Soznak (a band for all seasons) @ Monument, Newcastle - January 18

Paul Miskin's street band pitches up lunchtime most Saturdays at Monument, come rain, come shine. Today was no exception. Bright, sunny, a tad cold, the sort of gig where gloves come in useful. As ever one or two familiar faces from the regional jazz scene were helping out Mr Miskin - Jude Murphy was heard singing (and playing flute) on A-Ha's Take on Me. Playing bass guitar was occasional jam session participant Adam Sams (usually heard playing guitar). That was early afternoon. Your correspondent wandered off on a mission (there was a book sale on in town). Late afternoon, wandering by  again, Miskin and co were still at it belting out David Bowie's Let's Dance. Don't these guys feel the cold?! 

Russell     

The Early Birds' Next Generation @ The Lit & Phil - January 18

Haaruun Miller (alto sax, soprano sax); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); George Ivanov (guitar); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Dylan Thompson (drums); Paul Edis (MD, flute, piano)

(Review by Russell)

The term 'production line' makes it seem rather regimented, widgets by the dozen. The Early Bird hothouse is anything but impersonal, anything but uninspiring. On the contrary, the Early Bird set-up and many other similar projects across the region - Jambone, Jazz Attack, JB's Cats, the Gala Big Band, the Tyne Valley Big Band stable to name but a few - succeed because of the work put in by dedicated tutors. Today's workshop format at the Lit & Phil, culminating in a short public performance, offered further evidence of the student-tutor relationship yielding positive results.

Radio Richardson, Live Lovatt

Today's edition of J to Z on Radio 3 at five o'clock is well worth catching. It's a repeat of a programme first broadcast last year featuring a storming session by the Leo Richardson Quartet. The set includes material from tenor saxophonist Richardson's latest album Move. On Tuesday's In Tune (Radio 3, 5:00pm) Mike Lovatt will be one of Sean Rafferty's guests. Trumpeter Lovatt will be at Sage Gateshead with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band on Saturday 29 February. Tickets are going like hot cakes, book now on 0191 443 4661. 

Russell

Book review: Pelle Bergland - Buddy Rich One of a Kind.

Pelle Bergland, a Swedish writer and occasional percussionist, spent 8 years researching and interviewing significant musicians and contacts of Buddy Rich. The highs and the lows of the egocentric drummer are recorded and, where possible, explained.

For some it may be a nostalgic trip, for others it may be a voyage of discovery, but for those, such as myself, who saw him live so many times it is a reminder that he really was as great as they remembered him. Even now, 50 years on, I still recall the thrill I got hearing him that first time at Ronnie's. A thrill that had already been rekindled when I heard the recently released, newly discovered, final album.

CD Review: Jason Yeager - New songs of Resistance

(Review by Dave Brownlow)

New Songs Of Resistance is Professor of Piano at Berklee  College of Music Jason Yeager’s latest mix of protest, jazz, classical and Latin American folk music. It is his attempt to draw more attention to the anger and confusion felt by the peoples of Latin America and the United States in their current situation. Jason attempts to speak truth through the power of music in the form of resistance as previously achieved by such jazz masters as John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Max Roach in the not-too-distant past.

Mike Farris @ Live Theatre, Newcastle - Jan 16

Mike Farris (vocals, guitar); Mike Outram (guitar, vocals); Steve ? (organ, vocals); ? (bass guitar, vocals); Ron Johnson ? (drums).

(Review by Russell)

Mike Farris is in the middle of a sold out British tour and Live Theatre, just off Newcastle Quayside, greeted the man from Tennessee as if a returning hero. And, in some ways, that is what the American was having previously performed in Ashington in Northumberland. A contingent of avid fans led the cheerleading and from first note to last Farris held the sold out audience in the palm of his hand.

Farris' band on this Newcastle date included ace jazz guitarist Mike Outram in blues-soul mode and a short notice dep drummer who slotted in as if a long-time sideman. Cuts from Farris' new album Silver & Stone and a selection from an extensive back catalogue together with one or two surprise choices were delivered in a more hard-hitting style than anticipated. A lack of horns and dedicated backing vocalists perhaps dictated affairs; the gospel-infused vocals were in evidence but a rockier vibe hit the audience for six. 

Matt MacKellar Band @ The Black Swan - Jan. 16

Matt MacKellar (drums); Andy Champion (bass/bass guitar); Ben Lawrence (keys); Zoë Gilby (voice).

(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)

The bar was crowded. So much so that had a person arrived of more than average girth the whole shebang would have had to be moved to the lower basement auditorium. Such was the drawing power of the performers.

Leader Matt drove the band with some powerhouse drumming. By coincidence, I'm currently reading the latest biography of Buddy Rich (review imminent) and, listening to Matt it struck me that he was creating the same sense of awe that Buddy caused back in the 1930s! Even though his solos were fewer, and in many ways more restrained than in the past, there was no mistaking the star quality of the boy from Boston Mass.

Hong Kong on Tyne

Colin Aitchison, our man in Hong Kong, sent me the following decoded message re this Sunday's Vintage Chart Toppers radio show which he presents on RTHK Radio 3 every Sunday morning.

Lance

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Just a heads up to let you know that the VCT's show about the local Tyneside dance and jazz scene is on this Sunday at 8-30am (HK time) it is from a good few shows back but they felt it was worth putting it on air again. Here is the write up by the producer and poster by him.

Colin

Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle - Jan 14

(Review by Russell)

Weather warnings were issued, flood defence measures were in place down on the Tyne and there was a match on at St James' Park. The likelihood was the first jam session of the year would be down on numbers - both participants and listeners. Well, perhaps the determination of all was somewhat underestimated. As the house trio opened with Dear Old Stockholm the Black Swan was filling up nicely and by the end of the night there would be the glorious sight and sound of a ten-strong ensemble blowing on a Bobby Timmons' favourite.  

Messrs Law, Grainger and Walker were in fine form. Pianist Alan Law just couldn't help swinging it...just what Dr Jazz ordered! A rare jam session appearance by Faye MacCalman (tenor sax), an equally rare sighting of vocalist Miriam McCormick and a debut performance by Sheila Herrick spiced-up what was already shaping up to be quite a night.

RIP Pauline Carmichael

Very saddened to read in tonight's Shields' Gazette of  the death of Pauline Carmichael, widow of the late Charlie Carmichael. Charlie, a member of the Newcastle Big Band and an ever present sax/clarinet player at local jam sessions, was a dear friend and, as the late Brian Fisher once commented, "The only guy in the northeast who could blow bebop on clarinet". This was true although he could fit in with most styles.

Pauline, his third wife, was a lovely person who supported Charlie's musical adventures wholeheartedly and they were a great couple. Sad that she too has left us. The Gazette notices simply say that she died suddenly on New Years Day.

Pauline was 75 and the funeral will be held at the South Shields Crem next Tuesday.

RIP - fond remembrances.

Lance