Album review: Alex Merritt/Steve Fishwick Quintet - Mind-Ear-Ladder

Alex Merritt (tenor sax); Steve Fishwick (trumpet); John Turville (piano); Mick Coady (bass); Matt Fishwick (drums).

A lovely example of contemporary British modern jazz by five of the UK's best. It may not be pushing any boundaries over the brink but there are moments on the album when they come close - very close!

However, forward thinking as it is, the music lies somewhere north of yesterday and marginally south of tomorrow.

Steve Fishwick has long been one of my favourite British trumpet players bringing to mind what Lee Morgan may have sounded like today had the gun on that fateful night not been loaded. 

Calum Gourlay Big Band live streaming from the Vortex - Jan 12

Two one hour sets, actually two separate houses, available to the online armchair viewer for the princely sum of £5.35., Calum Gourlay reconvened his Vortex big band to play a mix of new material and tried and tested charts. The bassist's ensemble comprising household names across the sections suggested we were in for a treat. 

John Hallam Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Jan. 11

John Hallam (baritone/tenor sax/clarinet); Paul Hartley (guitar); Ken Marley (bass); Phil Bennett (drums)

I must admit to a liking for the baritone sax although I have never played one but I  do enjoy listening to people  like Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams, Nick Brignola and anyone else who can get around the larger horn. I was very pleased to see John Hallam had brought along a baritone sax tonight together with tenor sax and clarinet.. He chose an interesting selection of tunes which included some Ellingtonia, a Mingus number, one by Basie and some lesser known standards making a total of twelve for the two sets.

Preview: Calum Gourlay Big Band (Wednesday 12)

This evening (Wednesday 12) the Calum Gourlay Big Band will be live streaming two sets from the Vortex. If you're unable to be there in person it's a bargain £5.35 to view two one hour sets! Streaming at 7:30pm and again at 9:30pm., Gourlay, a long time member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, is sure to have an A-list line-up on stage at the north London venue. To book your online seat see: www.vortexjazz.co.uk. Russell

Black Swan Jam - Jan. 11

Alan Law (piano); John Pope (bass) Matt MacKellar (drums) + "Janet the Sax" (alto sax); Faye MacCalman (tenor sax); Murray Wankling (piano); Charles & Laurence Harrison (guitars); Fernando Torres, Steve Picking (elec. bass); Michael Mather, Mark Taylor (drums); Sid Stobart (vocal/blues harp); Becky Tuck (vocal).

The thing about jam sessions is that they are always different but never boring. The repertoire may show little variation but the interpretations invariably do.

Last night, the house trio of Law, Pope and MacKellar got things off to a swinging start. MacKellar, on parole from a well-known music college in Boston, Mass, drove There is no Greater Love effectively along with Pope, depping for the quarantined Paul Grainger, giving excellent support and soloing imaginatively to complement Law on piano. 

Preview: The House That Jazz Built (Today - Jan 11 - Radio 4 Extra)

Way back in December 2009 Paul Merton narrated a Radio 4 documentary about Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. This afternoon (Tuesday, 2:30pm) BBC Radio 4 Extra airs a repeat of the programme which features contributions from Salena Jones, Jay Phelps and Ronnie's MD, pianist James Pearson. The House That Jazz Built should be worth listening to. Frith Street 2009, Frith Street 2022, let's see if it's changed much, if at all.  Russell

Frank Griffith Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Jan. 9

Frank Griffith (tenor sax, clarinet); Misha Gray (piano); Gavin Barras (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums).

Tonight we had a welcome return visit from reeds man Frank Griffith. Originally from Oregon, USA, but now resident in the Liverpool area after many years playing and teaching around London. 

The band tonight included Misha Gray, a fine pianist who I can recall hearing only once on Frank's first visit to this venue. He can be added to the list of pianists that prefer to use the house upright rather than bring their own to the gig. Misha displayed a high energy style and his solos made me want to hear more of him.

Preview: Durham Uni Jazz Soc (Jan 12)

Durham's students are returning to the Land of the Prince Bishops to resume their studies. Overworked and under pressure as they are, one shouldn't begrudge them a little 'down time'. The Jazz Society (Jazz Soc) is an opportunity for them to switch off for a couple of hours as they congregate in the shadow of Durham Cathedral at Cafedral Durham on Owengate to listen to and play some jazz. On Wednesday (Jan 12) it's an evening of standards. A fiver in advance or at the door (four quid Music Durham members). Russell   

Dormans Jazz Club January listings

(Press release)

Thursday 13: Tees Hot Club with guests  Donna Hewitt (alto sax); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Gus Smith (vocals); Dave Archbold (keys).

Thursday 20: THC with guests Mark Toomey (alto sax); Dave Archbold (keys); Kevin Eland (trumpet).

Thursday 27: THC with guests Dan Johnson (tenor sax) Josh Bentham (alto sax); Gary Hadfield (keys).

Dormans Club, Oxford Rd., Middlesbrough TS5 5DT start 9:00pm free entry.

Sunday Night Jazz @ the Globe: The Sam Toulson Quartet - Jan. 9

Sam Toulson (alto sax); Edgar Ho (piano); Oscar Ho (bass); Ansel Bayly (drums).

The players, like our policemen, are getting younger and, in the case of the former, getting better and attracting a younger audience so it was good to have a full house comprising of a mixed age group ranging from the very young to the very old (me!).

This was the first Sunday night jazz session of 2022 and believe you me the Sam Toulson Quartet have set the bar at a very high level for the bands that follow.

Some may observe that they didn't play any original material of their own but I'm fine with that and why should they? Until a musician can compose better music than Duke Ellington, Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Joe Henderson, Steve Swallow and John Scofield, which comprised much of tonight's repertoire, why risk shooting yourself in the foot? It will come.