Running Wild!

Bill Shaw cartoon from BSH archives ©

Today's Great North Run where 50k+ mad reckless fools (I once was one of them!) ran the 13+ miles from Newcastle to South Shields was not without a degree of musical interest. At the start, Johnny 'Blue Hat' Davis was blowing tenor to help the runners along the way.

Further down the road the Vieux Carré Hot Four were helping the runners to add an extra spring to their step. The camera man managed to catch David 'Showtime' Gray's trombone slide - presumably he was at the business end of the 'bone.

Out on the course I have it on authority that tenor ace Harry Keeble was looking good.

Were any other jazzers out there thinking of miles rather than Miles? Lance

The Esther Bennett Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church - Sept. 11

Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (keyboards); Mick Shoulder (double bass)

A first visit to the region for London-based Esther Bennett. An established voice on the capital's jazz scene, Ms Bennett's trip 'up north' took in a Wednesday evening gig at Seven Arts, Leeds, then this Friday lunchtime Bishop Auckland Jazz engagement. 

Meeting Rick Laughlin and Mick Shoulder for the first time, prior to the one o'clock start, Ms Bennett was happy to chat to all and sundry. Let's call that a good start to the day! Working without a drummer, Bennett, Laughlin (keyboards) and Shoulder (double bass) opened with Wayne Shorter's Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum. Bennett informed her audience that Patricia Beysens' lyrics to Shorter's composition inspired her to add the number to her pad. An interesting start to the afternoon. 

Emma Rawicz: INKYRA @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead - Sept. 10

Emma Rawicz (tenor sax); David Preston (guitar); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums)

Following a guest soloist appearance with the Strictly Smokin' Big Band in February last year, award-winning saxophonist Emma Rawicz made a return visit to Gateshead's Glasshouse. This evening Ms Rawicz lead her own INKYRA quintet, comprising David Preston, guitar, and Kevin Glasgow, bass (of Preston Glasgow Lowe, a decade and more ago), emerging pianist Scottie Thompson (this evening, synth would be to the fore), and drummer Jack Thomas. 

Album Review: John Wadham - Drums and Friends (Livia Records)

John Wadham (drums); Brian Dunning (flute); Frank Hess (bass); Louis Stewart (guitar); Martin Walsh (bass).

As followers of the jazz scene in Dublin in the late 1960s and ‘70s, my friends and I knew we were hearing some great music and great musicians. It had long been clear that Louis Stewart was a world class guitarist but there were also many other fine musicians who could hold their own in top company - Jim Doherty and Noel Kelehan (piano), Brian Dunning (flute), Keith Donald (saxes), Mike Nolan (trumpet), Martin Walsh and Frank Hess (bass) - and then there was John Wadham, drummer par excellence.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (Sept. 10 - 16)

Oscar Peterson: Night Train.
Paul Desmond: Darn That Dream.

Maxine Sullivan: Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

Chet Baker: Summertime.

Mello-Larks : Stairway to the Stars.

Sarah Vaughan: A 100 Years From Today.

Ralph Sharon ? : I Left my Heart in San Francisco.

Kenny Durham: Falling in Love With Love.

Sam 'The Man' Taylor: Harlem Nocturne.

Mel Tormé: Malaguena.

Ray Bryant Trio: Billie's Bounce.

LISTEN 24/7.

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

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

Playlist 13/09/26 (repeated Tuesday 15/09/26)

Seasonal: Cannonball Adderley/Miles Davis.

Requests from the Alligator Gumbo gig at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club: Chris Barber, Crane River Jazz Band, Windy City Weatherbirds, Sammy Rimington, Percy Humphries.

RIP: Cassandra Wilson.

Requests: Count Basie, Oliver Nelson.

Memories: Cat Anderson & Duke Ellington, Harry Connick Jr., Chu Berry.

Requests: Bob Brookmeyer & Bill Potts.

What’s on in the NE: Emma Fisk's Hot Club Du Nord.

Requests: Joe Lovano, Charlie Byrd, Erroll Garner.

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

TJ Johnson Trio @ Jamboree, London - Sept. 9

TJ Johnson (piano, vocals); Eleazar Ruiz Spreafico (double bass); Wesley Gibbens (drums)

If it's three o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon you'll find TJ Johnson in residence at Jamboree, King's Cross. Advertised as a quartet featuring trumpeter Björn Ingelstam, things didn't, to the disappointment of some, work out as planned. TJ informed his audience that Ingelstam's flight earlier in the day from Copenhagen had been cancelled. Oh, well...

Pianist Johnson was joined by his regular bass and drums pairing of Eleazar Ruiz Spreafico and Wesley Gibbens. Out trio opened with I've Got the World on a String, TJ his usual casual self. St Louis Blues, Percy Mayfield's Stranger in My Own Home Town (a refreshing selection), Baby, Won't You Please Come Home, Alberta Hunter's My Castle's Rockin' (another choice number), TJ, Eleazar and Wesley were a study in relaxed performance. 

Album review: Visions Jazz Ensemble - Of The People

Sam Butler (trumpet, arranger); Jeff Parker (trombone); Garrett Fasig (alto sax, arranger); Caleb Robinson (tenor sax, clarinet); David Linard (piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3); Alex Turner (guitars); Alex Hoberty (bass); Francis Bassett-Dilley (drums) +April Varner (voice)

Released on July 31 to commemorate America's 250th birthday, it didn't reach me until today which turned out to be an apt date (9/11) to play the album. The sadness of that day still reverberates around the world and what better way to reflect upon that day than by listening to songs rooted in American folklore and to hear them played in the format of America's greatest contribution to the world (apart from the movie Casablanca) - Jazz (capital J intentional).

The arrangements are shared between Butler and Fasig with wistful vocals from April Varner and solos all round with Linard utilising the many sounds from his array of keyboards.

R.I.P. Steve Gilbert

Mike Farmer has sent me the sad news of the passing of the legendary Mancunian drummer and educator Steve Gilbert. Although I never actually heard him play, the accolades, tributes and eulogies on the various 'socials' indicate that he was a rather special person both as a man and a musician.

Rest In Peace

Lance

Frank Griffith Nonet @ Morley Green Club, Mobberley Rd., Wilmslow - Sept. 8

Frank Griffith (tenor sax, clarinet); Andor Jensen (baritone Sax); John Padfield (alto sax); Cliff Ray, Martin Smith (trumpet, flugelhorn); Sam Crooks (trombone); Misha Grey (keyboards); Ed Harrison (double bass); Eryl Roberts (drums)

With the exception of John Padfield who played on both gigs, this was a different line-up to the one that Frank brought with him on his last visit here.  Although the only name new to me was trombonist Sam Crooks, some of the musicians involved in tonight's show were guys I have known for ages like Ed Harrison, one of the best bass players around, and some, like baritone saxman Andor Jensen, I met at a jam session at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool back in the day when I could drive. Although sometimes  I'd take a bus to Liverpool from Manchester and stay in a hotel if I knew of a jam session happening.