The Washboard Resonators @ The Globe, Newcastle - Nov. 3

Martyn Roper (guitar, banjo, banjo ukulele, harmonica, kazoo, whistle, vocals); Jack Amblin (washboard, percussion, bells, bones, jug, kazoo, whistles, handcuffs*, tap board, vocals)

For the last few years Martyn Roper and Jack Amblin have toured up and down the land, abroad too, in pursuit of a long lost era of storytellers, troubadours, vaudevillians, whistling hobos and the like. This evening the Washboard Resonators pitched up at the Globe on Railway Street on the first night of a twelve date tour. The question arose: Who would our duo appeal to? The jazz fan? The vintage blues aficionado? The alt-country, old timey type?

Live from Emmet's Place - Nov. 1

Emmet Cohen (piano); Russell Hall (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums); Evan Christopher (clarinet); Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet)

Pianist Emmet Cohen has been streaming Monday evening gigs from his NYC apartment for something like eighteen months. A European tour, stopping off at Ronnie Scott's, didn't interrupt the ongoing series. Cohen, bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole are as good a working unit as any and the week to week addition of a guest or two helps to keep things fresh. This week's episode featuring guests Evan Christopher and Jon-Erik Kellso would more than meet expectations. 

Steve Oakes Band featuring Ray Butcher @ the Railway Stockport - Nov. 2

Steve Oakes (guitar); Ray Butcher (trumpet/flugel) ; Ed Kainyek (alto/tenor sax); Elliot Roffe (bass); Tim Franks (drums).

Before the start of this concert, Steve and I were discussing the sad news of the untimely death of guitar legend Pat Martino who I never got to see live, although I had the opportunity on two occasions to do so.

Steve chose to begin the first set with a tribute to the late genius by playing Alone Together featuring heartfelt solos from the whole band.

RIP Mike Pointon - April 25, 1941 - Nov. 1, 2021

Mike Pointon, who has died at the age of eighty, first picked up a trumpet and set about learning to play piano before turning to the trombone. He was a teenage dep in Ken Colyer's band from where he would go on to play with a who's who of the international jazz scene. A Londoner, Pointon played with the Blue Crow Jazzmen and the Perdido Street Six in the Croydon area. Over the years the much respected trombonist worked with Sammy Rimington, Keith Smith, Barry Martyn, Clive Wilson, Albert Nicholas, Wild Bill Davison, Art Hodes, Bent Persson, Mezz Mezzrow and many others. 

Book/CD review: Brian Morton - The Making of Chet Baker Sings

Chet Baker (trumpet, vocal); Russ Freeman (piano); Jimmy Bond, Carson Smith, Joe Mondragon (bass); Peter Littman, Lawrence Marable, Bob Neel, Shelly Manne (drums)

Back in the mid-fifties I recall a Melody Maker headline that read "Chet Baker to appear in London - But only to sing!" This was, at the time, akin to saying that Fred Astaire would be appearing but wouldn't be dancing.

This was, of course, due to the ongoing situation where foreign musicians weren't allowed to play for fear of them taking work away from British musicians. It didn't apply to singers as they would have local musicians accompanying them.

As time went by Chet's singing became more and more accepted although the late Sinclair Traill in the April 1959 issue of Jazz Journal reviewing Chet Baker Sings wrote: "It is the sad music of despair - a sound I can do without". A ludicrous statement that was typical of the jazz critics of that era.

RIP Ray Newton

I've just heard, belatedly, that north east bassist, cellist, educator and former MU official Ray Newton died on August 4.

A versatile musician whose work ranged from symphony orchestras to local trad bands he was, until recent years, a familiar figure on the local scene. In the photo he can be seen with pianist the late Roy Gibson.

May he Rest In Peace - Lance

R.I.P. Pat Martino - August 25, 1944 - November 1, 2021

Maurice Summerfield has passed on to me the sad news that guitar legend Pat Martino died yesterday aged 77. 

His career and lifetime challenges are well documented in this obituary  from The West News but perhaps the best way to remember him is via the above YouTube clip with Dave Frank on piano.

RIP - Lance

Jazz in the Afternoon @ The Crescent Club, Cullercoats - Nov. 1

Herbie Hudson (trombone, harmonica, vocals); Brian Chester (keyboards); Dave Percy (bass guitar); Gordon ? (drums) + Brian Lynam (harmonica, vocals); John Broddle (vocals); Miles Watson (trumpet, vocals); Harry Stephenson (clarinet); Marilyn Hunter (vocals)

A good crowd in today down at the coast. The Crescent Club's regular Monday session appears to be regaining its large following and today the band's guests offered variety, both jazz and blues. Everything was set fair, wait a minute...the hand pulls on the bar weren't working properly. What's going on?! Hmmm, a bottle of Brown the best of the rest. Front man Herbie Hudson got things going with Some of These Days. From here on in it would be a non-stop parade of familiar, if not hackneyed tunes, mixed in with some lesser played numbers and guest performers. 

Tim Franks Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Oct. 31

Tim Franks (drums); Tim France (tenor sax); Gary Boyle (guitar); John Sandham (bass).

Tim Franks' drummer lead unit is usually a quintet but, due to trumpeter Phil Nicholas being in covid isolation, it was reduced to four musicians. On bass, John Sandham filled in for Dave Turner who was also having health problems. 

John did a great job handling what was a varied set of challenging tunes by Monk, Keith Jarrett, Tom Harrell, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock, and two by Freddie Hubbard. Something for everyone! 

Sunday Night @ the Globe: ARQ - The Alison Rayner Quintet - Oct. 31

(Photo by Russell)

Diane McLoughlin (tenor/soprano saxes); Steve Lodder (piano); Deirdre Cartwright (guitar); Alison Rayner (bass/bass guitar); Buster Birch (drums).

The room was full. I can't remember seeing so many in the downstairs bar. The JNE faithful were there, along with the Globe regulars and those of us who simply go where the music takes them.

This co-promotion between Jazz North East and the Jazz Co-op was one of the best jazz gigs at the Co-op's HQ since, well, er, since ARQ played the upper room back in 2018.