Album Review: Ubunye – Tell Me The Truth Or Don’t Tell Me Anything (33 Records)

Xolani Mbatha, (vocals, percussion); Nokuthula Zondi (vocals); David Evans (piano); Nik Svarc (guitar); Sam Dutton-Taylor (bass); Steve Hanley (drums); Kenny Higgins (bass); Idris Rahman (tenor sax); Robin Hopcroft (trumpet, trombone); Emma Johnson (tenor sax); Aaron Wood (Trumpet); Maja Bugge (cello); Michelle Scally Clarke (spoken word).

This is another fine slab of Afro/Jazz/Soul/Funk from the Deep South (Leeds) and there are definitely worse ways to pass 50 minutes, (have you ever watched Michael McIntyre?). This is mainly the same line-up that played at the Cobalt Studios in Newcastle a few years back on the night that MP Chi Onwurah presented them with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Jazz Award for Ensemble of the Year for 2023. They played a storming set in support of their self-titled debut and now they’re back with their second album.

"The Summer Knows" (un ete 42) - An interview with pianist/composer/voca...

Another classic interview by Nick Mondello that included a couple of shout outs for BSH. Thanks Nick. Lance

Album review: WDR Big Band featuring John Goldsby - Big Band Bass (Bass Lion Publishing)

Bob Mintzer (principal conductor, arranger, tenor sax); John Goldsby (double bass); Johan Hörlén, Karolina Strassmayer (alto sax); Paul Heller, Ben Fitzpatrick (tenor sax); Jens Neufang (baritone sax); Andy Haderer, Rob Bruynen, Wim Both, Ruud Breuls (trumpets); Ludwig Nuss, Raphael Klemm, Andy Hunter (trombones); Mattis Cederberg (bass, trombone); Billy Test (piano); Hans Dekker (drums) + Paul Shigihara (guitar tk 8); Xavi Torres (piano, tk 8); Stefan Pfeifer-Galilea (alto sax, tk 8); Jonathan Böbel, Phillip Hayduk (trombone tks 3-7)

Goldsby, a longtime cornerstone of the WDR Big Band, steps down front to feature the bass as more than just a vital part of the rhythm section. This is particularly noticeable on Dahlia Gardens where his full sound is almost a section in itself. He also composed seven of the eight tracks the sole exception being the opening Sonatinita (comp/arr Vince Mendoza).

Ray Drummond (1946 - Nov. 1, 2025)

The sad news has just filtered in of the passing of American bassist, composer and educator Ray Drummond.

A prolific recording artist, Drummond played on a host of albums under his own name and with a veritable who's who of modern jazz including Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Kenny Barron, Arnett Cobb - the list is endless. He was also on Etta James' iconic hit At Last.

Ray Drummond was 78. 

R.I.P. Lance

Late Night Chicago Radio w. Denny Farrell (Oct. 30 - Nov. 6)

Zoot Sims/Al Cohn: You'd be so Nice to Come Home to.

Ann Hampton: Falling in Love Again.

Oscar Peterson: Night Train.

Etta James: Stardust.

Dexter Gordon: Darn That Dream.

Frank Sinatra: That's Life.

McCoy Tyner Trio: That Old Devil Moon.

André Previn: Thank Heaven For Little Girls.

Larry Branchetti: I Can't Give You Anything But Love.

Sarah Vaughan: After Hours.

Joe Pass: Rockin' Chair.

Listen 24/7.

October - Hottest month of the year so far!

Five contenders for Gig of the Year in one month! Here they are in chronological order:

Oct. 17: Adrian Cox Trio @ the Lit & Phil @ the Black Swan.

Oct. 24: Lindsay Hannon: 'Tom Waits For No One' @ Gosforth Civic Theatre.

Oct. 26: Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ the Globe.

Oct. 30: Joe Webb @ Bonners Music Centre.

Oct. 31: Paul Booth w. SSBB play 'Pet Sounds' @ Pilgrim. 

Lance

Jazz Time Aycliffe Radio - Sundays 6.30-8.00pm (repeated Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm).

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

Playlist 2/11/25 (repeated Tuesday 04/11/25)  

Requests: Sidney Bechet, Gerry Mulligan/Lee Konitz/Art Farner, Joe Pass.

Memories: Joe Turner, Clifford Brown, MJQ + Phil Woods, Illinois Jacquet, SNJO/Kurt Elling & Tommy Smith).

Requests:.Claudio Roditi, Freddy Hubbard, Kirk Whalum, Michael Treni Big Band.

What’s on in the NE: Martin Litton.

Tees Valley Jazzmen, Tim Boniface.

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & Darlington Area or via your smart speaker.

Album review: Tim Richards Trio - Four Aces (Future Music Records)

Tim Richards (piano); Alex Keen (bass); Daniel Howard (drums)

The very first album I reviewed on BSH was back in 2010. Prior that it was all live gigs and there seemed to be lots of them both high and low profile. Paradoxically, sometimes the latter were better than the former - but that's life, the form book often goes out of the window whether it be jazz, sport, politics or getting run over by a taxi on a zebra crossing.

I digress, what I'm saying is that that first album was Shapeshifting by the Tim Richards Trio and here they are back again!

The personnel has changed and the thinking perhaps more forward looking but it's still a mini-blockbuster.

Paul Booth w. Strictly Smokin' Big Band play Pet Sounds @ Pilgrim - Oct. 31

© John Lyons*

Paul Booth (tenor/soprano sax, flute, low D whistle, arranger); Michael Lamb (MD/trumpet); Dick Stacey, Billy Bradshaw, Tom Rushton (trumpets); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones); Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms, Matthew Forster, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Graham Don (piano); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); David McKeague (drums); Alice Grace, Jane Davidson, Michael Lavery (vocals); Jack Littlewood (perc.)

Paul Booth, SSBB, the Beach Boys and a couple of extra singers including the venue's owner; put them all together and see what happens. It could be the biggest disaster since the sinking of the Titanic or it might just be an unmitigated triumph.

Album Review: Deborah Shulman – We Had a Moment (Summit Records)

Deborah Shulman (vocals, co-producer); Jeff Colella (piano: 1,3,4,5,6,7,9, arranger: 1,3,4,5,6,7,9); Terry Trotter (piano: 2, 8,10, arranger: 2,8,10); Chris Colangelo: bass (1,3,4,5,6,7,9); Kenny Wild: (bass: 2,8); Larry Koonse (guitar: 2,3,5,6,8,10); Kendall Kay (drums: 3,4,5,6,7,9); Joe LaBarbera (drums: 2,8)

In Ashkenazi Jewish, the word shulman can be loosely defined as “synagogue person;” perhaps a rabbi or esteemed individual devoted to that place of worship. The works of vocalist, musical theatre performer, arranger and vocal coach, Deborah Shulman have always intrigued this writer. Across six fine albums including this one - and the now three that I’ve reviewed - she has consistently demonstrated a special, almost devotional reverence for song. Even her unique The Shakespeare Project (Summit Records, 2019) where she sang his wondrous words, validated my thinking. With We Had a Moment, Shulman continues to express and honor song across ten fine tracks drawn from Broadway, the Great American Songbook, pop, et al.