the band were off to the bar. Reluctantly they returned to the stage. Let's try again...Pennsylvania, six, five thousand. That's better! It was, of course, a well-rehearsed joke and everyone played along. Aye, those were the days! 

RIP Jack Sheldon

West coast trumpet player, singer, comedian, actor and TV personality Jack Sheldon passed away on December 27.

As cool as any of his contemporary horn men, as well as playing on many albums under his own name he also added an extra voice to discs by Art Pepper, Curtis Counce, Jimmy Giuffre, Stan Kenton and many others with his decisive sound. Cool without being fragile.

I also recall him on screen in the Bette Midler movie - For The Boys - one of my favourite films

I particularly treasure the two albums he made under Art Pepper's name - Smack Up and The Return of Art Pepper. I guess they will be on my turntable tonight.

Jack Sheldon was 88.

Sadly missed.

Lance.
NY Times obituary.

Socialising on a Sunday Afternoon @ Charts

Stu Collingwood (piano/vocal); Andy Champion (bass guitar); Sid White (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Abbie Finn (drums).

(Review/photos by Lance)

When is a jam session not a jam session? Well, if you're at The Globe for the Wednesday Take it to the Bridge gig, it's a Workshop and, if you're down on the Quayside on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Charts, it's a Jazz Social. Still, what's in a name?

Today, down by the riverside and close to the Law Courts, justice was seen to be done by three repeat offenders. Every Sunday, these three converted sinners, preach the gospel according to St John Coltrane and other deities.