Nov/Dec 2008 Deaths

Freddie Hubbard: Trumpet player par excellence. 29 Dec 2008 Eartha Kitt: Singer. 25 Dec 2008 Derek Wadsworth: Trombonist, Arranger, Composer Kofi Ghanaba (Guy Warren): African percussionist 22 Dec 2008 Page Cavanagh: pianist Page Cavanagh Trio. Prince Lasha: Free alto saxist. 12 Dec 2008 Bryn Collinson: Hartlepool sax player, 12 Dec 2008 Derek Moore: Academic and jazzman Tony Reedus: drummer, Woody Shaw etc. 16 Nov 2008

Jazz Esquires at the Porthole

Some swingy music from the Jazz Esquires led from the back by Laurie Brown on drums. Ex Squad. Laurie's crisp brushwork ensured that "Cute" was just that with good solos all-round. "In A Mellotone" and "Strike Up The Band" also had a nice swing feel to them with Eddie Bellis's trombone as smooth as they come. On trumpet, Mick Hill had some good blasts whilst Bill Brittain (pno), Robin Douthwaite (gtr) and Bill Colledge (bs. gtr) had their own magical moments.

During the intermission one of my former musical accomplices, George Laing, played a short set on piano along with Bill Colledge and Laurie. "All of Me" and "I'll Be Seeing You" were two particularly outstanding numbers and I was pleased to note that advancing years have not dimmed his creativity.

George gave way to Colin Johnson on piano and Miles Watson on trumpet for a jam with Laurie and Robin. Dave (not Weisser but a Scottish 'Sinatra' also called Dave) bravely attempted to sing "Aint Misbehavin'", unmiked, before the band returned for a flagwaving "It Don't Mean A Thing". Miles stayed on stage for this one.

Very enjoyable and not a banjo in sight!

Photos.

Miles has since informed me (see comments) that his name is Dave Bosomworth and he belongs Yorkshire.

Courtney Pine - C.B.E.

I notice in the New Year's honours list our boy Courtney Pine has been awarded a CBE. Not as desirable an accolade as being admitted to the Down Beat Hall of Fame but I suppose it'll do in the meantime.

Now, whilst I don't begrudge CP his CBE, I can't help thinking that there are other musicians in this country more deserving of such recognition. My personal choice would be Bruce Adams.

Last year, most deservedly, Andy Hamilton got an MBE and Martin Taylor too has one hanging above the mantlepiece. A cue for a song; "Any Place I Hang My MBE is Home."

I'm not sure about Alan Barnes, Guy Barker and Digby - I've got a feeling they too may have some letters after their names.

The main thing is that whether or not you agree with the honours system and I personally do, anything that brings jazz to the public's attention can't be bad.

Quote

Just read this quote by Aaron Copland: " To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself - incredible and inconceivable." Liz

Freddie Hubbard Dead - age 70. R.I.P.

Just heard via Russell, our 'Man at the Morgue', that Freddie Hubbard has passed on - age 70. One of the trumpet greats, he ranks alongside Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer, Nat Adderley as the best of the second wave of modern trumpet men. I was privileged to see and hear him live on a couple of occasions; at the Cleveland Jazz Festival - that's Cleveland as in Middlesbrough - in 1978 and (left) at the North Sea Festival in Den Haag in 1983. On both occasions he was outstanding.

Click here for NY Times obituary.

A Funny Valentine

"A Funny Valentine" - The Story and Music of Chet Baker. A play due to be performed at Darlington Arts Centre on 29 March 2009 and at Alnwick in April. It should be of interest to the inhabitants of Planet Bebop Spoken Here. Click here for further details.

(Good Time) Jazz in the Afternoon at Culler'

Close your eyes, imagine there was a trumpet player, and you could be listening to Turk Murphy or the Firehouse Five at Earthquake McGoons in 'Frisco back in the 1940s. Well perhaps not quite but there is a distinctly Good Time Jazz feel about the Monday lunchtime bashes at the Crescent Club aided perhaps by the view looking out on to The Bay.

Not quite as rip-roaring as last week with the bagpipes, although not the banjo, mercifully laid to rest for another year, it was, nevertheless, a pleasant enough way to pass a couple of hours. Today, the stand was graced with the presence of Barry Soulsby on clarinet and vocals alongside Brian, John, Ian, Derek and Marshall. Theresa sang and Roy sat in on piano whilst Derek laid down his clarinet and banjoed away on some good old good ones.

On "Ja-da" Barry revived the old River City version - you remember it? "Albert, Albert, riding in his Sunbeam Talbot etc. etc."

Photo.

Zoe Gilby and Jim Mullen at Wakefield Jazz Club

Whispers from Wakefield indicate that Zoe Gilby, along with guitarist Jim Mullen, had a highly successful gig at the local Jazz Club earlier this month.

Accompanied by guitar wizard Jim Mullen, whom Zoe sat-in with at the Side Café last month, our girl is reported to have given an immaculate performance that was well received by the full house.

Wakefield Jazz Club looks to be well worth a visit if you're in that neck of the woods.

On New Year's Eve, the much travelled diva struts her stuff at the Pizza Express, Durham, followed by the George Hotel, Chollerford on New Year's Day and on 16 Jan it is Opus 4 at Darlington. Click here for photos. (Courtesy of Hilary Gilby).

Who is Hilma?

Last year I bought an LP by the Bruce Turner Quartet from a stall in South Shields market, listened to it a few times then put it on the shelf and, as you sometimes do, forgot all about it..

However, the recent postings, comments and the discovery of the Warne Marsh site prompted me to seek it out once more. The reason being that Dave Cliff plays guitar in the quartet and Turner's playing displays a slight Tristano/Konitz influence.

The disc, called appropriately enough "The Dirty Bopper", had the added bonus of being signed by Bruce Turner."

So what? you might ask. Well I'll tell you what, and this is where my curiosity begins ...

Bruce has signed it "Best wishes Hilma".

How many women do you know called Hilma?

My guess is none.

I Googled the name and there weren't many there either but there was one that stood out - Hilma Carter, widow of the late, great, Benny Carter. (Video link) Bruce Turner, Benny Carter - both alto players of a not dissimilar style.

Coincidence?

Probably; one English, one American and both now dead. If Mrs Carter had been called Mary or Belle or something I wouldn't have given it a second thought but Hilma?

If it did happen to be Hilma Carter how did it end up on a market stall in South Shields?

Nah - it has to be coincidence ... unless someone can tell me otherwise ...

R.I.P. Eartha - "Santa Baby" Dies on Xmas Day.

Okay, maybe Eartha Kitt wasn't a jazz singer as such but she was certainly capable of helping them out when they were busy and she did have a major part in the W.C.Handy biopic "St Louis Blues".

An unusual voice, it lay somewhere between Edith Piaf and Peggy Lee, that could, at times, grate whilst, on other occasions, be positively enchanting.

I personally will miss her not just for her voice but because, love her or hate her, she really did have what today they call the "X-Factor" or what we know as simply Star Quality.

Eartha had all that and more.

If she'd elected to stage-manage her demise, she couldn't have done it better than to die on Christmas Day - already "Santa Baby" is filling my head and will do for some time.

She was 81.

Click here for YouTube footage