Album review: Sasha Dobson with Peter Bernstein - Girl Talk

Sasha Dobson (vocals); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Ian Hendrickson-Smith (alto sax); Steven Bernstein (trumpet, flugelhorn, slide trumpet); Smith Dobson (vibes); Mauro Refosco (perc.); Neal Miner (bass); Dred Scott (drums) + Kenny Wollesen (drums - 2 tks); Norah Jones (backing vocal on Girl Talk).

Another fine vocalist capable of putting her stamp on a good tune and maybe improving a not so good one. This has really been a wonderful year for girl vocalists - Samara Joy, Veronica Swift, Sarah Moule, Georgia Mancio, Rebecca Kilgore - Sasha Dobson is up there in that league. She has one of those voices that kind of curls around you. Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day created the same effect even though Sasha doesn't sound like either she's very much her own woman although the phrasing and the huskiness do sometimes bring to mind the former and her scatting the latter. 

Classic Swing @ the Crescent Club Cullercoats

(Pic by Russell)

Alan Marshall (alto sax); Tommy Moran (tenor sax); Neville Hartley (trombone); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (bass); Tommy Graham (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals).

It was good to hear Classic Swing swing again in a new - to them - venue. The band offering an enjoyable alternative to the more New Orleans' style jazz usually associated with the club - there's room for all genres.

Apart from some tried and tested standards, Tommy Moran had penned a few originals that gave the band a mid-thirties small group sound, not too far removed from some of the later Lyttleton bands.

Alan Marshall was making his first appearance with the band and he blew some agile alto. Tommy, apart from his arrangements, also chipped in with some booting tenor whilst Neville Hartley - that most underrated of north-east trombonists - also slotted in seamlessly.

Jazz Pocket Orchestra dates

(Press release)

The band which comprises (l-r) Paul Donnelly (guitar); Paul Smith (drums) Jeremy McMurray (piano); Mark Toomey (alto sax); Peter Ayton (bass) also play ARC Stockton on Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 (see poster in right hand sidebar)

More info.

Knats on TV in Hexham - Sept. - 2

Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

Watch the second of two great @HexhamTown Council Bandstand Sessions this evening this time featuring the great #JazzFusion Band #Knats here - https://fb.watch/7MZASag_2k/ 

Image, video courtesy of Hexham Town Council/Core Music.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting @ Bobik's - September 1

Tom Dixon's monthly improv night at the Punch Bowl Hotel in Newcastle made its debut in August. Inspired by Charles Mingus' Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting, the event, in the first floor performance space on Jesmond Road, is designed to encourage one and all - participants and listeners - to come along and experience wholly improvised music. 

This second edition featured a solo piano set by Ben Lawrence. Later in the evening a series of ad hoc groupings would take to the stage to perform spontaneous improvisations. Pianist Ben travelled with his RD-800 keyboard from his Carlisle base to play a set of some forty minutes. 

Farewell to Mac Rae @ Holly Hill Social Club - Sept. 2

(Photos by Russell)

Liz Bacon (clarinet); Jim Blenkin (trombone, vocal); Ian Wynne (keys); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); Paul Bacon (snare drum) + Bill Evans (snare drum); Matty McElvogue (trumpet).

Many of the local jazz musicians and fans turned out to say farewell to Mac Rae - the final half of the Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band.

They gathered at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Felling, at The Crem in Gateshead and, finally, at the Holly Hill Social Club also in Felling.

It was a joyous occasion - if such a word is applicable - I guess Mac wouldn't want it to have been anything other than joyous.

Album review: Hannah Horton - Inside Out

Hannah Horton (tenor/baritone sax); John Crawford (piano); Rob Statham (elec. bass); Nic France (drums) + Ian Shaw (vocal - 2 tks).

Hannah Horton blows funky tenor, gutsy baritone and can write a good tune. Proof of this latter accomplishment is found in the five originals on the album - Two of which have vocals and lyrics by Ian Shaw.

However, nor is Hannah found wanting when playing other people's songs - she does them justice without treading on the toes or riding on the backs of the original versions. 

Jazz FM Awards - Nominees Announced

(Press release)

The nominees for the Jazz FM Awards 2021 with PPL and PRS for Music have been announced, once again recognising a diverse array of artists from the UK and abroad who have made a significant impact on the genre. This year’s ceremony will take place at Under The Bridge in West London on October 28^th 2021 and will be available to livestream via Jazz FM. The Awards will celebrate music created and released between 1^st January 2020 to the end of May 2021 to reflect the jazz community’s enduring creativity and innovation during the pandemic.

Jazz Bar at Edinburgh reopens tonight (Sept. 1)

Like so many venues, the Edinburgh Jazz Bar has had the shutters up for the past 18 months so that the news that it reopens tonight is good news indeed. This month's

programme is packed full of jazz and funk, featuring such names as Brian Kellock, Georgia Cecile, Colin Steele, Louise Dodds, Matt Carmichael, Fergus McCreadie, Martin Kershaw and many more.

Check out the programme for September. Lance

The Derrick Harris Trio @ The Railway, Stockport - August 31

Derrick Harris (guitar); Jez Platt (keyboards); Paul Smith (drums)

Although the flyer had the group listed as a quartet, it was in fact a trio. However, no one amongst the assembled jazz aficionados seemed to mind as the musicians turned in a fine performance on a very interesting selection of tunes. Harris is a self-confessed fan of the late great guitarist Wes Montgomery and the sound of his trio reminded me of an album by Montgomery that featured Melvin Rhyne on organ and which I now wish I hadn’t sold.