Diachronix at the Jazz Cafe, November 29

Gabrielle Heller (vocals, electronics, percussion); Steve Glendinning (guitar)

(Review by Ann Alex/photo by Mike Tilley).

There was a full house for this unusual gig from Gabi and Steve, including people from Germany and Brazil.  The material covered jazz standards, Gabi originals in cabaret style, a bit of blues, and numbers written by Sting, Billie Holiday, and others.  The general theme was ‘The City’, well illustrated by adventurous use of electronics, with sirens and people rushing about.  And the percussion made an effective appearance even in the first song, about not being able to get out of the city, when Gabi made a defiant ‘chock, chock’ sound by hitting a bar with a stick.  (What is this called,  BSH readers?)   Steve showed his considerable talents throughout the whole set, many long solos, up and down scales, chords galore, guitar wizardry, but always fitting to the song being sung.

CD Review: Nils Landgren: Christmas With My Friends 1V

Nils Landgren (bandleader, trombone, vocals); Sharon Dyall (vocals, harmonica); Jonas Knutsson (saxes); Jeanette Kohn (vocals); Eva Kruse (bass); Jessica Pilnas (vocals); Ida Sand (piano, vocals, glockenspiel); Johan Norberg (guitar, kantele)

(Review by Ann Alex).

Santa time is here again and so are the Christmas CDs up for review.  ‘Ugh’ I thought, ‘this will be sentimental tosh’.  But not a bit of it, this is the 4^th CD in a series, popular in Germany, offering thoughtful, varied interpretations of Christmas songs, just the thing to play for the family, and not too kitsch at all.

Christmas Music at Cherry Tree

We take great pride in creating a warm traditional atmosphere with lighting decorations, a beautiful high quality menu and live music.

CD Review: Jennie Marie Hammond & The Quiet Band - Lullabies & Dreams..

Jennie Marie Hammond (vcl); Mark Chandler (tpt/flug); Mike Hope (ten); Sean Miller (pno); Richard Hammond (bs); Dom Sales (dms/perc).

(Review by Lance).

A delicate, fey, offering that is totally laid back in the best traditions of Astrud and Blossom.

"I wanted to make a jazz album that could lull my baby girl to sleep." So states drummer, bandleader and founder of the Jellymould Jazz record label, Dom Sales.

SSBB/Jamie Toms @ The Millstone November 27

SSBB - Michael Lamb , Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey, Chris Gray (tpts); Sarah Boult, David Holman, John Lord, Mark Ferris, Keiran Parnaby (perm any 4 from 5) (tmbs); Keith Robinson, Steve Summers (alt); Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Graham Don (pno); Michael Whent (bs); Pawel Jedrejewski (gtr); Dave McKeague (dms); Lindsay Hannon, Guy Swinton (vcls).

Jamie Toms Quintet - Toms (ten); ?(bs); Pawel Jedrejewski (gtr); Dave McKeague (dms); ? (keys).

(Review by Lance).

No, I haven't got it wrong! Tonight, Guy Swinton vacated the drums for the male vocal chair and handed over the announcing to Pete Tanton. Both performed well in their new roles!

A good mixed program varying from the familiar to the first time - test your sight reading chaps - pieces. Drummer McKeague played the first set without the drum pad and still managed to swing the band - maybe that's why!

Without mics, at times the sax soloists were struggling to be heard over the ensembles but eventually a balance was found. Lindsay sang from the tried and tested and sang well  and not only is Guy Swinton a better drummer than Ringo, he's also a better singer!
As befits Thanksgiving Day, American trumpeter Tanton was in top form both soloing and announcing. Leader Lamb also blistered.
The big band set was followed by a set from Jamie Toms that, for some reason, wasn't announced so that by the time they kicked off most of the uninformed audience had left!
I too had a bus to catch but what I heard sounded good.
Lance.

Big Sid Catlett Reigns @ King’s Hall, Newcastle Uni. November 27

(Review by Russell).

The ‘Student Performances’ hour, late afternoon, Thursdays, throws up unexpected delights. The jazz content today featured drummer Lewis West and a trio playing a  well-received set of three tunes. Add classical clarinet, folk guitar and a West End (London) show girl to the mix and it really is a variety hour.

Dominic J Marshall Trio @ King’s Hall, Newcastle Uni. Nov 27

Dominic J Marshall (piano), Sam Vicary (electric bass) & Sam Gardner (drums)

(Review by Russell).

Pianist Dominic J Marshall left it late. The King’s Hall audience stood in the corridors as DJM and co. completed a swift soundcheck. The twenty five year old Scot, resident in Amsterdam, makes frequent trips to the UK to link up with the two Sams – Vicary, the bass player and Gardner, the in demand drummer.

GATESHEAD INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2015 LINE-UP

Gateshead International Jazz Festival is delighted to announce an exciting international line-up with its trademark mix of UK, European and international jazz icons, hot new talent and some of the best of the thriving Northern jazz scene. Renowned for being the UK’s biggest jazz festival held under one roof, the festival is programmed by Sage Gateshead in collaboration with London-based music producers Serious, and runs from Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2015 at Sage Gateshead, forming part of the year long Sage Gateshead 10^th birthday celebrations. Booking opens tomorrow at 10am (Friday 28 November).

Radio Russell: Paul Tips His Hat to Jack

Paul Jones’ weekly blues programme (seven o’clock, Mondays, Radio 2) is required listening. This coming week’s hour-long broadcast (Monday 1 December) is one for archivists of the British blues scene. Jones pays tribute to Jack Bruce. Unmissable.

Radio 3’s Hear and Now (10:00pm Saturday 27 November) includes a Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival commission – Twelve for Twelve Musicians – for Evan Parker to celebrate his seventieth year. The work will be a first performance by Evan Parker and ensemble. Earlier, at six o’clock, Jazz Line-Up celebrates a birthday. An octogenarian – Tony Coe – takes centre stage. And a young drummer with his career stretching out ahead of him – Ollie Howell – is heard in concert at this year’s London Jazz Festival. Preceding Jazz Line-Up at 5:00pm, this week’s Jazz Record Requests includes tracks by Jack Bruce and Acker Bilk.

Finally, at 4:30pm, Friday 5 December, Radio 3, In Tune will shoehorn Manchester’s RNCM Big Band into the studio. Small room, big band!

Russell.

Preview: "Big Sid Catlett Reigns" @ King’s Hall. November 27

Today’s lunchtime concert at Newcastle University (1:10pm) introduces a new name to many – Dominic J Marshall. Baseball cap cool pianist Marshall plays the King’s Hall’s Steinway in the company of the ‘Two Sams’ – double bassist Sam Vicary and drummer Sam Gardener. All three have played at the Bridge Hotel, all three can play, to be sure. 

The one set performance (fifty minutes) is the first of two ‘freebie’ events this afternoon in the King’s Hall. Two hours later at four o’clock the weekly Student Performances gig presents a mix of classical, folk, jazz and anything else that catches the student ear. This afternoon’s potpourri includes a jazz trio playing three standards; pianist (and final year student) Jamie Lawson will work in the company of drummer Dan Egdell and trumpeter Ed Addo. And drummer Lewis West takes on Max Roach’s For Big Sid. Go, Lewis!

Russell.