Liane Carroll & Brian Kellock @ The Sage.

Liane Carroll (vcl), Brian Kellock (pno).

The gig got off to a bad start for me. In their wisdom, the good, or do I mean greedy?, burghers of Gateshead have raised the car park charges at the Sage. Whereas it was free after 9:00 pm now you have to wait until 11:00 pm for the the free bit to kick in by which time most concerts have finished. This means that what was £1.70 is now £3.90 which, according to my abacus means an increase of circa 129%. Needless to say, I wasn't in a good mood when Liane and Brian came on with LC firing on all cylinders for the most incredible "Witchcraft" ever, it was too much for me to take in.

However, once my anger subsided and I reflected on what I'd just heard I realised this was someone rather special.

"I Only Have Eyes For You" kept the groove going whilst "The Nearness of You" was tender without being maudlin. "Pennies From Heaven" saw the game lifted with an amazing solo by Brian - there have been some great pianomen around lately - Dave Newton and Robert Mitchell to name but two - Brian Kellock is up there with them.

"Someone To Watch Over Me" - Liane wrung every ounce from this one. Her vocal wizardry is just amazing. The lines, the intervals, the pitching, the ideas - they flow like a Sonny Rollins solo.

"Alfie" - something else - this really was what it's all about.

I must also say that, apart from singing, Liane is a very humourous person and her remarks, even her facial expressions, suggest that she could also cut it on the comedy circuit. Sample, "This next song is entitled 'It Never Entered My Behind'"! The final tune, I didn't recognise but it had quite a contemplative feel to it.

The less than full house came away knowing they'd been privileged to a performance by two of the very best - Liane & Brian, take a bow and come back soon.

Those who didn't make it will have to get used to my smug, superior, expression for the next 100 years.

Lance.

Krall, Brown & Springer

Anyone see Diana Krall on the Andrew Marr Show - BBC 1 from 9:00 till 10:00. Other guests were the PM and Gerry Springer!! Have a look on iplayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ktqwy/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_31_05_2009/ Diana interview at about 21 mins in and live with a bass player with Boy from Ipanima at the end. John T. (Diana has just been on the BBC Breakfast show - Monday. ) Lance. Londonjazz review (see Comments)

Swing Bridge and Sheila Robson @ Barnes Park, Sunderland.

Sheila Robson (vcl), Malcolm Railton (tpt/gtr), Kathrine Turner (ten), Dick Straughan (pno), Ian Heslop (bs), Stevie Doyle (dms). It was a gorgeous summer's day and the jazz population of Sunderland turned out en masse - they both looked well. There should have been more as an exciting new voice - well new to me - was unveiled.

Sheila Robson, mark the name, is a welcome addition to the growing list of local chanteuses. She gave great renditions of "Mean to Me", "Makin' Whoopee", "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby", "Ain't Misbehavin'" amongst others. Up to date with it too - "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" had the line - 'Diamond bracelets PRIMARK doesn't sell baby."

Behind her, Swing Bridge were sound despite the acoustical difficulties associated with al fresco performances. Their versions of "Cute" and "Yardbird Suite" bore comparision with last years.

I can think of few better ways of spending an afternoon in the park although I'm open to suggestion. Photos.

Lance.

Liane Carroll & Brian Kellock. Sunday @ The Sage.

Here is a nice foretaste of what to expect on Sunday night at The Sage, Gateshead, when Liane and Brian strut their stuff in Hall 2. Strut-off is at 8:00 pm. Lance.

A Blaydon Delicacy - Roly Veitch/Jim Birkett Duo w. Mick Shoulder

Jim Birkett (gtr), Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl), Mick Shoulder (bs).

The intimate atmosphere of the club lounge is tailor made for Jim, Roly and Mick's gentle brand of jazz. Add a few friends and acquaintances that I hadn't seen for many years (Hi Brenda, Hi Derek C) plus jazz regulars George, Jim, Cathy and John and you have the recipe for a very enjoyable, well attended, evening with some gourmet guitar jazz the icing on the cake.

This was another feast of quality songbook material although Roly's vocal chords were only used sparingly, but effectively, tonight. When he did sing, I was pleased to hear the verse to such gems as "A Hundred Years From Today", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Take me to the Land of Jazz" and Ray Noble's "The Touch of Your Lips" all chanted in his cool relaxed style.

However, this was predominantly a guitar night with both Jim and Roly playing some great stuff.

The fugue-like interplay on the opening "I'll Remember April" set the mood. This was no cutting contest but two sympathetic players making good music together. Jim's choice of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square" served to remind us, as if we needed reminding, what a marvelous song it is. I love the way the middle eight bursts from the preceding sixteen bars adding a touch of majesty to what, until then, is just a very nice tune. "Meditation" - the vamp-like chord progression at the end has always made that tune special to me.

So many moments to savour - not least the contrasting timbre of the two guitars. Jim, the electric guitar sound associated with everyone from Charlie Christian onwards. Roly, more in the electro/accoustic vein of say George Barnes.

And who would have thought I'd hear "In Your Own Sweet Way" two nights running?

As well as the six-stringers, on four strings, double bassist Mick Shoulder played as good as I can recall hearing him - his solo on "Yesterdays" impressing both audience and band as the photo indicates. His inclusion, I think, gave tonight's session the edge on last month's gig.

Incidentally, tonight was a hasty replacement for the Bill Harper/Anne De Vere gig advertised. Bill and Anne hope to make Blaydon in September.

Blaydon photos.

Lance.

Melody Gardot.

The latest "jazz chick" on the block is Melody Gardot who seems to have been popping up on the various breakfast TV shows just about every other day.

I'm always suspicious when mainstream television makes reference to jazz - usually the performer in question is peripheral to say the least.

Melody Gardot isn't - she is the real deal. A voice, seductive enough to make an MP come clean about his expences, that sinuates itself around the song in the manner of a twenty-first century Peggy Lee or a sexy Madeline Peyroux.

Her current 'buzz album' is "My One And Only Thrill" on which Melody even manages to make my most unfavourite song, "Over The Rainbow", tingle.

You can listen to the album for free on Spotify. Try the title track or "If The Stars Were Mine."

Melody is well named.

Interesting to know what others think. (click here for Londonjazz link to Melody Gardot.)

Lance.

River City Jazzmen @ The Swan, Choppington

Gordon Solomon (tmb), Jim McBriarty (sax/clt), Keith Stephen (gtr), Bill Brooks (bs0, Fred Thompson (dms).

The R.C. always do this monthly venue as a trumpetless 5 piece. Sadly, last night, the pull of the Champions League was greater up here than it was in Heaton according to Lance's report from The Chilli. I think band and audience played a score draw fives each. (No, the audience clinched it in extra time after a penalty shoot out.)

Jim McBriaty seems to be the regular clarinet player now. He also did some superb work on his new dark blue soprano sax.

They played one number that Gordon did not know. Keith shouted the chords out for him (from memory) as they played. By the end of the tune that was another fine one for the pad.

Fred sang a few requests and I won a bottle of wine in the raffle.

Altogether a nice night out. Solly (Gordon Solomon), informed me that the line up was the one he is bringing to Ashington on the 8th of July, with the addition of Ray Harley on trumpet.

The River City have several gigs with Ray around the start of July including the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival and the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. Its always worth looking out for the programme for the "Mouth". Usually 3 jazz bands on the Saturday and 3 on the Sunday on Tynemouth High Street.

Watch this space for details.

John T.

Quality Night @ The Chilli

Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Darren Grainger (alto), Stu Collingwood (pno), Mark Williams (gtr), Barry Ashcroft (bs), Scott Adair (dms). + Debra Milne (vcl), Ian Forbes (dms).

It might have been thought that competition from the Champions League Final on TV would have affected turn out at the Chilli tonight but, surprisingly, audience numbers were above average and the band very much above average. This was a quality line-up.

Stu, no doubt inspired by last night's Robert Mitchell gig, played out of his skull and Mark, spurred on by Scotty, fired off some runs and phrases that most guitarists could only fantasise about.

Barry kept it all together on bass whilst Dave and Darren also had inspirational moments.

Nat Adderley's "Old Country" kicked things off, "Night in Tunisia", an Ashcroft original that I adore - "Mr Rascal", Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" (lovely tune - lovely title), "One by One", "Invitation" (a fine vocal by Dave) were just some of the delights savoured as the session rolled on including the Budivarian Debra M vocalising on that most challenging of tunes, Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" - solo blasts all round and big licks from Mark on this one.

The final "Revelation" saw Dave hollerin' like a Holy Roller with Ian Forbes laying down a shuffling backbeat that had the congregation seeking salvation. Dave should have unglued his Harmon (mute) for this one.

Un tres enjoyable session despite the hole in one of Dave's socks.

Photos.

Lance (AKA 'Leprechaun' - not!).

PS: Who was the lady with the legs who won the raffle?

Robert Mitchell 3io - Schmazz @ The Cluny

Robert Mitchell (pno), Tom Mason (stick bass), Richard Spavin (dms).

Anyone who heard Robert Mitchell at Matana Roberts' recent Live Theatre gig didn't need reminding that Robert is a pianist of outstanding technique and creativity. This promised to be one of the most outstanding Schmazz @ The Cluny gigs for many a full moon and I'm pleased to say that it lived up to expectations. With Tom Mason on bass and Richard Spaven, drums, Britain really did have talent tonight at The Cluny.

Mitchell is possessed of possibly the most prodigious technique I've heard in any pianoman and he used it to the full without a parachute.

If you've ever watched the Tour de France and marvelled at the skill with which the riders handle the twisting Alpine descents - this was it in piano terms. At times it was almost like a Liszt Piano Concerto played in double time. His attack was so percussive that his hands were just a blur. If he ever gets sick of piano he'd make one helluva drummer!

Tom Mason on the strange instrument called a stick bass - I call it a 'Pogo' - had some nice touches although I can't see any advantage over a double bass or even a fretless. Still it's his choice so who am I to argue.

Spaven proved to be yet another fine young drummer who added his own voice to the trio, sorry '3io'. For once we had a gig without endless rounds of fours and obligatory bass solos - I'm pleased to say.

Great gig.

Lance.

Screamin' The Blues @ The Tate Modern by Angela J.

Well we went and screamed. It was a big anti-climax. We were herded in through the back entrance at the Tate Modern. We had to wear rubber bands, that may have been stolen from the post office, on our wrists. We were given yellow ear plugs. Inside there were two screens with a count down from 10 to 1. Most people didn't wait and screamed when the numbers got to 1. But the scream was meant to be when the screen said 'scream'. Then it said 'wait' and then 'exit' and we all shuffled out again. There was a nutter in long robes and a gold hat handing out joss sticks and ching chinging on little chimes. His chimes were taken off him on the way in.

There were people supposedly shouting 'free Tibet' though I couldn't hear them. It was very British in that we queued in an orderly fashion. However, at one point it was a little disconcerting - as we passed through the metal doors into the turbine room it was a bit gas chamberish. The metal doors came down.... and .... oh we got paid £20 a scream. That means it costs someone - us probably via the lottery or some such funding body, £20,000. They could have had some nice jazz for much cheaper. I don't know if it sounded how the artist intended it to sound but it was interesting, and it was a hot day and we had a pitcher of Pims by the Thames and watched the boats go by afterwards. My son came with me (he's 21) and my friend who is a singing teacher and some of her students. We bought stuff in the Tate shop - a mug with Roy Litchenstein prints on it, a cartoon book, postcards. We walked across the Millennium bridge, you know the wobbly one that doesn't wobble anymore. I was a tourist in my own town! Got the tube home and fell asleep in front of Britain's Got Talent. Woke up just a little while ago to some noisy neighbours shouting at each other in their back garden.

There, life in the metropolis.

Angela J. Elliott

(The event described by Angela was to "Welcome" Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'.)