Tomorrow Night - a reminder from JNE

Jazz North East presents

GREG ABATE with the PAUL EDIS TRIO

Greg Abate (saxes); Paul Edis (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Adam Sinclair (drums)

Wednesday 6^th November | 8.00pm

Literary & Philosophical Society | 23 Westgate Road | Newcastle NE1 1SE

Tickets £10.00 | £8.00 concessions from 0191 232 0192

Contrary to the impression that 'Jazz Alert' may have occasionally given, I love bebop. But I've tried not to let my musical tastes to atrophy around 1960, and I'm not enthusiastic about slavish recreations of the style from which so much exciting music has subsequently evolved.

Tête à Tête with Cécile McLorin Salvant

(By Debra Milne).

(Photo Cécile (right) with Jean-Francois Bonnel and Daryl Sherman)

By the time I catch up with Cécile McLorin Salvant, it is towards the end of the Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party, after her 2^nd set of the day, which was devoted to ‘Empress of the Blues’ Bessie Smith. Cécile has performed here several times, and was first brought along  in 2009 by the French reedsman Jean-Francois Bonnel, with whom she studied and performed  for a number of years.  It is particularly poignant that the festival’s founder, the greatly missed Mike Durham,  triggered   her extensive  study  of the legendary singer, by asking her to perform more Bessie Smith repertoire at this event. 

‘YAMAHA NEW JAZZ SESSIONS 2013’ LIVE ALBUM LAUNCH @ 606 CLUB

On Wednesday 4^th December, London’s award-winning 606 Jazz Club will host a not to be missed showcase evening, featuring the very best of the UK’s hottest new Jazz talent to celebrate the launch of ‘THE YAMAHA NEW JAZZ SESSIONS 2013’ CD.

Produced by Andy Ross at Astar Studios and cover mounted on the December double-issue of Jazzwise Magazine, ‘The Yamaha New Jazz Sessions 2013’ CD and live launch provide a unique insight into the musicians who will take UK Jazz forward in the future. Former Yamaha Jazz Scholars include Kit Downes, Calum Gourlay, who along with drummer James Maddren received a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination for the debut Kit Downes Trio album ‘Golden’, produced by Andy Ross, plus Zem Audu, Josh Arcoleo, Matt Robinson and Dave Hamblett who have gone on to become highly regarded and in-demand musicians on the contemporary jazz scene.

Preston-Glasgow-Lowe @ The Bridge Hotel. November 3

David Preston (guitar), Kevin Glasgow (electric bass) & Laurie Lowe (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Splinter at the Bridge booked a young trio, took a chance and were rewarded with a low turn out. Audience numbers are down just about everywhere but when it is a struggle to reach double figures at the door it begs the question: Why bother? Well, people bother because the music means a lot to them. The promoter - Splinter - will soldier on and the few regulars will continue to show up.

The Don Forbes Quartet – No 28 – Friday November 1

Paul Wight (Drums)  Paul Grainger (D. Bass)  Dean Stockdale (Piano) Don  Forbes (Trumpet)
(Review by Kath J)

A great night of hard bop interspersed by a change of mood and the occasional ballad commencing with one of my favourites - Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.  There were so many great tunes, with superb solos from each of the musicians that I soon lost track,  I had left my notebook at home… not a mistake I will make again!   The nimble fingers of Dean Stockdale and Paul Granger were accompanied by talented drumming from Paul Wight.  The magical sound of a Jazz Trumpet from Don Forbes complemented the other musicians…overall a great sound!

Jim Mullen Organ Trio @ Sage Gateshead. November 2

Jim Mullen (guitar), Pete Whittaker (organ) & Matt Skelton (drums)

(Review by Russell).

Jim Mullen arrived on a rain-swept Tyneside to lead an afternoon workshop (the self effacing Glaswegian dismissed the term ‘masterclass’) and prior to his evening concert performance, chat with Tom Kerstens, Artisitc Director of the North East Guitar Festival at Sage Gateshead. The sparsely populated Northern Rock Foundation Hall gave a warm welcome to one of Britain’s great jazz guitarists (a frequent poll winner down the years, yet deserving of greater recognition – a musician’s musician perhaps).

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel nr. Shiremoor. Day 3 Evening.Nov. 3.

Sustenance in the Victory Bar in the form of a half rack of ribs embalmed with BBQ sauce and washed down with a glass of house white set me up for the final session of what has been a memorable festival with so many outstanding players - including four ladies. Daryl, Cécile, Emma and Aurélie Tropez who played terrific clarinet in the Tiny Parham tribute on Saturday Afternoon. I didn't catch any of Anne Barnhart's  flute sessions with hubby Jeff, but I've heard her before so I know she too should be on the distaff A team

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel nr. Shiremoor. Day 3 Afternoon.Nov. 3.

(Review by Lance).
Another day of Classic Jazz that fully lived up to expectations. I just caught the last quarter of an hour of Hip Chicks featuring those two hippest of chicks - Daryl Sherman and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Daryl sang I'll Never Say 'never again' again and More Than You Know (with verse) then Cécile gave us There's a Lull in my Life with Daryl on piano before both girls took it out duetting on I'm Beginning to See the Light.

Personnel for this and other Sunday gigs see previous post.

I missed Banjo Crackerjacks but returned to the auditorium for The Dark Angel of the Violin which was a tribute to Eddie South and Stuff Smith featuring the north-east's own dark angel of the violin - Emma Fisk (pictured with Spats Langham sans spats, Richard Pite , drums, Jean-Francoise Bonnel, sax and Henry Lemaire on bass.)

This was an eye-opener! I've heard Emma many times with Djangologie and always enjoyed her playing albeit perhaps maybe taking it for granted - never again!

Today @ Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party

Another day of classic jazz. (Click to enlarge program.)

R.I.P. Frank Wess

Just heard that Frank Wess died on October 30 aged 91. Really sad news. Who can forget the Basie concerts and records featuring Frank on alto, tenor or flute. The Atomic Mr Basie, regarded by many as the greatest big band recording ever, certainly deserves it's acclaim not least because of Frank Wess' alto feature on Fantail. He later switched to tenor and also became known for his increasing fluency on flute. His flute playing was particularly outstanding on another classic Basie track - Midgets. The Happy Cats by the Joe Newman Sextet was another where his fluting was well featured.. 

Most of us "of a certain age" will remember the days when the Basie Band played Newcastle City Hall or the Odeon at least once, maybe twice a year, and of course Frank Wess was in the saxes on many of those tours.

Sadly missed by all who heard him either live or on record.

R.I.P.

Obituary.

Lance.