Composer(s) of the Week: John & Alice Coltrane (Mon. 13 - 20 Nov)

This week's Composer of the Week (BBC Radio 3) features the Coltranes - John and Alice Coltrane. Five programmes (Monday to Friday), 12 noon each day, look at the music and collaborations of John and Alice Coltrane. Join presenter Kate Molleson and journalist Kevin Le Gendre as they listen to recordings and talk about the legendary couple, their lives, music and more. Russell 

Remembering Glenn Miller

This being Remembrance Day it seems an appropriate time to mention Glenn Miller.

Although much maligned, since his disappearance over the English Channel in Dec. 1944, there have probably been more Miller tribute bands than those of Basie, Ellington, Goodman and Shaw combined.

In America, Tex Beneke, Ralph Flanagan, Ray McKinley and even Glenn's previously unknown brother Herb jumped on to the 'bandwagon' if you'll pardon the pun.

In the UK, bands such as Syd Lawrence and Ray McVay continued to serenade the moon and I believe that there's even a Syd Lawrence tribute band doing the rounds.

Book review: Duncan Heining - And Did Those Feet, Six British Jazz Composers

Duncan Heining has been writing about jazz for nearly 30 years now and, it must be said, he is very good at it. This new work is a set of extended portraits of Michael Garrick, Barry Guy, Mike Gibbs, John Mayer, Keith Tippett and Mike Westbrook and it not only provides biographical detail on each but also sets their work in a musical, cultural and social context. The detailed analysis of their major contributions to British jazz also teaches us how to listen to the works in question.

Aycliffe Radio: Jazz Time - Sundays 6.30-8.00 pm (repeat Tuesdays 8.00-9.30pm)

https://www.ayclifferadio.co.uk/listen/

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & Darlington Area.

Playlist 12/11/23. (Repeated Tuesday 14/11/23)

Remembrance: Andrews Sisters, Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee, Glenn Miller & His Orchestra.

Requests: Ben Webster with Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum/Buddy De Franco. Sonny Stitt/ Jack McDuff.

Album review: Geof Bradfield - Our Heroes

Geof Bradfield (tenor/soprano sax, bass clarinet); Richard D. Johnson (piano, Rhodes); John Tate (bass); Samuel Jewell (drums)

A concept album in which the band pay tribute to those 'heroes' who inspired them. Admirable indeed but, there is a problem. Apart from Corea and Blues For Stanley Cowell we are left to guess who the others are.

Loved Ones turns out to be inspired by Percy Heath. Some Other Sunday by Ellington. Caution by pianist Benny Green whilst High and Low is a triple-header dedicated to Phil Woods, Jackie McLean and Jimmy Heath.

Two weeks to go to the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.

Find out more HERE.

Album review: Cal Tjader - Catch the Groove, Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967

Cal Tjader (vibes) w. various musicians (see lower graphic).

Oh to have been a regular at the Penthouse Club in Seattle back in the 1960s. Already we've had three previously undiscovered live recordings by Ahmad Jamal, one by John Coltrane and now a doubler from that most underrated vibes player Cal Tjader.

Tjader, back in the day, could hold his own with any of the names in the 'Miscellaneous Instrument' category that vibes, along with banjos, harmonicas and accordions were once assigned to in the various polls.

A change of rendezvous for Rendezvous.

Rendezvous Jazz won't be at the Monkseaton Arms tomorrow, they're off to the picturesque Riverdale Hotel in Bellingham, Northumberland for a jazz weekend where they appear at least once a year.

Normal service will be returned at Monkseaton next Friday (Nov. 15). However, if you can't make it to Bellingham then there's always Classic Swing at the Crescent Club, swing violinist Daniel John Martin down at Bishop Auckland or the New Orleans Preservation Band in Stockton. Lance.

The Black Swan jam session - Nov. 7

It's becoming a thing - arriving at the Black Swan well before seven o'clock when the doors are scheduled to open. Punters old and new were in the queue. A queue at a jam session! Before the seven thirty start the place was more than busy. A while later, up on the street, Newcastle Arts Centre resorted to operating a 'one in, one out' policy. Who'd have thought it?! 

The house trio - pianist Ben Phillips, bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Abbie Finn - set the standard with On Green Dolphin Street. One sensed it was going to be a good session. 

Two or three tunes in, Harry Keeble got up to play a couple of numbers, In a Sentimental Mood an early highlight, that's for sure. The man of the moment, alto saxophonist Luis Verde, chipped in with a couple of numbers of his own, on There'll Never Be Another You flanked by Keeble and trumpeter Elliott Todd. Quite a line-up! 

Max Rosen/Sam Lightwing Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - Nov 7

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Max Rosen (keys); Sam Lightwing (tenor sax); Peter Hartley (bass); Tim Franks (drums)

Last Sunday at the Railway we heard Dave Lynane with his band containing three veteran jazz musicians and one relative newcomer (Martin Longhawn) and tonight we heard three young up and coming musicians and one veteran (Tim Franks). Age is immaterial in jazz and all that matters is the end result and it was good to see a larger than usual audience in the music room to check out what this band had to offer.