The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra directed by Tommy Smith proudly presents Mozart’s 9th Piano Concerto & Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue featuring special guest, Makoto Ozone

Inverness, Eden Court     25th Apr 2014 at 7.30 pm 01463 234 234  

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Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall   26th April 2014 at 7.30 pm 0131 668 2019    

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Glasgow, Royal Conservatoire  27th April 2014 at 7.30 pm   0141 332 5057           

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This April sees a welcome shower of shimmering piano notes over Scotland as the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) premieres a new arrangement of Mozart’s 9^th Piano Concerto. 

CD Review: Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra - Strength in Numbers

Pete McGuinness (tmb/vcl/md/arr/comp); Jon Owens, Tony Kadlek, Bill Mobley, Chris Rogers (tpts); Bruce Eidem, Mark Patterson, Matt Haviland, Jeff Nelson (tmbs); Dave Pietro (alt/sop/fl), Marc Phaneuf (alt/fl); Tom Christensen (ten/fl); Jason Rigby (ten/sop/clt); Dave Reikenberg (bar/bs clt); Mike Holober (pno); Andy Eulau (bs); Scott Neumann (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Yet another fine big band from The States led by vocalist and trombonist McGuinness. With remarkable restraint, McGuinness restricts himself to only two vocal features - What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? and You Don't Know What Love is which makes one wonder what the lady's response was to the initial question! 

Jazz Times 2013 Expanded Critics’ Poll

A selection from Jazz Times’ annual poll (the recent Gateshead International Jazz Festival booked one or two of the winners and some of Bebop Spoken Here’s faves bagged prizes) reads as follows:

Artist of the Year Gregory Porter (3rd) to the winner Wayne Shorter

Best New Artist Cécile McLorin Salvant

Best Group (Electric/Fusion/ Contemporary Group/Artist Robert Glasper Experiment

Best Musician Tenor Saxophone Joe Lovano

Best Musician Electric Keyboards Robert Glasper

Best Musician Guitar Bill Frisell (2nd) to the winner Julian Lage

Best Musician Drums Jack DeJohnette

Best Male Vocalist Gregory Porter (Kurt Elling 2nd) 

Best Female Vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant    

Russell.

Percy Bush Orchestra/Females Brawling in London Night Club

Colin, our link to the Orient, sent me this photo from the 1926 Xmas edition of the Melody Maker of the Percy Bush Orchestra who were the first ever band to play at Newcastle's famed Oxford Galleries.

Colin also sent an entertaining cutting from the same magazine reporting a fight between two females in a London night club.

 Lance.

PS: How ironic that the Newcastle City Council have approved an application to tear the building that housed the Oxford Galleries down and build student flats. on the site. Smith and Poulson ride again!

Details.
PPS: Photo from Colin Aitchison of Lew Stone with Percy Bush Orchestra

GIJF Day Two: AN AFTERTHOUGHT (I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE!). JAZZATTACK Led by Paul Edis

(Review/photo by Jerry)

Reading Ann A’s comments on Jambone reminded me that I HAD intended to write a few words on some other youthful (and very useful) players, but then forgot. So may I set the record straight?

Saturday afternoon’s entertainment in the concourse kicked off with Jazzattack featuring some of the Sage’s youngest practitioners: the future of jazz in the region is safe with the likes of these young stars blowing up a storm and soloing like veterans!

GIJF Day One - Robert Glasper Experiment.

Robert Glasper keyboards, Derrick Hodge  bass, Mark Colenburg drums, Casey Benjamin vocoder and saxophone.

(Review by Steve H.)

Having read a review of the London Hammersmith Apollo gig  where several renowned soul singers (Laura Mvulva, Emelie Sande, Raheem DeVaughn) joined  Mr Glasper on stage, I was nervous that this gig was going to turn out to be more R&B than Jazz/Hip Hop. I need not have  worried, Sage Two provided a wonderful arena for this powerful and exciting concert.

CD Review: Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - The L.A. Treasures Project.

Bijon Watson, Gilbert Castellanos, James Ford, Brian Swarz, Jamie Hovorka (tpts); Ira Nepus, George Bohanon, Ryan Porter, Maurice Spears (tmbs); Jeff Clayton, Keith Fiddmont, Rickey Woodard, Charles Owens. Lee Callet (reeds); Graham Dechter (gtr); Jeff Hamilton (dms); John Clayton (arco bass); Tamir Hendelman (pno); Christophe Luly (bs). + Barbara Morrison, Ernie Andrews (vcls).

(Review by Lance),

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra is without doubt one of the best and most swinging big bands around. Add a couple of vocalists, long established in their own right, and you have the ingredients for a very fine cake indeed.

With John Clayton out front conducting (and bowing double bass), Jeff Hamilton spurring then on from behind the kit and Jeff Clayton the man within, this recording couldn't fail - not with Barbara and Ernie alternating at the mic!

Sheila Giles Photos added to archives.

More photos of the late Sheila Giles have been added to the archives courtesy of Margaret Barnes. A lot of them are short on info such as dates, venues and names. If anyone can help please do.
Here is the link to the album.
Lance.

Radio 4 Rounds off GIJF!

Radio 4 has accidently rounded off the GIJF with its ‘Book of the Week’ item (9.45am, Monday to Friday).  This is an account of the early life of Louis Armstrong.  So far it has concerned his playing with the King Oliver band, and his romances.  These excerpts from ‘Master of Modernism’ by Thomas Brothers will also be available on iplayer, so catch it there if you’re at work in the mornings.

Ann Alex

GIJF Day Three: The Waal; Hannabiell & Midnight Blue

The Waal: Ian Stephenson (guitar, melodeon); Andy May (keyboard, Uilean pipes); Sophie Ball (Fiddle); Kyran Matthews (saxes); Martin ? (drums).

(Review by Ann Alex).

The band member I spoke to wasn’t sure of the drummer’s surname, so I’ll excuse myself not knowing, such is the world of folkies, it’s the music that matters, as in jazz.  This was hugely enjoyed by the audience and myself, but I wouldn’t know whether it was jazz or folk, so it was an effective lesson in deciding whether labels mean anything.