CD Review: Jacob Varmus: Terminal Stillness.

Jacob Varmus (tpt/keys); Kris Davis (pno); Nate Radley (gtr); Jacob Garchik (acc); Ike Sturm or Gil Smuskowitz (bs); Brian Woodruff (dms/glock).

(Review by Lance)

For some unknown reason I keep shuffling this one down to the bottom of the pile of review CDs that are threatening to takeover house and home. I shouldn't do this because Terminal Stillness is a far better CD than some of those discs that are further up the pecking order.

Book Review: Jazz. New York in the Roaring Twenties by Robert Nippoldt and Hans-Jurgen Schaal

"A feast for the connoisseur, an appetizer for the novice" - so wrote DIE ZETT, Hamburg. This German book also won a European Design Award as The Most Beautiful Book in Germany and deservedly so.

A 144 pages 340 mm x 220 mm hardback, it lives up to the above descriptions and more.The text by Hans-Jurgen Schaal may not offer any startling new insights into New York's jazz scene in the "Roaring Twenties" but he writes attractively with lots of anecdotes that paint pictures of the 24 subjects not just as musicians but as persons - or should I say personalities because they certainly were!

Newcastle Community Green Festival; Leazes Park; Sunday June 2

Hannabiell And Midnight Blue

(Review by Ann Alex).

Leazes Park became a mass of people, lots of swirling colourful clothes, Chinese, Italian, Turkish food for sale, holistic healing therapies available, juggling, hula hoops, acrobatics, face-painted children everywhere, and of course lots of publicity for green issues.

On to the stage stepped the band, tension gradually building during the setting up, drums, repeated word riffs, a few whistles, then a drumming call to arms and we’re off, people dancing from the start.  Long pieces, tempo accelerating, volume approaching a climax then, more gently, quietly coming to an end.  You’ll hear sax, bass trombone - sounding wonderfully obscene - pounding drums, guitar, a cheeky whistle to get your attention, powerful riffs, ‘free yourself to my rhythm’ shouts Hannabiell over and over again, and the dancers obey. I notice a child sitting on her mother’s shoulders, drumming the rhythm out on her head.  Poor Mum!  A great session, seriously elemental rhythms.

CD Review: Caecilie Norby: Silent Ways

Caecilie Norby (vocal); Lars Danielsson (cello, bass, acoustic guitars, tambourine); Leszek Mozdzer (piano); Nguyen Le (electric guitars, electronics); Robert Mehmet Ikiz (drums, percussion); also Marius Neset (tenor and soprano sax)

(Review by Ann Alex)

This is a totally enjoyable CD, but it mostly doesn't have that certain feel of ‘jazz’ (I'm open to contradiction from anyone else who hears it), except for some jazz influence on 3 of the tracks. 

Danish Ms Norby sang in the classical music world until she was aged 14, when one day she heard Creedence Clearwater Revival at a school party, which changed her musical perspective.  Nowadays,  she prefers not to have much regard for musical genres.  

CD Review: George Benson: Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole

George Benson (vocals); The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Conductor Randy Waldman;  Wynton Marsalis and Till Bronner (trumpets); Idina Menzel and Judith Hill (additional vocals)

(Review by Ann Alex)

I was fascinated to read in the CD insert that Nat King Cole actually started out as a jazz pianist and George Benson was originally a jazz guitarist (you probably all know this!).  Benson was born in 1943, just as Cole was starting to make it as a singer.  The CD is historically interesting for me as I remember, as a child, hearing Cole on the radio and absorbing the songs without realising that I was doing so.  I need hardly say that this is a very worthwhile compilation, with fine big band playing, short solos from trumpet, piano and, naturally, guitar. and very pleasing singing from Benson and the two ladies who join him for duets on some tracks.  Benson manages to stamp his own identity on these immortal songs without losing the spirit of the originals.

Free Concerts!

Yes, that’s the good news, the bad  news is that you've missed them as they took place last week and I should have mentioned them before the event(s) sorry!

I’m referring to The Newcastle University Folk Degree assessed performances that took place at the Sage in Hall 2 last Tuesday to Thursday.  Anyone who didn't enjoy these concerts, could try asking for their money back!

I mention all of this because jazz elements invariably crop up in these concerts.  This year there was a 4 piece band doing Django material.  A young lady, Kari Macleod, sung a stunning version of I am a Weary and a Lonesome Traveller, accompanying herself on a mournful, weary sounding, fiddle, just right for a song sung with great feeling. Chloe Merriott did a step dance, (Appalachian I think), and Seth Tinsley performed a moving Randy Newman song Louisiana 1927, about a flood which was similar to Hurricane Katrina.  Dogan Mehmet, the partner of Eliza Carthy, kicked off the concerts with a themed set of music about a journey on the Orient Express, with lots of danceable eastern rhythms.  Something for everyone.  Next year I'll preview before and review after!

Ann Alex

CD Review: Beat Funktion - Moon Town.

Carl Olandersson (tpt); Olle Thunstrom (ten); Daniel Lantz (keys); Johan Oijen (gtr); Pal Johnson (bs); Jon Erickssen (dms) + strings, Latin percussion.

(Review by Lance)

Swedish jazz funk. The concept is, telling the dark tale of a fictitious sci-fi city oozing with criminality, suspenseful action, drizzling rain and surreal inhabitants - sci-fi? sounds like Newcastle to me!

More TV Items of Interest

The eagle eyed, if not yet quick fingered, Russell has drew our attention to a couple of interesting TV items that we may otherwise have overlooked.

Later Live...with Jools Holland on Tuesday June 4 features Bonnie Raitt and Caro Emerald. Goes out at 10pm (an extended repeat is on on Friday at 11.05pm). Both on BBC2.

Also on Friday, on PBS America at 7:50pm and 10:55pm  there is a documentary entitled Electrified: The Guitar Revolution.

Well done Russell - I'd never even heard of the PBS America channel!

Lance.

Anita O'Day "The Life of a Jazz Singer' on BBC4 Sunday

Tomorrow night - Sunday June 2 - BBC4 is showing the 90 minute, feature length documentary film - Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
10pm - 11.30pm.
Not to be missed.
Lance.

10 Favourite Jazz Autobiographies

Anita O’Day: High Times – Hard Times (1981)

Art Pepper: Straight Life (1979)

Artie Shaw: The Trouble With Cinderella (1952)

Benny Green: Swingtime in Tottenham (1976)

Eddie Condon: We Called it Music.(19480

George Melly: Owning Up (1965)

Humphrey Lyttleton: I Play as I Please (1959)

Marian McPartland: Shall We Play One Together? (2012)

Pete King: Flying High. (2011)

Ronnie Scott: Some of my Best Friends Are Blues (1979)

Lance.

PS: Send me yours.