Equinox for the Quakerhouse

Four Leeds College of Music students head up the road to Darlington to play a gig at Darlington Jazz Club on Sunday (February 14). Drummer Abbie Finn is from around these parts and will surely show her band mates the lay of the land. The Quakerhouse, tucked away in Mechanics’ Yard, is as good a place as any to start. A proper pub, the Camra awards adorning the walls are testament to its popularity and good beer. There must be a beer drinker in the band, they can’t all be new breed student tee-totallers!

Jazz Co-op @ The Globe: The Andy Lawrenson Trio - February 6

Andy Lawrenson (violin, vocals); Simon O’Byrne (guitar, vocals); Paul Carroll (upright bass, piano) + Also guests Stu Finden (soprano sax) Fiona Finden (vocals)

(Review by Ann Alex)

This was described by the band as their Stephane Grappelli show, so we held on to our hats (should it be berets?) for an evening of stonking, swinging Grappelli/Reinhardt gypsy jazz.  A large audience (donate more chairs?) heard such numbers as My Dear Mr Shane (Mei Bir Mist Du Schoen), sung by Andy; Tea For Two, with its beautiful verse from the guitar, main theme from a luscious-sounding violin, and loads of improvisation all round.

CD Review: Avishai Cohen - Into the Silence.

Avishai Cohen: trumpet; Yonathan Avishai: piano; Eric Revis:bass; Nasheet Watts:drums; Bill McHenry tenor sax

(Review by Steve H).

Avishai Cohen is one of my favourite musicians of all time so I was very excited when asked to review this CD. As a poignant Miles Davis style solo emerged from the speakers I checked the album cover to find this rather beautiful trumpet player was indeed Avishai Cohen. What an amazing talent not only is he a world class bassist, composer, arranger and occasional pianist he is also a trumpet virtuoso as well. Somehow I didn’t think this was possible and further research led me to the happy discovery of ‘the other’ AC.

EP Review: Kathryn Lowdon and the Soul Engineers - Cake.

Kathryn Lowdon (vcl); Paul Gowland (saxes); James Harrison (pno); Katy Trigger (bs); Steve Doyle (dms); Jasmine Storey, Michael Littlefield (backing vocals).
(Review by Lance).
I close my eyes and I'm in Detroit or maybe Philly or East St. Louis. I open them and find, to my amazement, I'm still on Tyneside which is just as well as Kathryn Lowdon and the Soul Engineers will be launching their debut EP Cake at Hoochie Coochie on Feb. 21. Listen to Cake with your eyes closed and you too will be eating soul food in a downtown diner.

CD Review: Ira Hill - Tomorrow.

Ira Hill – vocals; John Proulx – piano; Kevin Axt – bass; Dave Tull – drums; Craig Fundyga – vibes; Doug Webb – saxophones; Alex Acuna – percussion; Ramon Stagnaro – guitar; Cheryl Bentyne – vocals.

(Review by Debra M.)

Although just 19 years old, the young American Ira Hill has immersed himself in the vocal jazz tradition of the latter half of the 20^th century.  Based in Phoenix, Arizona, and mentored by Count Basie vocalist Dennis Rowland and Grammy-nominated pianist and vocalist Judy Roberts,  Cheryl  Bentyne,  of Manhatten Transfer, was so impressed by him at a jazz singing workshop in LA, she went on to produce  Tomorrow,  his debut album. 

Jazz North East @ The Black Swan present a Women Make Music Event February 4 ENTROPI + SHELLY KNOTTS & MARIAM REZAEI DUO

Entropi Dee Byrne (saxophones); Andre Canniere (trumpet); Rebecca Nash (keys); Olie Brice (bass); Matt Fisher (drums).

(Review by Steve H/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).

The first musical offering of JNE’s second ‘Women Make Music’ event got off to a great start at The Black Swan on Thursday night with Dee Byrne’s Entropi. I reviewed this band very favourably last year on these pages so I was really looking forward to this gig. I wasn’t disappointed as the band seem to have become even more accomplished in the intervening months.

Havana Club 5 Turn Them Away!

Roving reporter Tony Eales called in at Durham’s Empty Shop to hear Havana Club 5. Eales arrived early which was just as well because it was more than a full house at the Framwellgate Bridge venue. Every seat taken, others relegated to the bar, many turned away altogether…clearly, the Empty Shop is doing something right!

The next jazz gig at no. 35c Framwellgate Bridge sees the Redemption boys in town on Thursday 18 February. Get there early – it’s an eight o’clock start – would appear to be sound advice!         

Russell.

RIP Tony Raine

Just before Beryl Bryden died in July 1998 she came to Ashington Jazz Club (not to sing) but with her pianist Tony Raine (real name Ramm?). He was a non-reader but could put a jazz style to any tune. Tony was from Newbiggin and has been in a care home there for quite a while. He has now passed away. He was a great character and played piano in some of the London gangland clubs in the 60s. He was reputed to have had Louis Armstrong's gold ring. The funeral takes place on Wednesday and I intend to go to represent the jazz community.

John T.

CD Review: Ken Peplowski - Enrapture

Ken Peplowski (clt/ten); Ehud Asherie (pno); Martin Wind (bs); Matt Wilson (dms/perc.)

(Review by Lance)

Any disc by Peplowski arrives like a breath of fresh air. Shaw/Goodman/DeFranco encapsulated as one - a clarinettist capable of cherishing the past whilst living for today. On tenor he exudes the feeling only the best can achieve, Not as effusive as Webster or Hawkins nor as Cool as Getz, maybe Zoot is nearest - ie the best of both worlds eg: Our Love Affair from the film An Affair to Remember is certainly one to remember for the above mentioned qualities.

GINA SOUTHGATE @ Newcastle Arts Centre - ‘Woman Paints Music’ February 4.

(Review by Steve H/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

Jazz North East’s second ‘Women Making Music’ series, following from their marvellously successful 2015 inaugural series, got off to a flying start with a solo exhibition by Gina Southgate entitled ‘Woman Paints Music’.  Gina’s art features paintings of Jazz gigs which are painted in situ during live performances. The majority of paintings on display are of musicians from the ‘Free’ jazz scene many of whom I have had the privilege of seeing in Newcastle over the last few years such as Laura Jurd, Rachel Musson, Trio Riot, The Necks and The Cookers.