Book review: David Burke - Giant Steps Diverse Journeys in British Jazz

David Burke has been writing about music since the mid-eighties. A contributor to Classic Pop and Vintage Rock magazines and the All About Jazz website, Burke is the author of books on subjects as diverse as Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen and folk artists Maddy Prior, June Tabor and Linda Thompson. Giant Steps is a collection of portraits-cum-interviews with established and emerging British jazz musicians. The common denominator in Burke's book is the experience of 'Black British' artists, their heritage, experiences and the challenge of making a name for themselves in post-colonial Britain.

Serendip Quartet - Queen of Fire

(Press release)

Two of Europe’s most talked-about jazz scenes – London & Brussels – meet in the latest release from saxophonist Arnaud Guichard’s Serendip quartet.

Having lived & studied in London for five of his formative years (including alongside in-demand drummer Moses Boyd, whose album he appears on), Guichard returned to his home country of Belgium. 

Queen of Fire (out May 7th) showcases the spirit of these vibrant cities in a record which takes in contemporary jazz, electronics and African spiritual music.

Ten albums by Sinatra and a few associated memories. Part Six

10. Sinatra at the Sands. Reprise 1966 arr. Quincy Jones. A double album that has Frank, backed by the Basie band, wowing the well-heeled punters in what was then the hottest ticket in Vegas.  Who cared if they'd blown the housekeeping, maybe even the house, at the tables? It was worth it when they were getting a show like this in return!

The Basie boys swung as they always did but it was Frank who the folks were there to hear and he didn't disappoint.

Album review: Tim Mayer - Keeper of the Flame

Tim Mayer (tenor, soprano, alto saxes); Adam Rongo (alto sax); Tony Lustig (baritone sax); Anthony Stanco (trumpet); Michael Dease (trombone); Miki Hayama (piano - Emmet Cohen track 8); Rodney Whitaker (bass); Ulysses Owens (drums).

A nicely balanced programme by a band that doesn't kick the door down when it knows that a cool swinging approach does away with brute force and gets a better, more tasteful, result.

Blame It On My Youth is a beautiful tune and I wondered how it would stand up without the great lyric. It passed the test with flying colours - just tenor and bass - how could I doubt that this wouldn't be one of the renditions? - blame it on my "youth".

Late Night Chicago Radio - Frankie Laine, Buck Clayton and a lot more

When it approaches those wee small hours when you want to relax with a glass or a lass with a cup that cheers then Denny Farrell is your man. His Late Night Chicago Radio show is unbeatable - it's magic! His laid back, punctuated by silence, drawl as he introduces the tracks is jazz as it is spoken. He brings it into the bedroom but, even if you're alone, you don't sleep - this is better than sex (well, maybe almost ...). Even Willis Connover was never quite this cool!

I don't tune in every week but, when I do I curse myself for what I've missed. This guy knows where it's at and there ain't no Emperors struttin' around in the all together!

Rossano Sportiello: Live from the flat - May 16

(Screenshot by Russell)

Rossano Sportiello (piano); Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet); Evan Sherman (drums)

Three NYC A-listers, pianist Rossano Sportiello, trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso and drummer Evan Sherman, live from Sportiello's flat in Greenwich Village. The focus of their attention, three musicians who, at one time or another, worked together on many a jazz stage, namely Ralph Sutton, Ruby Braff and Gus Johnson.

Joey DeFranceso plays the Van Gelder Studio organ - May 15/16

(Screenshot by Russell)

Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Billy Hart (drums); Houston Person(tenor sax)

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home to the Van Gelder Studio. This evening's live stream, or rather a re-stream, the original stream going online across North America late Saturday/early Sunday, featured Joey DeFranceso playing the Van Gelder Hammond B3. 

Sunday Night @ The Globe: Shirley Smart Trio - May 16.

(Screenshot by Lance)

Shirley Smart (cello); John Crawford (piano); Demi Garcia Sabat (drums/perc.)

When Jazz Co-op and Jazz North East meet up you can guarantee the end result will be something different. Love it or hate it, one thing is sure - it won't be boring. I have to hold my hand up and say that initially I felt that this wasn't going to be for me until, seemingly, pre-empting my thoughts, they swung into a number that could have been by Grappelli had he played cello instead of violin!

Ten albums by Sinatra and a few associated memories. Part Five

Sinatra wanted out of Capitol - be his own boss - and tried to buy Verve from Norman Granz. They couldn't agree on terms which I think is where the bitter hatred they had for each other began. So Frank, like the Jazz Co-op when they were unable to take over the Jazz Café and bought The Globe, set up his Reprise label.

History will see this from different angles. The Reprise sessions aren't as dynamic or as memorable as the Capitol or even some of the later Columbia's but I love these two.

A Sunday Service with Adrian, Joe & Will - May 16

(Screenshot by Russell)

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Joe webb (piano); Will Sach (double bass)  

A kitchen cabinet meeting of three of London's finest, Messrs Adrian Cox, Joe Webb and Will Sach, pianist Joe's kitchen acting as preacher Cox's Sunday lunchtime pulpit. Minutes into the stream no fewer than one hundred parishioners had taken a pew. It would be a varied set list, each and every number performed with nonchalant brilliance. I Would Do Most Anything for You for starters with a first vocal for our clarinet virtuoso.