Dave Sockett enthuses over Zoë Gilby's Aurora.

Zöe Gilby (voice); Noel Dennis (trumpet/flugel); Mark Williams (bass); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).

I think you've all managed to create a lovely melodic, rhythmic and intriguing cd; with clever and insightful lyrics helping to explore the songs and potential themes. You manage to really use words and phrases sparingly, but with powerful and multiple meaning and effect. I also thought your use of expressive sound and emotion from your voice was beautifully realised. The themes of creation, love, time, change, adventure, movement, being present and spirituality were all there.

The Sunday Service: The Music of Joe Darensbourg - May 2

(Screenshot by Russell)

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

In Ascona, Switzerland for a rare live gig opportunity, this week Preacher Adrian Cox chose as his subject clarinetist Joe Darensbourg. The American wanted to write a tune about his home state Louisiana, so, he came up with Lou-Easy-An-I-A. Cox picked up his clarinet to play it, singing into the bargain. An excellent start. Shortly after the one o'clock downbeat close on one hundred fans were online. Three tunes in, Cox's live stream was interrupted by the arrival of not one, but two, giant-size Swiss Rolls, courtesy of his host. Yum.

Hitting the high notes

(Screenshot by Patti D)

Colin Hancock is a supremely talented young jazz musician from Austin, Texas. He'll be familiar to regular readers of BSH - Colin came to our region as the winner of the 2019 Young Talent Award at Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party - incidentally, the last one we were able to hold in pre-Covid times! Here is Colin now, playing his 1934 Conn Victor cornet 1000 ft above Manhattan, to celebrate his graduation in Urban Planning from Columbia University, New York. Plus, Colin has reassured all his fans around the world that he's going to continue with the good music at the same time as his city planning work. He's going to be a busy boy, and we wish him lots of luck. Patti D

Dave Lewis Quartet livestreaming from the 606 - May 1

Dave Lewis (tenor sax); Robin Aspland (piano); Neville Malcolm (bass guitar); Rod Youngs (drums).

Dave Lewis? Dave Lewis? I knew the name but from where? From when? Yes! Gillespiana at the King's Head in Crouch End back in 2011 where Dave was in the sax section. That was a great night that I almost missed due to a chance encounter on the number 91 bus! However that is another story ... Further exploration of the BSH archives revealed that Dave was at GIJF in 2015 in a bizarre session with Jay Rayner that incorporated jazz and cookery - these festivals, the things they come up with!

I left that one to epicurean Russell to review - there are times when one has to pull rank! However, the common denominator in both sessions that we found to our taste (taste - get it?) was Dave Lewis' bluesy tenor playing.

KSTV: Kansas Smitty's Big Four - May 1

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Dave Archer (guitar); Ferg Ireland (double bass) + Julian Bliss (clarinet)

Smitty's Big Four, this is where it all began. Kansas Smitty's the band, the venue, the brand emerged from a gigging quartet. Tonight's session would be augmented by a clarinetist, a man at the top of his profession performing the classical repertoire, Mr Julian Bliss.

A hot start, three in a row...Maple Leaf Rag, Dardanella and Muskrat Ramble! Tremendous solos - shouts of Go on! Go on! - and immaculate ensemble work. Taking it down a touch with Sweet Lorraine did nothing to lessen the brilliance of the musicianship. In fact, such was the brilliance of Giacomo Smith the thought occurred: Was Mr Bliss standing in the wings? No pressure, eh?! 

Album review: Frank Morelli, Keith Oxman - The Ox-Mo Incident

Keith Oxman (tenor sax); Frank Morelli (bassoon); Jeff Jenkins (piano); Ken Walker (bass); Todd Reid (drums).

When you think of a modern jazz quintet with a two piece front-line you automatically assume that if one of the horns is playing tenor the other will be either blowing, trumpet, trombone, alto or another tenor. It's unlikely that bassoon will spring to mind. I mean to say, bassoons  don't easily lend themselves to jazz, bassoonists don't turn up at jam sessions and, because of the expense, most sax players would go for a flute or a clarinet as a doubler.

Joe Webb & Will Sach play Ellington - May 1

(Screenshot by Russell)

Joe Webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass)

Realising Thursday (April 29) marked the date of Duke Ellington's birth (1899) Joe and Will scrapped their intended set list in favour of a celebration of the music of Edward Kennedy Ellington. Live streaming from Joe's kitchen it was Duke all the way. Highlights? Everything about the hour. Choose one? Joe Webb's startling intro to Prelude to a Kiss. Choose another? Will's bass playing! Simply superb.     

Russell

Set list: In a Mellotone; Just Squeeze Me; Creole Love Call; Drop Me Off in Harlem; Prelude to a Kiss; Cottontail; Dual Highway; Limbo Jazz.     

Aycliffe Radio: Jazz Time Playlist Sunday May 2 (6.30pm - 8.00 pm).

Vieux Carre Jazzmen; Abbie Finn; Ella Fitzgerald and The Inkspots; Billie Holiday.

Ian Bosworth's selection: The Crusaders; Erroll Garner; Lee Ritenour; Rosenberg Trio; Yellowjackets + WDR Big Band.

Duke Ellington; The Modern Jazz Quartet with Jimmy Giuffre.

New Release: Prime Trio.

Mose Allison; Snarky Puppy; Alfa Mist; Art Tatum, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich; Don Ellis.

Cyrille Aimée & Michaël Valeanu live streaming from Mezzrow, NYC - Apr 30

(Screenshot by Russell)

Cyrille Aimée (vocals, guitar); Michaël Valeanu (guitar)

It was International Jazz Day but it didn't seem to register with Mezzrow. Spike Wilner's Greenwich Village basement venue presents jazz seven nights a week, International Jazz Day or not. And on this day, vocalist extraordinaire Cyrille Aimée and partner, guitarist Michaël Valeanu, had a new album to promote. 

I'll Be Seeing You is Aimée and Valeanu's new recording, their first as a duo, although they have recorded together several times in various line-ups. Mezzrow opened its doors to an audience and it was a sellout. That tells only half the story...social distancing measures limited numbers to just thirteen lucky people! 

Radio Cheltenham and more

Saturday (May 1)

Ahead of this evening's Kansas Smitty's live stream session, Julian Bliss discusses all things clarinet on Radio 3's Inside Music (1:00pm). Classical clarinetist Bliss has been invited to sit-in on tonight's Big Four session, it should be interesting (8:00pm on Kansas Smitty's YouTube channel)! This year's Cheltenham Jazz Festival is of the virtual variety and BBC Radio has scheduled several programmes across the May Day weekend to celebrate it. Julian Joseph presents this afternoon's J to Z (Radio 3, 5:00pm) which includes a set featuring Tim Garland, Jason Rebello and Gary Husband paying tribute to Chick Corea.