Sunday Night @ The Globe: The Blue Jazz Quartet & Miriam McCormick - Nov. 14

Karen Rann (sop sax); Mark Squires (piano); Dave Parker (bass); Michael Howard (drums) + Miriam McCormick (vocals).

The Blue Jazz Quartet don't go for the soft option - their set included pieces by Coltrane, Mingus, Jarrett, Shorter and Ellington as well as a few more familiar numbers that the casual listener could latch on to.

As fate decreed, the last three bands at the Jazz Co-op's Sunday night sessions all had soprano saxophonists in the line up and, by coincidence (and I'm not being intentionally sexist), all were women. More importantly, all had their uniquely individual sound and approach. Not least Karen Rann who, like vocalist Debra Milne and Dave Parker, when not performing, doubles on bar duties. That's what cooperatives are all about.

Knats @ The Earl of Pitt Street - Nov.14

Ferg Kilsby (trumpet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (keyboards); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)

Arriving at seven thirty there wasn't a seat to be had. Knats' growing fan club turned out in numbers for the latest installment of a rapidly developing story. The Earl of Pitt Street isn't exactly on the regional jazz circuit and it was good to see the publican supporting the efforts of this talented young quartet. 

County Durham Community Radio - Soul in Durham

 If you've been wondering what Steve T has been getting up to - go here.

Carla Bley: Composer of the Week (Mon 15 - Friday 19)

This week BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week makes a rare foray into the world of jazz and, what's more, Donald Macleod's subject is a living jazz musician! Joining Macleod to discuss the life and work of Carla Bley is Kevin Le Gendre. Monday's programme - An Unorthodox Education - begins with Bley's arrival in New York. Tune in at noon, Monday to Friday. Russell   

Peter King Memorial Sax Summit @ the 606 Club - Nov. 13

Sam Braysher, Alex Clarke (alto sax); Nadim Teimoori, Mornington Lockett (tenor sax); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Adam King (bass); Winston Clifford (drums)

Our first visit to this year's EFG London Jazz Festival came via livestream from the 606 Club and featured four brilliant saxophonists - the late Peter King deserved nothing less.

Sam Braysher and Nadim Teimoori  kicked things off in style with 317 East 32nd St., a Lennie Tristano tune that originally featured Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Tonight's duo played it somewhat less cool without losing the flavour. Braysher I knew but Teimoori was an unfamiliar name to me - yet another great tenor player to surface.

Album review: Greg Abate - Magic Dance, the Music of Kenny Barron

Greg Abate (saxes, flute); Kenny Barron (piano); Dezron Douglas (bass); Johnathan Blake (drums).

I think it was during the journey from Llandudno to Manchester Airport on the day after Greg's appearance at the North Wales Jazz Festival that that he mentioned that he was thinking of recording an album featuring the tunes of Kenny Barron. I thought that sounded a pretty cool idea. When he said that he also wanted to record it at the famous Rudy Van Gelder studios in New Jersey using Kenny’s trio I thought that was one ambitious project, but when Greg decides to do something it usually gets done.

R.I.P Spike Heatley

What can you say when a bass player dies? They're at the back of the stage, unobtrusive, felt by the audience rather than heard - until they aren't there which is when you miss them. Without the bass it's like a car with only three wheels.

With Spike Heatley on bass you knew the wheel was never going to fall off - at least not until November 10 when he sadly left us.

Album review: Doug MacDonald - Serenade to Highland Park

Doug MacDonald (guitar); Mike Flick (bass); Paul Kreibich (drums).

Doug MacDonald doesn't feature in this year's DownBeat Poll but, then again, nor does Pasquale Grasso whom Nigel Price described as the "The greatest jazz guitarist in the world". Nigel didn't make the cut either. As usual, the contenders were Metheny and Frisell who edged out Julian Lage, McLaughlin and Bernstein.

I'm not going to suggest that MacDonald should be toppling Metheny and co but, on the strength of this album, he certainly deserves to be up there in the shake-up.

Talking Pictures, Popeye Doyle & Don Ellis

This evening (Sat 13) at nine o'clock on Talking Pictures TV there is another opportunity to see William Friedkin's French Connection. A winner of five Academy Awards, starring Gene Hackman (as Popeye Doyle) and Roy Scheider, the movie is noted for one of cinema's epic car chase set pieces (set in Brooklyn). Of interest to the jazz fan is the soundtrack by Don Ellis. Russell

Aycliffe Radio Jazz Time Playlist - Nov. 14

Playlist for Sunday November 14 @ 6:30pm - 8:00pm.(Repeated Tuesday 16th @  8:00pm).

Request: Gerry Mulligan.

What's On in the NE - A salute to Humphrey Lyttelton; Ronnie Scott's All Stars; Emma Fisk Hot Club Du Nord; Joe Venuti's Blue Four.

New Releases: Paul Edis; Kathy Lyon.