Billie Holiday on the Beeb - Friday Oct. 15

Why not go in search of Billie Holiday this evening? BBC Television is once again screening James Erskine's documentary film Billie: in Search of Billie Holiday. First shown on BBC 2, tune to BBC 4 this evening (Friday) at 9:00pm - Russell  

Preview: Michael Feinstein @ Sage Gateshead (Oct. 22)

(Photo  from Sage Gateshead)

It was back in 1994 when cable television finally arrived on our street. Suddenly, over night we had trillions of channels to choose from. That most of these channels were rubbish is neither here nor there as there was one weekly programme that shone like a beacon above the rest. I think it may have been on NPR but I'm not sure. What I am sure about was the performers and, in particular, singer, pianist, music historian, author Michael Feinstein.

Album review: Kristian Borring - Out of Nowhere

Kristian Borring (guitar); Rick Simpson (piano); Mick Coady (bass); Jon Scott (drums).

The Danish guitarist is no stranger to BSH, he's had several albums reviewed within these hallowed (virtual) portals and all have impressed those of us with ears for the real deal and this truly is the real deal.

Recorded in London in prepandomic times the musician met up in Nick Taylor's Porcupine Studios to cut 8 sides as we used to say before sides became tracks before becoming downloads before becoming whatever next. Being somewhat of a Luddite, I opted for a CD which duly arrived in several pieces - well it had come from Australia - so rather than wait for an Antipodean replacement, I went for the download option.

Adrian Cox Trio with Miss Baby Sol @ Oriole, Smithfield Market, London - Oct. 13

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Dave Archer (guitar); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Miss Baby Sol (vocals)

Smithfield Market isn't the kind of place you'd associate with a music venue. East Poultry Avenue, in the heart of London's meat market, with its cold store environment, forklift trucks and articulated lorries offloading consignments more or less 24/7, is home to Oriole. A cocktails-led basement venue, it is as discreet as they come. A nondescript doorway (it could be mistaken as the gaffer's office, perhaps the canteen) leads, via a flight of stairs, to a subterranean speakeasy offering cocktails and, well, cocktails. 

Emmet Cohen Trio @ Ronnie Scott's - Oct. 13

Emmet Cohen (piano); Yasushi Nakamura (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums) + Ruben Fox (tenor sax)

For more than a year Emmet Cohen has been streaming concerts on a weekly basis from his New York City apartment. Live from Emmet's Place has become required viewing. Now, as international travel has become somewhat easier, pianist Cohen is once again on the road. A European tour itinerary included a stop off at Ronnie Scott's. Turning onto Frith Street a queue stretched out onto the pavement for the first of two houses. The sense of anticipation was palpable, people had been waiting a long time for this moment.

Album review: Jeremy Monteiro & Alberto Marsico - Jazz-Blues Brothers

Jeremy Monteiro (piano); Alberto Marsico (B3); Shawn Letts (tenor sax); Eugene Pao (guitar); Shawn Kelley (drums + Miz Dee Longwood - vocals on 2 tks.)

Monteiro has been called Singapore's King of Swing - Marsico could equally have been called Italy's King Hammond and maybe he has. Together they're jazz royalty in any genre and the courtiers (sidemen) ain't bad either.

The unusual instrumentation works well, the chordal instruments don't step on each others' fingers, Letts blows walkin' the bar tenor and Kelley works out on Catastrophy.

Paul Hartley Quartet featuring Rod Mason at the Railway Stockport - Oct. 12

Paul Hartley (guitar); Rod Mason (tenor/baritone sax); Ken Marley (bass); Dave Walsh (drums).

As Paul Hartley explained in his introduction, it has been over two years since Yorkshire-based Rod Mason has appeared at the Railway and for this visit he brought with him both tenor and baritone saxes. 

Billy Hart Quartet @ Ronnie Scott's - Oct 12

Billy Hart (drums); Mark Turner (tenor sax); Ethan Iverson (piano); Ben Street (double bass)

As travel restrictions eased, veteran drummer Billy Hart flew across the Atlantic with his all-star quartet to fulfill an engagement at Ronnie Scott's. Hart has worked with just about everyone, from Miles Davis to Stan Getz, Marian McPartland to Wes Montgomery and a whole lot more. Here on Frith Street one sensed he had nothing to prove. 

Hart asked Ronnie's patrons if they had heard of him, saying he didn't know anyone in the audience! And with that, Hart's quartet opened with Ethan Iverson's tribute to fellow pianist Hampton Hawes, South Hampton. The composer's multi-layered piece set off in one direction before being swiftly redirected by the band leader's mischievous, propulsive drumming. And this was to be the pattern for a set of some seventy five minutes. If some in the audience didn't know Billy Hart, the man himself knew who he was and is! 

The ones that got away - part one.

These are just some of the ones that didn't make the cut - there are more to come. We try to give preference to those who send actual hard copies - I'm one of the last surviving Jazz Luddites. However, in no way does this detract from the albums listed below it's simply that with only a limited number of reviewers to call upon - so be it!

Actually, most of them are ok. David Angel's Out on the Coast is great but 3 CDs are a lot to listen to when the backlog is building up like traffic on the M25.

MUGGSY SPANIER - MANDY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND

As the Toon Army and Steve Bruce await the decision regarding the latter's future at St James Infirmary - sorry Park - this tune came to mind. Mandy* Make up Your Mind. Nice clarinet from Rod Cless. Has Adrian Cox featured him in his Sunday Sermons? Lance

*Amanda Staveley - already the media are calling her Mandy... Things don't look good for Stevie - the Leazes End don't think he's a wonder.