Album review: Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra - The Gennett Suite

Brent Wallarab (arr./conductor); Greg Ward (sop/alto sax); Amanda Gardier (alto sax); Tom Walsh (tenor sax/flute); Todd Williams (tenor sax); Ned Boyd (bari sax); Clark Hunt, Jeff Conrad, Scott Belck, Mark Buselli, John Raymond, Jeff Parker (trumpets); Tim Coffman, Andrew Danforth, Demondrae Thurman, Rich Dole (trombones); Luke Gillespie (piano); Jeremy Allen (bass); Sean Dobbins (drums)

Will there be a better big band (double) album this year? I have my doubts unless it's a reissue consisting of a couple of Basie and Ellington long players and, even then ...

This is simply magnificent! Don't be fooled by the title and think that this is merely some kind of a Pasadena Roof Orchestra or a Midnite Follies' reincarnation of the past, good as those bands are/were. It isn't and yet it would be if we were able to move the past one hundred years forward!

The Black Swan jam session - May 16

A top class house trio, sitters-in galore, few, if any, students, Esther Coombes an honourable exception, newcomers and veteran jam session participants, they - and a sizeable audience - turned out despite the counter attraction of watching Sunderland struggling in vain to reach the 'Promised Land' of the Premier League and its riches.

Sunday Night @ the Globe: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion - May 14

(© Ken Drew)

Eternal Triangle: Trevor Watts (saxes); Veryan Weston (keys); Jamie Harris (percussion)

I last saw Watts  and Weston six years ago at the Bridge Hotel and before that in 2013, and I'm told that Harris previously played with Watts at the Cluny, all for Jazz North East. But their respective reputations are well  founded in countless sessions and bands with various combinations of players over the years. Tonight we were looking forward to Eternal Triangle playing the music of Trevor Watts, with compositions originally inspired by rhythmic structures from Africa and South America alongside some European musical forms. Although the band’s combination was new to me, the expectant audience arrived early to the jazz bar upstairs at the Globe, knowing what treats were in store. It was to be a full house again!

Keb Mo @ New Orleans

Having missed Chris Thomas King and Buddy Guy, newcomer DK Harrell was the only blues act I’d seen so I didn’t want to miss Keb Mo.

It clashed with Terence Blanchard next door in the jazz tent but, when Blanchard turned up with a string quartet which didn’t particularly seem to add anything and, having seen him twice previously, it wasn’t really an option, even though he was in fine voice, as ever, and nicely pedalled up as usual.

No more Norton for me

Just yesterday I clicked on a button from Norton who promised me eternal safety. So, silly me, I believed them. Now I find that they have designated Bebop Spoken Here as 'insecure'.

Googling I find I'm not the only one - by a long chalk - in this situation. One blogger set up a blank page and it too was deemed insecure by the Nortonics.

I despair.

I've tried to get this reversed but to no avail. So please, let me assure you that BSH is secure. Lance

Album review: Duncan Eagles – Narrations (Ropeadope)

Duncan Eagles (tenor sax); Tomasz Bura (piano, synth); Max Luthert (bass); Zoe Pascal (drums)

Sometimes, after listening to some Albanian folk/jazz*, you just want to listen to someone blowing. If that’s you, and, if you don’t mind some heavy duty rhythmic support and a drummer who sounds like she’d be happy to run through buildings, then this album is for you. It would probably be best described as post-bop, though, these days that seems to cover a multitude of styles without really saying anything. Suffice to say, it’s energetic with strong melodies and stronger playing by a very tight unit that you would be overjoyed to listen to down at the Globe on a Sunday evening. It would be a great way to end the weekend.

Preview: The Windy City Weatherbirds are coming to Hexham (Friday 19)!

The Windy City Weatherbirds, a six piece band up from London on a three-date 'up north' mini tour, will be at Newcastle's Lit & Phil on Friday lunchtime (long since sold out) and Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club the following day (it'll be a full house). 

In between times there is a further opportunity to catch the band and that's on Friday night in Hexham. The Vault on Hallgate plays host to the Windy City Weatherbirds, doors at 7:30pm, two sets. It's the ideal venue to listen to the band playing South Rampart Street Parade, I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby, That's A-Plenty, Royal Garden Blues and many more classic numbers. Tickets £20, book now at: www.thevaulthexham.com or telephone 01434 603884. Russell     

The Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon - May 15

(© Roly Veitch)

Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums) 

The Black Bull is under new management. Following the recent retirement of Carl and Jackie, their successor, Dean, has been busy: the two-room community pub on Bridge Street has been given a lick of paint, new lights have been installed and further improvements are in the pipeline. One thing remains the same and that's the third Monday in the month Blaydon Jazz Club session. This evening's concert featured one of the very best musicians around, be it here in Blaydon, the UK or on Planet Earth. 

Michael Young Trio @ the Engine Room, Sunderland - May 15

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Over the years there have been many attempts to create a jazz venue in Sunderland which, given the size of the city  (273,399 the last time I counted) seems to be not an unreasonable task when you consider that, down the road in Darlington, a place with a population of only 108,000, has two or three jazz clubs. Yet the 'Makems' have yet to mak 'em work for any length of time.

However, the recent well-attended concerts at next door's joined at the hip venue, the Fire Station, by the Ronnie Scott's All-Stars, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra has given me a sense of hope that the tide may have turned or, would it be like Sage Gateshead where only a small percentage of the audience turn out at the grass roots venues?

Watch this space.

Tonite!!! The Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon!!!

Blaydon Jazz Club presents the Lewis Watson Quartet (Monday 15 May). Hey, that's tonight! @ The Black Bull. The re-emergence in recent times of tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson is something to be celebrated in our post-Covid jazz world. This evening join Lewis working in the company of guitarist Mark Williams, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford for an evening of post-bop tenor playing at its finest. The Black Bull on Bridge Street (NE21 4JJ) It's an 8:00pm start, £7.00. at the door. Unmissable! Russell