Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party - Friday afternoon.

After a two - or was it three? - year break. Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party was back and, true to form, maintained the late Mike's conception of presenting a showcase for some of the earlier forms of jazz that are often overlooked by even the most diehard of purists. 

We're talking about music that predated bebop, even swing yet didn't always slot into the New Orleans/Dixieland mode. I suppose pre-mainstream might roughly cover some if not all of the music on offer on this sold out three day extravaganza.

Jazz on the Tyne – What’s On & What’s New, November 2022

On the latest edition of the podcast, presenter Colin Muirhead previews upcoming gigs and showcases new music, with tracks featuring Jo Harrop, Paul Edis, Jamie McCredie, John Pope, John Garner, Vega Trails, Harry Keeble, the Milne Glendinning Band, Sam Braysher, Stefano Bollani, Tommy Smith, and Ronnie Cuber + WDR Big Band.

You can listen to the show anytime from noon on Saturday 5^th November by heading HERE.

Plus, you can request tunes for future programmes by emailing Colin at:
 jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com.

The Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone - Nov. 3

David Gray (trombone, trumpet, vocals); Lawrence McBriarty (trombone, vocals); Brian Bennett (banjo); Paul Grainger (double bass)

The Holystone pub, Thursdays, it's the Vieux Carré Jazzmen. Over the years the line-up has evolved, the present outfit led, as ever, by Brian Bennett, aided and abetted by veteran trombonist Lawrence McBriarty and two recent recruits, string bass man Paul Grainger and 'Showtime', that's the adaptable 'boneman, trumpeter and aspiring vocalist, David Gray. 

New York Jazz Stories - Six Episodes

If you've been to New York, or if you're planning to go to New York or even if you have/haven't read David Haney's New York Jazz Stories these clips will have you trying to get on to the next flight! Lance

From the book of the same title, featuring clips from the ongoing show at the Public Theater in New York.

Featuring:

Shove It – the Xero Slingsby story. Screenings @ Whitley Bay & Newcastle

(Press release) SHOVE IT celebrates the life and work of Matthew Coe aka Xero Slingsby and his band The Works.

With Coe on alto saxophone and ‘additional cacophonies’, Louis Colan on bass and Gene Velocette on drums, Xero Slingsby and The Works were a much-loved fixture of the jazz bars and clubs across the north of England, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in the early 1980s, releasing two albums ‘Shove It’ and ‘Up Down’ in 1985 and 1986 respectively.

Next year, 2023, will mark 40 years since Coe formed Xero Slingsby and The Works.

Album review: Allan Botschinsky Quintet - Live at The Tivoli Gardens 1996

Allan Botschinsky (flugel); Bent Jædig (tenor sax); Jacob Fischer (guitar); Jasper Lundgaard (bass); Alex Riel (drums).

This could well be my CD of the year even though it was recorded live in 1996. Music such as this is timeless irrespective of where or when it was recorded which, in this case, happened to be at Copenhagen's  Tivoli Gardens on July 6, 1996.

Nothing freaky, just pure hard bop that swings as so many of the Copenhagen cats did in those days which, considering the number of American jazzmen that either stayed or passed through the Danish capital around that time, isn't surprising. 

Some tasty jam at the Black Swan - Nov. 1

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Graham Hardy, Edgar Bell (trumpets); David Gray*, Thomas ? (trombones); Andy Schumm, Esther Coombs (clarinets); Haaruun Miller, Nigel Greenwood** (alto sax); Steve Summers, Nick Gould (tenor sax); Adam Sams***, Jacob Egglestone (guitar); John Pope (bass); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Murray Wankling (piano); Kris Finney, Bailey Rudd, Will Pease (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Alice Grace, Dawn Furness, Katri(o)na ?, Alice Grace (vocals).

*David Gray sang and whistled. ** Nigel Greenwood also whistled. ***Adam Sams dueted vocally with David Gray on It's Only a Paper Moon.

What can I say? The above listing tells it all, or at least most of it! There was just so much going on that to give a blow by blow description would probably take me until next week and to single  anyone out would be an insult to the others who poured their heart and soul into it. Nevertheless, publish and be damned...

EFG London Jazz Festival Presents: Emma Smith And Georgina Jackson - THE BIG SWING

(Press release)

The EFG London Jazz Festival and Cadogan Hall are proud to host the exclusive premier performance of ‘The Big Swing’: the world’s first double female fronted big band. Jazz luminaries Georgina Jackson and Emma Smith launch the historically male dominated world of Big Band Swing in to unchartered territory, by assembling a formidable group of master musicians to present their own unique interpretation of this old school tradition, adding contemporary style and charisma in abundance.

R.I.P. Terry Shannon (1929-2022)

The news of the passing of piano legend Terry Shannon has come as a shock even though he was, as Simon Spillett reports on his Facebook page, just a week short of his 93rd birthday. Although he had been off the jazz scene for many years, lately he has never been far away from my thoughts. The reason for this is due to the fact that I'm currently reading Peter Dawn's mammoth tome: Phil Seaman, Percussion Genius and by association with Phil, Tubby, Ronnie and many of the others on the modern jazz that was burgeoning in Soho during the early 1950s, Terry is frequently referred to on a number of the pages as part of the Jazz Couriers (he's in the centre of the EP cover photo) and the Tubby Hayes Quartet.

Preview: Classic Jazz Party (Nov. 4-6)

It's almost time. Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party makes its long-awaited return this weekend. The first of many (thirty plus) musicians arrives this morning (Tuesday). Your correspondent is filing this post from Newcastle International Airport, waiting to greet one of the American musicians arriving on an overnight flight from Chicago via Heathrow.*

The 2022 edition of the CJP is the first since pre-lockdown days in November 2019. The three day event is all but a 280-seat sell out. However, to check on last minute availability - weekend or day ticket - see www.whitleybayjazzfest.com.

* Here's a thing, there's a jam session in town tonight (the fortnightly session at the Black Swan), it isn't beyond the bounds of possibility that a 'real deal' hot shot Chicagoan could fancy a 'blow'... Russell