Album Review: Brigitte Beraha’s Lucid Dreamers – Teasing Reflections (Let Me Out Records)

Brigitte Beraha (voice, comp.); George Crowley (tenor sax, bass clarinet, electronics); Alcyona Mick (piano, synth); Tim Giles (drums, perc., electronics)

I suspect that this landed on the doormat in response to my previous comments that Beraha never appears on a bad album, even when she is not the nominal leader. Her quality control means that if her name is on the cast list, it’s worth hearing, like seeing Stephen Graham’s name on a film poster.

This is, apparently, the third outing for her Lucid Dreamers ensemble, the previous ones, Lucid Dreamers and Blink, having passed me by. And, on first hearing, it strikes me that this is a genuine ensemble, not a leader and flunkies group, with the others in the band equally prominent as Beraha, notably Mick’s piano and Crowley’s reeds (especially on, the rather lovely, White Noise).

Chuck, Zoot and Brew - they don't name 'em like that anymore!

Further to my recent post on Brew Moore Maurice Summerfield drew my attention to this excellent album by Chuck Wayne which features Brew on the first three tracks as well as Zoot Sims on four further tracks.

Other musicians featured over the two sessions include Harvey Leonard/John Mehegan (piano); George Duvivier/Vinnie Burke (bass); Ed Shaughnessy/Joe Morello (drums). Lance

Smokin' Brew Moore..

Came across this photo of the legendary tenor saxist Brew Moore in Jazz 1958, Metronome magazine's annual yearbook.

It brings to mind the scene back in those nicotine fuelled days when sax players would find a home for their Chesterfield or Lucky Strike within the mechanism of their instrument and, more often than not, it wasn't tobacco inside the cigarette their Selmer Mark VI was holding!

Brew Moore, who famously said, "Anybody who doesn't play like Lester is wrong" stopped smoking forever after he fell downstairs whilst drunk and broke his neck - in Copenhagen on August 19, 1973.

Still he was a great tenor player, probably long forgotten by the future generations who began with Coltrane and Rollins. Even the Guinness Who's Who of Jazz doesn't give Moore an individual entry. Maybe Brew preferred a a different brew ... Lance

Dean Stockdale Quartet: 100 Years of Oscar Peterson @ the Lit & Phil - August 15

© Patti

Dean Stockdale (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Emily Masser (vocals)

One hundred years ago, arguably the greatest ever jazz pianist was born - Oscar Peterson.

An event that was celebrated last week by the BBC who devoted a whole evening of footage from their archives. Various other outlets also acknowledged the event.

However, today was unique inasmuch as the Dean Stockdale Trio paid their tribute on the very date of what would have been Oscar Peterson's actual birthday. A daunting task for any pianist! Needless to say, Stockdale, who has immersed himself in Peterson's legacy, gave a faultless performance aided and abetted by Champion and Morgan. As trios go this was the best.

Late Night Chicago Radio with Denny Farrell (August 14 - August 20)

This week (August 14 - August 20):

Sue Raney: Love Walked in.

Dick Hyman: Where or When.

Hal Schaefer: Blues For Albert.

Sarah Vaughan: Poor Butterfly.

Oscar Peterson/Clark Terry: When my Dreamboat Comes Home.

Wes Montgomery: Sundown.

Ray Charles: You Don't Miss the Water.

Ralph Marterie: Caravan.

Zoot Sims: I Can't Get Started.

Sammy Davis Jr.: Too Close For Comfort.

Franz Jackson: St. James Infirmary.

Rose Murphy: Swingin' Down the Lane.

Listen 24/7 HERE.

Lance

Album review: Hot Club of Jupiter - Copacallisto (recorded at Temple Studios)

Kit Massey (violin, piano, Rhodes, B3, vocals); Jon Shenoy (clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals); Sam Dunn (guitar, vocals); Nick Walsh (bass); Matt French (drums, perc.) + Mike Guy (accordion on tks 3, 4, 5)

The release date for this one was back in April so its arrival in August is somewhat belated. However, to be fair Jupiter isn't exactly next door, a wrong turn at Saturn and you could land on Uranus.

Nevertheless, it eventually made it and it was worth the wait.

Album review: Sinne Eeg & Jacob Christoffersen - Shikiori (Stunt Records)

Sinne Eeg (vocals); Jacob Christoffersen (piano)

Danish singer/songwriter Sinne Eeg has won just about every music award Scandinavia has to offer including  the Ben Webster Prize - the first vocalist to do so. Further afield Eeg was also the recipient of France's prestigious Prix du Jazz. Earlier this year she was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters. Previous recipients include such mega, and diverse, names as David Bowie and Meryl Streep.

Although Eeg and Christoffersen have collaborated on many of her twelve previous albums this is their first duo album together and it's a pippin - and we're not talking apples!

Dave Lee Jazz Tales 7 Nat King Cole

Another fantastic memory by the now 99 year old British piano legend Dave Lee.

In this one he talks about meeting Nat 'King' Cole in Newcastle.

Jazz on the Tyne – Last Weeks of Summer 2025

In the latest edition of the podcast, presenter Colin Muirhead looks ahead to North East gigs featuring the Dean Stockdale Quartet, the Milne Glendinning Band, Alexia Gardner, Chris Coull, Nel Begley, the Sue Ferris Quintet, and the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band.  He also showcases new music by Fergus McCreadie and Paul Harrison, and pays tribute to Eddie Palmieri.

You can listen to the show anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request music for future programmes, or pass on news or feedback by emailing Colin at jazz.tyne.hive@gmail.com or by heading to www.jazzonthetyne.org.

Album review: Dara Starr Tucker - Time Wouldn't Wait (Green Hill)

Dara Starr Tucker (vocals); Gary Versace (piano, organ); Larry Goldings (piano tks 8, 9); Simon Moullier (vibes); Rod McGaha (trumpet); Vicente Archer (bass);Greg Bryant (bass tks 8, 9); Marcus Finnie (drums); Christian Euman (drums tks 8, 9)

The blurb tells me that vocalist, songwriter and cultural commentator Dara Starr Tucker returns with her most emotionally resonant album to date. The blurbist goes on to describe Time Wouldn't Wait as a soul-stirring collection exploring the passage of time, impermanence and the power of presence. I also learned that the album's blending of original compositions with cinematic reimagining of songs from classic and contemporary films have created a deeply introspective examination of the fragility and fullness of time.