Customs House Big Band. Open Rehearsal @ New Crown, South Shields.

It may have been a cold night outside but inside the New Crown Hotel plenty of heat was generated as witnessed by a small but select audience.

In the first half the band, under the direction of Peter Morgan, took apart, honed, polished and re-assembled Flight of the Foo Birds, I've Found A New Baby and Witchcraft, all of which to the casual listener seemed good the first time through but were all improved appreciably by the end.

In concert mode in the second half they kicked off with Five Foot Two Eyes Of Blue (sans banjo) A beautiful Here's That Rainy Day arranged by ex Kenton arranger Dee Barton with some lovely chords and a sonorous trombone chorus. The exciting Jazz Police by Gordon Goodwin gave the band a good workout as did the final number Nasty Cat which they dedicated to to the late, great Ralph Stobart a founder member of the band and brother to the better known Kathy.

Interspersed with all the excitement Ruth Lambert sang Mambo Italiano, My Heart Belongs To Daddy, and Summertime with some down-home plunger trumpet growls from Paul Gledhill. I can't compete with the purple prose of Lance in describing Ruth but I will say that for my money there ain't many better, and the same goes for the Customs House Big Band. Catch them at Blaydon Jazz Club this month or at the Customs House in March and as a bonus the next open rehearsal at the New Crown on March 2nd.

Miles Watson

p.s. Listening to the rhyming of Finnan Haddie with Daddy I wonder how many surreal rhymes you bloggers can come up with. Midnight Sun's alabaster palace with aurora borealis, springs to mind.

Alyn Cosker Quartet - a Jazz North East Presentation @ The Corner House, Heaton.

Seamus Blake (ten), David Dunsmuir (gtr), Michael Janisch (bs/bs gtr.) Alyn Cosker (dms).

Pete Horsfall's review on LondonJazz more or less said it all as did Euphbass up in Glasgow so I'll try and avoid repetition.

The plus points. Seamus Blake is an absolutely superb tenor player very much in the Brecker mode. He is contemporary without resorting to the wounded Banshee sounds of so many 'forward seeking' players. As well as Brecker there was more than a hint of Rollins and Coltrane about his playing as he sailed through the changes. Indeed, had Zoot Sims been born 50 years later he may have sounded like Seamus.

Janisch we remembered from his own gig at Live Theatre during the Summer. It doesn't seem to matter whether he's on double bass or bass guitar he keeps it all together.

Dunsmuir, an excellent guitarist with technique to spare, was slightly short-changed inasmuch as he wasn't always heard clearly due to the powerhouse machine that is Alyn Cosker.

It's perhaps unfair to criticise Cosker as the room is relatively small but to these ears he could have filled The Arena volumewise. He was loud like about fffffff and then some. Indeed at times it was difficult to differentiate between solo and accompaniment.

Having said that, he is an amazing drummer who takes no prisoners. So what, I hear you ask, were the minus points?

The lighting at the Corner House is abysmal hence my lack of photos. Seamus Blake was stood at the front of the unusable stage - bathed in shadow - taking the muse above and beyond the boundaries of creation without so much as a 60w Mazda to light up his features.

But that's The Corner House these days. Rumour has it it is due for refurbishment which it certainly needs. Problem is, if and when the refurbishment takes place, will the owners still welcome the jazz that has helped to make it a worldwide name on the UK gig scene?

As well as all that, I had a cold.

Say aaagh!

Lance.

Tonight's The Night

Big Band Open Rehearsal The Customs House Big Band's first open rehearsal of 2010 takes place on Tuesday evening (Feb 2) at the New Crown Hotel, South Shields. The format is as per previous years; first set trying out and perfecting new numbers, second set concert with vocals from the ever delightful Ruth Lambert. It's free and the down beat is at 8:00 pm. Unfortunately, from my point of view, it coincides with the prestigious JNE gig by the

Alyn Cosker Quartet at Corner House.

Those who heard Alyn Cosker on his last visit to the Corner House with the Ryan Quigley sextet will know that he is arguably Britain's number one drummer. In fact one well-known local drummer, himself no slouch behind the kit, described Cosker as the best he'd heard since Elvin Jones - praise indeed!

With New York saxist Seamus Blake, David Dunsmuir, guitar, and Michael Janisch, bass, this promises to be in the running for gig of the year. 8:00 pm. £8/£6/£3 (students).

Lance.

Review of Glasgow gig.

Review of Pizza Express gig by LondonJazz.

Andrea Pattinson Quintet @ The Cherry Tree.

Andrea Pattinson (vcl), Dave Dunston (alt/sop), Graham Wood (pno), Richard Rutherford (bs), Paul Smith (dms).

Tonight I had my better (ish) half with me and I'm pleased to report the food and the music was to her taste. Marlene's sardine starter, she said, went down a treat although she did find it disconcerting to have the poor creatures eyes staring up at her. I had no such problem with my squid it formed an immediate alliance with my tastebuds and they lived happily ever after.

On the stand, Andrea, perched on a high stool with only Graham's piano for accompaniment, warbled "A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square" or, in this case, in Osborne Road.

It was a low key opening, no doubt in deference to the diners, that was perhaps a little too laid back to be fully appreciated. Nevertheless, the quality was there and gradually, as the night unfolded and the band reached its full complement, she began to blossom. "The Way You Look Tonight" was easy on the ears with some nice alto from Dave Dunston. He too blew in the understated manner of say early Lee Konitz.

Graham Wood chorded beautifully on the grand piano with bass and drums giving sound support.

A good first set that didn't ruffle any feathers,

Talking of feathers, the Chicken Supreme was just that whilst 'er outdoors enjoyed her Haddock Mash which, wallowing on a bed of spinach, was more than just your average fishcake - my microwave cooking will never be the same for her.

Circumstances decreed I didn't catch all of the final set but the band had raised its game for this set kicking off with "My Baby Just Cares For Me" although I think anyone who sings that song should update the lyric e.g "Liberace's smile" is no longer meaningful. Any suggestions?

"I Wish You Love" and "You Are The Sunshine of my Life" were a couple of others that went down ok with Dave getting a sort of Spyra Giro sax sound going on the latter.

Nice easy listening dinner jazz that gave additional flavour to the chocolate tart and blood orange sorbet.

Next week it's the Graham Hardy Quartet.

Lance.

Friday February 5th: John Hallam with the Roly Veitch Quartet

This month’s concert promises a treat for fans of melodic, straight-ahead swinging mainstream jazz. Lancastrian reedman John Hallam spent twenty-one years playing traditional jazz with Sheila Collier’s Smoky City Jazzband before turning professional in 1989 so that he could play a wider range of the music he loves. While still an outstanding performer in a traditional setting, John is equally at home in a slightly more modern context, playing alto, tenor and baritone with his own Jazztet; as a clue to his style, he quotes Lester Young, Stan Getz and Ben Webster among his tenor influences and Gerry Mulligan as his favourite on baritone.

John also has a delightfully dry sense of humour.

At the Exchange, he will be backed by the excellent Roly Veitch quartet, with Jeremy McMurray on piano, Andy Champion on bass and John Hirst on drums alongside Roly on guitar.

Mike Durham.

PS: After the disaappointment of having to cancel the January concert due to the weather, I hope we will see a big collection of happy faces for this one, which promises to be an excellent evening of high-quality music: and don't forget, if you've been unable to get through on the Council's booking line (0191 643 7093) - a source of frustration to me as well as to many of you, but about which it seems I can do nothing - you can always pay on the door!

PPS: AND another thing..... tickets for the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival are selling fast (over 60% sold already) so you might want to think about buying yours in advance: see http://www.whitleybayjazzfest.org/ which also has full details of the 28 bands playing over the weekend, etc., etc.

Complete Discs To Die For

Steve Andrews has, belatedly, added Coleman Hawkins' 1943 version of "How Deep Is The Ocean". Complete list to date. Lance

Ruth Lambert Quintet: Splinter @ The Bridge

Ruth Lambert (vcl), Graeme Wilson (ten), Paul Edis (pno), Andy Champion (bs), Tim Johnstone (dms).

"You and the Night and the Music" sang Ruth bravely battling a non-cooperative mic. before Adrian Tilbrook twiddled a knob or two to restore the equilibrium and enable Ruth to ride the number out in style as befitted her stable-girl chic.

Nancy Wilson's "Save Your Love for Me" was followed by the first of three devil numbers that were interspersed in the set lists.

This was "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" taken at a nice bouncy swing. The other devils were "That Old Devil Moon" and "Devil May Care".

All in all it was a typical Ruth gig which means quality songs sung impeccably in the company of four of the best guys around.

"My Romance" and "Time After Time" had Ruth starting off with just Andy Champion on bass. Both numbers were taken slightly faster than the norm which pumped a bit of life into them whilst "But Beautiful" was done slow and soulfully with Paul Edis emoting the perfect accompaniment behind the vocal. A similar feel was achieved on "Don't Explain", "So Many Stars" and "You Don't Know What Love Is".

The final "Almost Like Being in Love" began à capella before turning into a blast with some fine solos all round. Paul, Graeme and Andy had had their fair share but this was Tim Johnstone's only moment in the spotlight and he displayed the technique that makes me realise he is one of the most underrated percussionists around.

It was a good gig that was reasonably attended given the conditions underfoot and Ruth was in fine voice - catch her again soon.

Next week - Extreme Measures.

Photos.

Lance.

The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra @ The Barbican.

Brian Bennett, charismatic leader of the Vieux Carré Jazzmen, has drawn my attention to last night's BBC4 broadcast from the Barbican Centre by the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra.

As Brian rightly points out this was a trememendous evening of Latin Jazz based on the music of Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez.

Thank you Brian.Click here to watch. Lance PS: Look out for Muscrat Mambo from the Vieux Carré.

PPS: More Latin here from Mario Bauza to Santana and Salsa.

Jazz Girls on the Loose

Two girls who came to prominence with Nick Pride's legendary "Jazz Girl" make a welcome return to the centre stage. Tonight (Sunday Jan 31), as part of the Splinter @ The Bridge series at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle, the RUTH LAMBERT QUINTET appear. With Ruth is Paul Edis (pno), Andy Champion (bs), Tim Johnstone (dms) and Graeme Wilson (sax). 7:30 pm. is the start time. Admission £4.

The Bridge was recently voted number one local jazz pub in our search to find the venue with the best combination of music and beer. The fact that we only had two local votes doesn't reflect on the pub but does show that our local jazzers are a teetotal lot.

Really? Hmmm!

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On Monday, Feb 1, at the Cherry Tree Restaurant, Osborne Rd., Jesmond, the ANDREA PATTINSON QUINTET will delight the diners at this popular eaterie. The Monday night sessions here are, like the food, becoming the stuff of legend and no doubt Andrea will maintain that tradition in the company of Dave Dunston (sax), Graham Wood (pno), Richard Rutherford (bs) and Paul Smith (dms). Snow caused the band's last performance here to be called off so let's hope no such misfortune occurs this time around. Start around 7:30 pm.

Lance.

Paul Edis Sextet @ The Bridge - The Movie.

I noted on Facebook that some video footage of the Paul Edis Sextet's recent gig at The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle, is now being shown on YouTube. For the benefit of those who missed this excellent gig click here. It's not exactly 3D but the sound is okay if you turn the volume up.

For details of personel etc see original post.

Lance.

N.B. Tomorrow (Sunday Jan 31) at the same venue Ruth Lambert struts her stuff from 7:30 pm onwards. Ruth and Real Ale what more do you want for £4?