Stolen!

Tony Kofi's King Zephyr alto sax: Serial number 772911 was stolen in a break-in at premises in Wandsworth, South London. 

Not our end of the country but, you never know. Keep your eyes open ...

Lance

Album Review: Lucinda Fosker – I Get Along

Lucinda Fosker (vocals); Piera Onacko (piano); Stuart Barker (bass); Maxim Tomlinson (drums); Chris Young (tenor sax)

I've been moaning that I couldn't find enough to say about these singers, then along comes a great CD which is different and gives me more than enough to comment on. I could of course just simply quote no less a person than Lauren Kinsella, who says of Ms Fosker 'A talented vocalist with an original flair for song writing that blends an array of styles from jazz to soul to groove composition'.

I could finish the review there, but I'd be sacked by Lance!

Ross Stanley @ Ronnie's livestreaming a tribute to Michael Brecker w. Time is of the Essence - March 22

(Screenshot by Lance)

Ross Stanley (Hammond); Paul Booth (tenor sax); Chris Allard (guitar); Andrew  Bain (drums).

I doubt if I will ever hear so much fantastic tenor playing again in my life as I've heard over the past week. Riley Stone-Lonergan, Xhosa Cole, Mornington Lockett, Alec Harper and  Will Howard who, last night at the Globe, did enough to suggest that the others may soon be looking over their shoulders.

Geordie Jazz 'n' all that

(Photo by Lance)

Gary Hogg's Geordie Hour programme on Radio Tyneside plays anything and everything 'Geordie'. Musicians from the area, based in the area or having migrated to the centre of the universe (Tyneside) are given an airing on 93.6 FM and online to a worldwide (Geordie ex-pat) community at: Radio Tyneside. 

Album review: Solstice - Food for Thought

Tori Freestone (tenor sax, soprano sax, flute); Brigitte Beraha (voice); John Turville (piano, keyboards); Jez Franks (guitar); Dave Manington (double bass); George Hart (drums)

Solstice comprises six musicians firmly established on the contemporary jazz scene. Food for Thought, the sextet's latest album, and the first on the Ubuntu label, showcases their formidable talents as composers. Brigitte Beraha (voice) and Tori Freestone (reeds) each contribute two compositions, likewise bassist Dave Manington, with guitarist Jez Franks and pianist John Turville each bringing one number to the table. The 'table' accommodates music manuscripts and food offerings. It transpires that band members are dedicated to their art and passionate about culinary matters. Life on the road must be interesting! 

Dropping in on Rossano & Harry - Mar. 21

(Screenshot by Russell)

Rossano Sportiello (piano); Harry Allen (tenor sax)

Live at the Flat in Greenwich Village, #25. Yes, Rossano Sportiello's twenty fifth weekly live stream, this week with mainstream tenor saxophonist Harry Allen. Your reviewer dropped by having been elsewhere (Ronnie Scott's, virtually, of course), in time to hear our duo playing A Cottage for Sale. 

Big Band Metheny live streaming from Ronnie's - Mar. 21

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Dominic Bentham's big band playing the music of Pat Metheny at Ronnie Scott's. Many of Bob Curnow's arrangements would feature during the evening. Little more than five minutes in 800 were online. A quiet opening, layering sound upon sound, James from Offramp the first familiar number of the set, the 'bones developing the melody. 

Sunday Night @ The Globe: Three In One - March 21

(Photo by Debra Milne)

Will Howard (tenor sax); Elliot Roffe (bass); Steve   Hanley (drums).

Last week the Bossa Trio became a duo. This week, Four In One became Three In One. However, the show must go on - as the saying goes - and tonight's three troupers adhered to that maxim.

It's been a week for tenor players with ne'er an alto or soprano in sight. Over the past few days at Ronnie's, Smitty's and 606 we've had Riley Stone-Lonergan, Xhosa Cole, Mornington Lockett and Alec Harper taking Adolphe Sax's invention to places he never dreamed were possible.

Duets by Sting

Sinatra did it, Tony Bennett did it, maybe even educated fleas did it and now Sting has done it.

Done what?, you ask.

Put together an album of duets from over the years. I haven't actually heard the CD/LP - as of yet, no crumbs have been thrown in our direction. However, I did discover this clip on YouTube of our boy singing In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning with Chris Botti on trumpet.

Tonight @ the Globe. Four In One is now Three In One (and counting!)

(Press release)

Last minute change of line up: on Saturday two members of the band learned they must self-isolate but with typical determination they insisted that ‘the show must go on’. The line up tonight is Will Howard – tenor sax, Elliot Roffe – double bass and Steve Hanley – drums.

Four In One is a Leeds-based group that features some of the UK’s finest Jazz musicians. The band play a mixture of repertoire that draws from the American tradition, paying homage to composers such as Monk and Tristano as well as incorporating original compositions. The group grew out of a weekly jam session at Jamil’s house – four kindred spirits who all share a passion for this music.