The Raible/Gradischnig Quintet play the music of Elmo Hope @ Gala Theatre Durham - March 17

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Steve Fishwick (trumpet, flugelhorn); Herwig Gradischnig (tenor sax); Claus Raible (piano); Giorgos Antoniou (bass); Matt Home (drums)

A beautiful spring day in Durham, the Gala Theatre studio space sold out and rightly so. This was an outstanding concert paying tribute to the inspirational music of Elmo Hope and celebrating what would have been his centenary. 

From the very first number, So Nice (Trippin'), we knew we were in for a special gig with musicians who have been touring and playing music they love throughout the UK and Europe.

Preview: Black Swan Open Mic (Thursday 23)

You've been to the legendary Black Swan jam session at Newcastle Arts Centre, you've been to one or more of the monthly concert promotions, now there's the first in a new series of open mic nights. Described as an 'open mic night for soloists and bands', the first one, open to all genres, is on Thursday (March 23). Organised by a familiar face from recent jam sessions, Martha asks participants to sign up in advance for a 7:30pm start (doors 7:00pm). It's free admission to all - performers and audience. Get in touch at: www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk. If you need any further incentive, there's a £25 bar tab to be won! Russell 

Album review: Luis Russell - At the Swing Cats Ball

Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocal); Shelton Hemphill, Louis Bacon, Red Allen (trumpet); Wilbur DeParis, George Washington, J.C. Higginbotham (trombones); Pete Clarke, Charlie Holmes (alto sax); Albert Nicholas, Bingie Madison (clarinet, tenor sax); Luis Russell (piano); Lee Blair (guitar); Pops Foster (bass); Paul Barbarin, Sidney Catlett (drums); Sonny Woods, Midge Williams (vocals).

A fascinating collection of undiscovered 1938/40 airchecks by the Luis Russell Orchestra featuring Louis Armstrong and, to a lesser extent, Henry 'Red' Allen.

Both trumpet players are in fine form with Armstrong arguably at his peak soaring above the sometimes dated arrangements. It doesn't matter, when he cuts loose time stands still, maybe even moves forward. It may not be Dizzy or Roy but he is certainly laying the groundwork for them. 

Preview: Wayne Shorter at the London Jazz Festival (BBC 4, Sunday)

In tribute to Wayne Shorter who died on March 2nd, BBC 4 tomorrow (Sunday) is to broadcast a programme first shown more than twenty years ago. The American saxophonist's 2001 London Jazz Festival appearance was captured on film and this is a rare opportunity to see it again. Tune in at 9:10pm, Sunday. Russell    

Aycliffe Radio: Jazz Time - Sundays 6.30-8.00 pm (repeat Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen/

Playlist 19/03/23. (Repeated Tuesday 21/03/23)

 

Mother’s Day: Clarence Williams & his Orchestra, Frank Sinatra/Count Basie, Etta James, Earl Hines, Jean Goldkette, Billy Strayhorn, Billy Test, Gregory Porter.

Requests: Herman Waldman, Carla Bley, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mike Vax.

Spring: Cleo Laine, Clifford Brown/Max Roach.

What’s On: Sunna Gunnlaugs and Julia Hülsmann.

Spring  (cont.): Freddie Hubbard, Melissa Aldana

Tony Coe (1934 - March 16, 2023)

Sad to learn of the passing, yesterday, of Tony Coe. Over the years, I heard him in many settings both live and on record - he always delivered.

My initial memory of hearing Tony Coe was with the first great Lyttelton band. The band with Coe, Jimmy Skidmore and Joe Temperley on saxes. I heard them at a concert in London, somewhere near Covent Garden. This was back in the late 1950s. I'd gone to the concert expecting to hear some New Orleans' jazz and came away in what was an almost Damascus moment! I particularly recall their version of In a Mellotone and, most of all, the sax solos, plus of course Humph's humorous announcements and, to a lesser extent, his trumpet playing.

Gaz Hughes Trio @ the Lit & Phil - March 17

(© Patti Durham)

Gaz Hughes (drums); Andrzej Baranek (piano); Ed Harrison (bass).

Three linchpins of the UK's north west jazz scene made an eagerly anticipated trans-Pennine trip as part of their promotional tour promoting their recently released album Beboptical Illusion, the follow up album to Beboperation. Hughes asked for suggestions for the title of the next album and, not without a degree of self interest, Conversational Bebop crossed my mind! 

Saxophonist Helena Kay set for Scottish tour

(© Benjamin Ealovega)

(Press release) Award-winning saxophonist, Helena Kay’s KIM Trio tour Scotland in support of their latest album, Golden Sands, from Thursday March 30.

The album has won both praise and plays from radio presenters in Canada, the US, Australia, Ireland and the UK. One Italian magazine even went as far as to place Golden Sands among the best of current jazz.

“That’s very flattering,” says Kay. “But the coverage that has touched me most was the programme in Atlanta that used Xian Impressions from the album as the bridge between its tribute to the great Wayne Shorter, who died earlier this month, and the new music on its playlist. Being considered good enough to follow Wayne Shorter is quite a compliment.”

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Hoochie Coochie - March 16

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

The rarely spotted Gerry Richardson Quartet have recently been seen and heard twice. The Globe last month and tonight at Hoochie Coochie. Enough to make a soul/funk/jazz/blues twitcher to er well start twitching!

And twitch we did. The northeast has produced the UK's two finest exponents of the B3 or, in this case, a Crumar, in the form of the late Mike Carr and Gerry Richardson. Strong words I know but I'm open to discussion.

Survey reveals over 1 in 4 Professional Musicians Skipped a Meal due to Cost of Living Crisis

26% of musicians have skipped a meal within the last 12 months due to cost of living crisis.

• 90% feel unconfident in the UK government’s ability to handle the crisis
• 64% have seen their number of gigs decrease as a result of the crisis
• 79% think it’s likely rising fuel prices will limit how far they can travel for gigs
• 51% have taken a second job as a result of cost of living crisis
• Young and female musicians are the most likely to have seen a drop in gigs

A recent survey of 301 musicians, by Encore Musicians (a musician booking platform), revealed that 26% of professional musicians, have skipped a meal due to the cost of living crisis. This is well over the national average of 14% recently reported in the Guardian (Source: TUC), suggesting musicians are struggling more than most.