Ruth Lambert w. Paul Edis Trio @ Ashington Jazz Club. Oct. 3.

Ruth Lambert vocals with Paul Edis (Keyboard), Mick Shoulder  (D. Bass) and Adam Sinclair (Drums)

PROGRAMME- Administrate This, Blue Bossa, Time After Time, I'm Glad ther is You, Blue Skies, Love me Like a Man, A Foggy Day, Bossa Nova ?, Yesterdays, Like Someone in Love, 'Round Midnight, How High the Moon, Willow Weep for me, Someday my Prince Will Come, Caravan.

(Review by Peter S.)

The visit of these musicians attracted a good audience to the Club. We were delighted to welcome new Jazz enthusiasts who had heard Alyn Shipton on Radio 3 Jazz record requests mention Paul Edis, looked up the PE web discovering he was performing at our Club on Wednesday. This drew them to the venue and along with our regulars they were not disappointed for in adddition we had as vocalist with the Trio the incomparable Ruth Lambert.

Karen Harding @ Monument. October 6

Bright but chilly day in Newcastle. Who should be singing a few numbers at Monument? Karen Harding! Accompanied by guitarist Pawel Jedrzejewski, Ms Harding sang some soulful jazz as Pav supplied the chords and more. A return visit to Hoochie Coochie would make for a good gig. Great voice Karen!

Russell

Bad Ass Brass Band @ Hoochie Coochie. Oct. 4.

Five members of Ashington Jazz Club travelled to Newcastle which was overrun with French football fans. We arrived at Hoochie to find that Lance’s team from the dugout were at an away match at Blaydon. Warren very kindly gave us the posh leather seats which were reserved for a party who did not turn up. The ladies in our group had forgotten their brollies but still got up dancing from the first number. The atmosphere around Bad Ass Brass was simply amazing! From the moment they came on stage their incredible energy was contagious and their performance was fantastic from start to finish.

Bad Ass Brass is comprised of some of the UK’s finest brass players and jazz musicians who are busy working on the London music scene in jazz bands, West End shows, big bands and orchestras and you could feel their strong sense of friendship which results in an electric presence on stage. They play an eclectic mix of tunes with influences from all styles of jazz

Such a strong line up comprising drums, sousaphone, three trumpets, trombone , tenor/soprano/flute and baritone/alto The little girl on baritone had a one leg stand to rest her instrument on which I think she said had been made by her granddad. The baritone was nearly as tall as her!

The band are on a national tour, complete with band bus and all. How does Warren do it? By far the best night at Hoochie for a long time.

John T.

Trish Clowes’ Nonet @ The Sage. October 5

Trish Clowes (tenor saxophone), Gwilym Simcock (piano), Chris Montague (guitar), Calum Gourlay (double bass), James Maddren (drums) + Thomas Gould (violin), Thea Spiers (violin), Adam Robinson (viola) & Louise McMonagle (cello)

The Sage Gateshead’s Northern Rock Foundation Hall readily adapts itself to ‘jazz lounge’ format for events such as tenor saxophonist Trish Clowes’ ambitious project fusing jazz quintet and string quartet. Clowes, not yet thirty, has two CDs to her name, is an assured musician and composer with the added good fortune of being able to attract some of the very best musicians around. And in the Night-Time She is There is Clowes’ latest CD and she is currently on the road to promote it. On/Off, Seven and Atlas were played by the quintet (the strings appeared for the second set) with conviction. The leader’s tenor playing is unusual, if not remarkable; no big voice horn player - quiet is the word. This demanded the audience listen to every elliptical, sinuous nuance. Pianist Gwilym Simcock played sparingly but when he played he played! Drummer James Maddren relished every brush stroke, guitarist Chris Montague (local lad of Troyka fame) gave a sublime performance – Clowes’ suite Iris Nonet in three parts featured a guitar solo of immense beauty (one of those ‘I was there’ occasions) and the string quartet added an ‘out’ contemporary new music element. Clowes is a star in the making. Her new-found status as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist will, no doubt, afford her time to develop other projects. The licence fee payer’s money is well spent.

Russell

Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert @ Customs House, South Shields. Friday Oct. 5.

Peter Morgan (MD/Bs tmb.) Dave Hignett, Toby Donnelly, Alan Smith, Gordon Marshall (tpts); Gareth Weaver, Chris Kurji-Smith, Keiron Parnaby (tmb); Jill Brett, Elaine Francis, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve, Chris Kaberry (reeds); Bill Brittain (pno); Alan Smith (bs); Roy Willis (gtr); Barry Black (dms); Ruth Lambert (vcl).

(Review by Lance). 

What better gig is there when the bandleader gives you the names of the band and a neatly typed set list with spaces for comments before they even start!

CHBB leader and raconteur Peter Morgan did just that which makes life easier for us reviewers.

It wasn't a full house - how could it be when you had another big band playing about a mile across town? Nevertheless, it was well enough attended to be comfortable and there were several familiar faces in the audience.

The Hawk plays Bop @ Blaydon Jazz Club. Oct.4.

Steve Andrews (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn), Jeremy McMurray (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums).

(Review by Russell).

Steve Andrews is a regular and most welcome guest at Blaydon Jazz Club. The Cumbrian based reedsman, known for his love and encyclopedic knowledge of the classic jazz era,  chose to work in the company of a younger generation of musicians. House pianist Jeremy McMurray hooked up with first call bassist Andy Champion and drummer Adam Sinclair. Andrews’ frontline partner, brass virtuoso Graham Hardy, proved to be an inspired choice. 

CD Review: Tom Gibbs - Fear of Flying.

Tom Gibbs (pno); Will Vinson (alt/sop); Euan Burton (bs); James Maddren (dms).

Gibbs, an Englishman living in Glasgow, may well have a fear of flying but he has no such qualms when at the keyboard - he soars! Likewise Vinson, an Englishman living in New York also takes to the sky with apparent ease floating above the trio like a graceful swallow that occasionally morphs into a bird of prey.

Add 'first callers', Maddren and Burton and you have the recipe for a very listenable quartet.

The Informer

I'm pleased to "inform" everyone that Bebop Spoken Here now has a column in the very useful free monthly listings magazine - The Informer (p.11). As of this month, October 2012, I will be highlighting forthcoming jazz events in the region (Tees to Tweed and twixt) and look forward to hearing from anyone with local jazz news that they want people's attention drawn too.

Lance.. 

Seth MacFarlane - The Sadder But Wiser Girl

Along with Kiss Me Kate, my favourite musical is The Music Man. No, forget about 76 Trombones - even Till There Was You - this is the one! Done here by Seth MacFarlane on his current CD - Music is Better Than Words it's The Sadder But Wiser Girl For Me. Those Meredith Wilson lyrics...
Lance.

Tommaso Starace Quartet Live Streaming at the Blue Note Milano, 3rd October TONIGHT!

I wanted to let you know that my concert at the Blue Note in Milano this coming Wednesday the 3rd October (20:oo hrs) will be shown  live on the internet (for free) on the following channel:

http://showgo.tv/schedule/

If you have time join us and connect with our concert dedicated to the great Michel Petrucciani!

Tommaso Starace.

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For those who heard Tommaso Starace and his Quartet at The Chilli a couple of years back this concert is going to be worth watching. If you missed it then don't miss it now. You want alto playing? You got it!

Lance.