Paul Edis Trio at Matfen Parish Church

Paul Edis (keys); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adrian Sinclair (dms).

You've heard of "Food Miles" - the distance some of our goods travel up and down the country. Last night at was about Jazz Miles (Distance not Davis). We thought we would pop across to Matfen from Ashington , which ended up in a 50 mile round trip. Just shows the dedication of Mick Shoulder, the bass player for the night. He must have a 120 mile round trip from South Durham. Don't know how far Paul and drummer Adam Sinclair had to travel!

The band kicked off with My Funny Valentine followed by Bye Bye Blackbird and One Note Samba. (No Clarinet or Flute from Paul for the Bossa numbers like the other week at the Cherry Tree.) Emily, Days of Wine and Roses were followed by Big Lamp Blues, which was one of Paul's own compositions. I first heard this number  via the internet, prompting me to listen to them live. The second half included Paul's composition Taking the Dog Out and Dedicated to the Duck. Among others featured were Moonglow, Donna Lee and as an encore I've Got Rhythm.

Altogether a nice night out which included a glass of wine and some nibbles.  The local Matfen Parishioners got a fine introduction to live jazz from the North East's top trio. 

John and Alan

Triple Threat Tonight

There is a triple threat to jazz fans in Newcastle city centre tonight. There's the Sunday evening (afternoon is now somewhat optimistic!) jam session at the Jazz Café on Pink Lane, The James Taylor Quartet at Hoochie Coochie on Pilgrim St. and Elaine Binney and the Jazz Rascals at The Bridge Hotel in the shadow of the Castle Keep.
It's a tough call although, because of their proximity, one could make all three!
Lance.

Nearly Dan @ The Sage.

Steve Hayes (gtr/vcl); Gary Davies (keys); Rob Rolph (lead gtr); Pete Bacanin (bs.gtr); ? (dms); Steve Parry (tpt); Chris Buckland (alt); Tim France (ten); Sarah Miller/ Louise ? (vcls).

An almost 3 tier full Hall Two audience greeted Nearly Dan with a welcome verging on the rapturous. The fans were out in force from as far afield as Dundee and the bands home-base of  Stoke on Trent.

I must confess I'm not overly familiar with the Steely Dan Songbook so I had no yardstick with which to compare enabling me to judge them on their merits.

And what merits!

An absolutely stunning performance mostly rock with the jazz element coming from the horns' powerful ensembles and pithy solos. The two girls doing the backing vocals filled out the ensemble both harmonically and visually as they strutted non-stop - truly a delight to behold! They also impressed with individual solos. It was Louise's first ever gig with the band and she did good.
Lead vocalist kept things moving and lead guitar had some blasts that got the adrenalin going.
Sorry I didn't catch all of the names.
Lance.

The Jazz Café Documentary

Harley Johnson drew my attention to this YouTube documentary on Newcastle's Jazz Café.
Lance.

Tonight at The Sage

Tonight The Sage offers up two events from the "Jazz Fringe" in the form of a couple of concerts that, although they only have a peripheral jazz connection should, nevertheless, be enjoyable experiences. 

In Hall One, legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. I'm not certain that Gershwin's music needs reimagining but, if it does, then I'm sure Wilson will give it Good Vibrations.

Have you noticed how, in later life, rock/pop stars either discover Religion or the Great American Song Book?

Over in Hall Two we have Nearly Dan. "Less tribute and more homage to the jazz-influenced Steely Dan" reads the blurb. I'm not quite sure of the difference between tribute and homage but no doubt all will be revealed.in an evening where, and again I quote, "Nearly Dan's approach is faithful, though not reverential; an uncannily precise imitation."

See you there.

Lance.

Goin' Home:The Uncompromising Life and Music of Ken Colyer by Mike Pointon and Ray Smith

Let me first say that this is arguably the greatest book ever devoted to a jazz musician! It lists just about every event in Colyer's, sadly too short, life. As such, it is not a "book at bedtime" nor  a light read on the train. Truth is it's not a book to be read at all! It's a 350 plus page large omnibus of letters and memories from those associated with the bearded trumpet player.

And photos!

It's a book to dip into - frequently!

There are magnificent photos of the various bands plus some really bizarre items such as the cartoon strip from teen magazine Valentine that shows Ken falling in love with Delphine. This is described as "Valentine's Roving Reporter visits the top stars of show business and hears their true love stories first hand - This Week: Ken Colyer and Delphine.".

There's the comment that he was a fan of Frank Sinatra which may surprise the mouldy figs (if they still exist!) and that indeed Ken's phrasing of a melody often bore similarities to Sinatra's take.

There is so much in this book that I never knew about Colyer. To be honest, he was just another traddie to me but the man's sincerity and his belief in the music he loved emerges. Nevertheless, a book such as this will do much to keep the memory alive.
As for me I'm going to have to dig out the 10" lp. and the tapes etc.

The book, incidentally, comes with a 19 track CD.
Memories of such a happy time in Newcastle at the New Orleans Club and other Hot Spots.
A good read that may take the rest of your life but if it does I don't think you'll mind!
Lance.

CD Review: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue - For True

For True is Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews' latest CD release. It features a host of big name guests including Jeff Beck, Lenny Kravitz and members of the Rebirth Brass Band. It covers a lot of ground, ranging from the marching bands of New Orleans via AOR to contemporary pop-soul and funk. Andrews himself describes the mix as 'supafunkrock'. Brit rock guitar hero Jeff Beck contributes a Jeff Beck solo, Lenny Kravitz funks it up on bass guitar and Ledisi belts out some nu soul vocals on Then There Was You with some impressive trumpet work by non other than Trombone Shorty. The leader is a multi instrumentalist and the inclusion of the Rebirth Brass Band somewhat blurs the division of labour on this most varied CD. The real jazz interest is limited to a tantalising couple of minutes of excellent French Quarter marching band sounds in the two part Lagnaippe. British fans can hear the band live in Liverpool at Eric's (September 23) and London's Jazz Café (September 24). The CD is available now. Russell.

Esquire Jazz @ The Porthole

Miles Watson sent me this cartoon of the original Jazz Esquires at The Porthole, North Shields.

Sketched by an unknown artist the musicians are Hughie Aitchison (tpt); Munro Sutherland (clt); Lenny Sampson (tmb); Eric Gamblin (gtr); Derek Dixon (bs); Mick Yorke (dms) Bob ? (pno). It's Bob the Pianist who is the problem name-wise. Can anyone recall his surname or, come to that, who was the artist?

Lance.

King Kenton - Queen Claire

Those of us "of a certain age" did, in our youth, have firm views on the music of Stan Kenton - we either loved it to the point of Beatle-like adulation or condemned it as being the musical equivalent of the Third Reich!

This still bemuses me and, listening to this wonderful Prom Celebration on Radio 2, the music now seems greater than ever albeit no longer controversial!

Directed by former Kenton trombonist Jiggs Whigham the BBC Big Band interpreted the original Holman, Paich, Kenton charts in a manner that did credit both ways. Martin Shaw's Portrait of a Count would surely have drawn praise from Candoli Minor himself!

The thing that most hits me looking back is that, despite the controversy at the time, it was MUSIC! Sure it wasn't Dixie or Swing although it usually did swing (Shelly Manne on drums - not swing?!) but the main thing was that it grabbed the pre-brainwashed public. In 1953 there were trips to Dublin to hear the band owing to the Musicians Union not allowing them to play in UK - unions eh?

This concert is a superb example of the great man's music and with Claire Martin doing the June Christy/Chris Connor vocal bits it's as if I was in Dublin or the Balboa Ballroom or the Hollywood Palladium! The final That Old Black Magic not only had Claire strutting her stuff but MD Jiggs dusted off his trombone for a fine chorus.

Its on BBC iplayer for another 6 days.

Lance.

Rosie's.

Olive Rudd (vcl); Herbie Hudson (tmb/hca/vcl); Jim McBriarty (clt/sop/vcl); George Richardson (keys); Alan Rudd (bs); Mike Humble (dms).

A typical afternoon in Rosie's. The Maine Street Jazzmen were in good fettle as they dished up the familiar menu that, it has to be said that, "Age cannot wither nor custom change its infinite variety" (Shakespeare)..

Olive opened up with All of Me and I wondered if this was a tribute to Margaret whose funeral I attended yesterday or just coincidence. Probably the latter although I'd like to think that maybe - just maybe - it was a last farewell from the otherside. Whatever - Olive sang it well.

George Ricco produced banjo effects on the Yamaha keyboard - no Xmas card for him this year! However, the Shearing-like sounds he produced later more than made up for this minor indiscretion.

Olive also sang Back In Your Own Backyard which posed the question as to where was the jolly George who, when not demanding Hello Dolly would volubly call for BIYOB? George hasn't been sighted for a week or too - perhaps he too is back in his own backyard!

It was a good session to the extent that even the lack of bar snacks didn't detract from.

Photos.

Lance.