Special Announcement: 'The Scottish Connection' 11 June (a gentle tribute to Brian Kellock)

(Press release):The gig this evening was originally intended to feature one of the great Scottish jazz pianists (and old friend of the Club) Brian Kellock, but sadly Brian passed away just two weeks before he was due to appear here. We are hoping to host a Memorial concert for Brian in the early Autumn but tonight we felt it was appropriate to celebrate Scotland’s vibrant jazz scene (of which Brian was an integral part) by hosting an evening featuring just some of the many fine musicians who hail from there and who knew, respected and admired him.

Born and raised in Edinburgh Fraser Urquhart  is one of the UK's foremost jazz pianists. Cutting his teeth on the vibrant Scottish jazz scene Fraser fast became a first-call player for singers and horn players, appearing often at the Edinburgh & and Glasgow Jazz Festivals. Now based in London his fluent and exciting playing has been heard at all the major jazz venues both in his own right and as accompanist to a host of high profile jazz musicians including most recently the Award winning Scottish vocalist Georgia Cecile. A close associate of Brian’s it is with particular pleasure that we welcome this fine player to the Club this evening.

Press release: Little Matchstick Factory and Suzanna Rosenthal Productions present THE OTHER MOZART

© Charlotte Dobre

The untold story of Mozart’s forgotten sister - a genius silenced by history. “Strikingly beautiful”, New York Times/ “This is a gem of a show” The Stage/“Hauntingly beautiful compositions" LA Times 

Winner of New York Innovative Theater Award (Outstanding Solo Performance)

Winner of New York Innovative Theater Award (Outstanding Original Music)

DRAMA Desk nominated

Off-Broadway Alliance nominated

(Not jazz but of interest to music lovers of all genres - Lance)

Long before she vanished into the margins of music history, Maria Anna Mozart (known as Nannerl) dazzled Europe as a musical prodigy, performing alongside her brother Wolfgang Amadeus. But while his fame endured, hers was extinguished. Based on meticulous research and drawn directly from the Mozart family’s own letters, The Other Mozart by Sylvia Milo has toured internationally – from New York to Vienna, Salzburg to Hong Kong – and inspired a PBS documentary, Mozart’s Sister, released in 2024.

Album (LP) review: John Cameron - Off Centre (Decca/Deram)

John Cameron (piano); Harold McNair (flute, alto/tenor sax); Danny Thompson (bass); Tony Carr (percussion)

I well remember when Off Centre was first released back in 1969. At the time I thought that this was about as far as they could go. Now, some 56 years later, listening to the album's first ever vinyl reissue, I realise that, in many ways, it had as much relevance to the past as it did to the future. In other words taking the best of both worlds and adding a generous measure of Cameron's own vision and the forward thinking of his colleagues.

Off Centre: The original liner notes point out that it's based on the minor 10th chord and the flatted 5th interval (pause whilst readers nod their head sagely and adopt a wise, I knew that, smirky smile). McNair blows an amazing alto solo, exploring all of the instrument's nooks and crannies. I'd forgotten just how good a sax player he was. The leader too stretches out and Carr crash bangs and wallop effectively.

Album review: Terry Waldo and the Gotham City Band - Treasury Volume 2 (Turtle Bay Records)

All tracks: Mike Davis (cornet); Jim Fryer (trombone, vocal); Terry Waldo (piano, vocal); Brian Nalepka (bass, vocal); Jay Lepley (drums). 

2018 tracks: Evan Arntzen (clarinet, soprano sax); Nick Russo/Jerron Paxton (banjo, vocal); Colin Hancock (cornet); Ricky Alexander (tenor sax); Arnt Antzen (banjo). 

On Get Out and Get Under the Moon: Molly Ryan (vocal); Dan Levinson (sax); Mike Lipskin (piano).

Guess Who's in Town?: Veronica Swift (vocal).

Swing Manouche @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - June 2

Martin Winning (clarinet); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (rhythm guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

Sunny Blyth! Not one (Yamaha Music School), but two music schools, and a brand new arts centre under construction, not to mention the reopening of mothballed railway lines, south east Northumberland is where it's all happening. 

And this afternoon, Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche was making a welcome return to Seaforth Street. A warm welcome from Steven, proprietor of the Yamaha Music School, a coffee, a chat with him, him and her, and, before we knew it, Swing Manouche opened with Coquette. All four musicians would take solos during the set, string bassman Paul Grainger the first of them to do so. 

Dean Masser Quartet @ the Moor Club, Stockport - June 1

© Jeff Pritchard

Dean Masser (tenor sax); Andrzej Baranek (keyboards); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums).

Straight ahead modern jazz played by an outstanding group of musicians is what people seem to like here in Stockport and this what Dean Masser and co. provided.

The tunes played were mainly standards alongside some familiar originals by the likes of Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson, and Johnny Griffin. Making his first appearance at the Moor Club was Josh Cavanagh-Brierley and he is another first class bassman worth making a note of. I saw him recently at Saisons with Richard Iles' trio and it was good to hear him again.

Sunday night @ the Globe - the Ruth Lambert Quartet - June 1

© Sheila Herrick

Ruth Lambert (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (drums)

Impossible to review last night at the Globe. No disrespect to Ruth and the band who bravely struggled on despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that they were faced with. 

However, a sound system that was initially non-existent before springing into life with a couple of supersonic bangs that could surely have been heard south of the river - any river - wasn't exactly conducive to an evening of classy jazz vocals.

Inside Simon Yates' Giro-winning ride 😍 | Team car footage

I know this has nothing to do with jazz although I know many jazz fans and musicians who are into cycling and, of course, vice versa.

The late drummer Ray Brown and the equally late trumpet player Fred Rowe, both of the Tyne Valley Stompers, took part in local BLRC road races back in the 1950s as well as gigging around the various jazz clubs and festivals. Both activities were not without suffering.

Tonight @ the Globe - the Ruth Lambert Quartet

It was back in May 2008 when I first heard Ruth Lambert. This was at the Side Café down near Newcastle's Quayside. This one of the first BSH gig reviews (read HERE) and it was hard to imagine that the blog would still be going strong and that Ruth would sound even better at every gig - and there have been plenty - that I've heard her since.

Tonight at the Globe, with the solid support of Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass) and Tim Johnston (drums), I'm sure that ever upward curve will continue and a treat is in store for anyone who likes jazz singing of the highest quality. Lance

 MORE INFO/TICKETS.

House of the Black Gardenia @ Prohibition Bar - May 31

Elise Rana (vocals, washboard); Pete Tanton (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Keith Robinson (reeds); Katja Roberts (violin); Elliott Rush (piano); Michael Littlefield (guitar, banjo, vocals); Neil Hopper (double bass, sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums)

The very first gig at Prohibition Bar featured House of the Black Gardenia. Now, as the Pink Lane venue is soon to shut up shop for good, the HotBG returned for one last hurrah. Punters gathered in the downstairs bar, waiting the nod. A while later, bar manager Danny gave the nod and up they went (up 'the dancers'), ready to dance the night away. 

The first floor room's usual cabaret table layout made way for an expanded dance floor, seats arranged around the perimeter. Double Maxim the pick, seats secured, the HotBG would play two sets and, not one, but two encores. Yes, it was to be one of those nights...