Alan Barnes & Bruce Adams with Paul Edis Trio @ Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival. August 27

 Alan Barnes (alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet), Bruce Adams (trumpet & flugelhorn), Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell/photo left and below, courtesy of Eric Robertson/photo right courtesy of John Marlor)

Festivals book big attractions. The inaugural Ushaw Durham Jazz Festival booked two of the biggest names on the circuit. Wisely, three of the very best musicians around were on the gig, ostensibly supporting the headliners, in truth deserving of star billing themselves. Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams have won international acclaim and, in time, there is little doubt the supporting trio will win similar acclaim.

Scarborough Jazz Festival 2016 - Saturday September 24: Barnes/O’Higgins & the Sax Section

(Review by Russell).

As the Spa festival stage crew prepared the platform for the Alan Barnes/Dave O’Higgins saxophone summit a piano tuner quietly went about his business at the Bösendorfer     grand. This an example of the attention to detail, central to the smooth running of a major jazz festival. The Grand Hall audience took five, the room sweltering on a late September Scarborough afternoon.

Alan Barnes and Dave O’Higgins worked together regularly at the Pizza Express in Soho in the 1980s: ‘every Monday evening for about twelve years’ recalled Barnes. O’Higgins nodded, perhaps pondering the intervening years, one suspects gone in a trice! Here at the 2016 Scarborough Jazz Festival the Barnes/O’Higgins’ Sax Section took to the stage with a casual air, virtuosi ready to go to work. The main men, flanked on their left by Sammy Mayne, described by Barnes as his favourite alto sax player, and on baritone, a favourite of Humphrey Lyttleton, Karen Sharp. To their right, playing tenor sax, Judith O’Higgins.

Alan Barnes & Paul Edis @ The Gala, Durham. September 19

Alan Barnes (alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet) & Paul Edis (piano)

(Review by Russell/Photo by Ken Drew from the evening gig at Jazz Café).

Another full house. You Stepped Out of a Dream, I’m Old Fashioned, One Note Samba. Pianist Paul Edis invited reeds maestro Alan Barnes to travel ‘up north’ to play a couple of gigs. The first of them in the studio theatre at the Gala, Durham attracted yet another capacity audience…’What’s New?’ you might say.

The presence of Alan Barnes signalled a step change in the profile of musicians invited to perform at the monthly lunchtime session. The region’s finest have played fine sets at the venue, but a musician as well known as Alan Barnes indicates how successful the venture has become. 

Alan Barnes & Paul Edis @ the Lit & Phil - May 4

Alan Barnes (alto/clarinet); Paul Edis (piano).

(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Jerry)

What better way is there to while away an hour than by listening to Alan Barnes and Paul Edis in the intimate surroundings of Newcastle's Literary and Philosophical Society?

The monthly miniature jazz concerts held in the venerable building are well-supported and justifiably so. In Paul Edis and Alan Barnes, you have the perfectly matched pair with each one seemingly reading the other's mind.

Opening up with Joyspring, the ideas just flowed from Barnes' innermost soul to emerge from the bell of his trusty Mark Vl alto. Not to be outdone, Edis too dealt himself a few aces before rounding off the number with the obligatory fours. Normally, fours leave me cold but, when done without a drummer nailing the floorboards down they are much more acceptable - and musical.

Alan Barnes with Swing Manouche @ Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club - Feb. 3

Alan Barnes (clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

A little more than twelve hours after his annual gig at a full house Opus 4 Jazz Club, Alan Barnes arrived at St Augustine's Parish Centre to make a first ever Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club appearance. As the crow flies, the two venues - Traveller's Rest, West Auckland Road and St Augustine's on Larchfield Street - are, perhaps, not much more than a mile apart. The jazz on offer was a different matter altogether. Friday evening in the company of the Dean Stockdale Trio it was mainstream-to-bop, this Saturday afternoon session with Swing Manouche would take a more leisurely stroll through the early years of the music. 

Jazz Festival Memories 7: Alan Barnes and Scarborough Jazz Festival

Mention Scarborough and, after the Candy Floss and the Kiss Me Quick (or a more contemporary phrase) hats, the first thing I think of is the Scarborough Jazz Festival and, by association, Alan Barnes who has compered the festival, since it began in 2003, longer than most of our 'beloved' Prime Ministers have held office.

Over the years (2007 - 2012) I made many friends (Hi Annie, hello Will and Liz Smith) and was amazed at Alan Barnes' versatility. Alto, tenor, baritone or clarinet it didn't seem to matter - he just slotted into the action.

A few of those moments:

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ Opus 4 Jazz Club - Feb. 11

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

A lunchtime concert over in Bishop Auckland drew a record crowd to the Town Hall. A few hours later Darlington's Opus 4 Jazz Club attracted its biggest audience in a while, there to hear Alan Barnes play his second gig of the day. Later in the evening the ever-popular Barnes, an alumnus of Leeds College of Music, would lock horns with a fellow Leeds graduate, albeit of more recent vintage. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder and Abbie Finn could be described as the region's 'go-to trio', they were with AB in Bishop Auckland and here they were, ready to do it all again. 

Darlington Jazz Festival: Alan Barnes with Durham Alumni Big Band @ Central Hall - May 5

(Review by Russell)

Darlington Jazz Festival’s annual Saturday evening set-piece occasion in the Victorian splendour of Central Hall always draws a capacity audience and so it was this year with Alan Barnes performing alongside the magnificent Durham Alumni Big Band. The orchestra is worth travelling a distance to hear, add the name A Barnes to the programme and a sellout is assured. This year’s gala occasion came at the end of a clear blue sky day, a scorching sun raising temperatures beyond the seasonal norm pressing Central Hall’s air conditioning unit into action.

Alan Barnes with Paul Edis and Friends @ Opus 4 Jazz Club. Feb 10

 Alan Barnes (alto sax & clarinet), Paul Edis (piano), Francis Tulip (guitar), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Jerry)

The Traveller’s Rest doesn’t in anyway resemble the many iconic images of the New York skyline. A suburban public house in Darlington is a million miles from NYC. Thinking about it, it’s more like 3500 miles. This Friday evening the Coxhoe-based Sonnet 43 Brewery occupied one of the many hand pulls on the bar. A pint of Yellow Cab (an American style lager) was the obvious choice. Hey, bartender, gimme a pint of that Yellow Cab! Punters came in off the sidewalk…There’s a jazz gig here tonite, right? The bartender replied: Upstairs, take the stairs, no elevator.

A Jazz Christmas Carol @ Ushaw College. Dec 17

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).

County Durham’s jazz fans turned out en masse for this stellar occasion at Ushaw. The ‘never miss’ were joined by the ‘rarely miss’ and ‘others’ swelled audience numbers to such an extent that the majority of seats in the imposing Exhibition Hall were occupied shortly before the eight o’clock start. Alan Barnes’ A Jazz Christmas Carol attracted an audience of hardcore fans, musicians (‘night off’ entered in the diary months ago), and, no doubt, enthusiasts of Charles Dickens.

The Alan Barnes’ All Star Octet was just that – ‘all-star’. Last week’s announcement of this year’s British Jazz Awards (poll winners and the top five) couldn’t have been more opportune. Barnes himself won best clarinet, Mark Nightingale top trombone and Clark Tracey, drums. The other five members of the Octet – Karen Sharp and Robert Fowler, reeds, Bruce Adams, trumpet, Dave Newton, piano and Simon Thorpe, bass – placed in the top five in their respective categories.

Alan Barnes @ Opus 4 Jazz Club, Darlington - Feb 9

Alan Barnes (alto & baritone saxophones, clarinet); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell).

Usually when Alan Barnes arrives at the Traveller’s Rest to play his now customary annual gig the queue of eager gig-goers goes half way down the stairs. This time, some forty-five minutes before the advertised start, the queue went all the way down the stairs to the entrance on West Auckland Road. A popular draw is Barnesy.

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ Opus 4 Jazz Club, Darlington - Feb. 10

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Opus 4 Jazz Club was likely to be busy. When one A Barnes is in town they all want to be at the Traveller's Rest on West Auckland Road. Sure enough, long before the doors opened at the Cockerton hostelry they were queuing on the stairs. A pint of Theakston's Best, a ringside seat, we were ready to go. As at BATH earlier in the day (that's Bishop Auckland Town Hall), Alan Barnes took to the floor with Messrs Stockdale and Shoulder and Ms Finn. Two sets, time enough for the musicians to stretch out, time enough for the punters to have a few beers, in other words, an old school, proper jazz club night out.

Alan Barnes with the Dean Stockdale Trio @ 1719, Sunderland - June 21

© Ken Drew

Alan Barnes (alto sax, clarinet); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Abbie Finn drums)

A glorious midsummer's evening. 1719, Sunderland's new multi-purpose arts venue ('1719' referencing the year the Georgian building opened as a church in the Hendon area of town now rebranded 'Old Sunderland') has been promoting jazz concerts on a regular basis. Wearside has never been known as a jazz hotspot and it's heartening to see the venue taking a leap of faith.

This evening's concert promotion presented the great Alan Barnes. Following a tremendous lunchtime gig up the road in Newcastle working with the Dean Stockdale Trio, Barnes made the short journey to Wearside in good time for a half past seven start. Barnes' lunchtime Lit & Phil gig focussed upon Wally Fawkes, whose centenary it was this very day (b. 21.6.1924), this evening's concert would be more wide ranging, encompassing Fawkes' Humph association, GASbook material, Jobim, scorching bop workouts and more.

Buck Clayton Legacy Band @ Sage Gateshead – October 30

Ian Smith (trumpet), Alan Barnes (alto saxophone & clarinet), Matthias Seuffert (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Karen Sharp (tenor & baritone saxophones, clarinet), Adrian Fry (trombone), Martin Litton (piano), Alyn Shipton (double bass) & Bobby Worth (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Some gigs are a ‘no brainer’. This was one of them. A top class line-up, first rate material and a world class venue. The Buck Clayton Legacy Band returned to Sage Gateshead and they brought with them a new show – A Celebration of Duke Ellington. Edward Kennedy Ellington maintained a close friendship with trumpeter Buck Clayton and, as co-leader of the Legacy band Alyn Shipton explained, the focus of the evening would be on Ellington and his musical associates, particularly Duke’s small group oeuvre.

Alan Barnes w. SSBB @ Ushaw, Durham - August 26

It wouldn't be Ushaw without Punch (A.K.A Alan Barnes). The much-travelled sax/clarinet ace covers more miles than Lewis Hamilton, hopefully not quite as fast although, when wielding saxophones large and small, he's well outside the speed limit and should be booked (for next year's festival).

I've heard this genial performer on many occasions but I don't think I've known him to burn quite like he did on baritone last night. 

In keeping with the band's name, he was on fire yet still managed to relax and play some Johnny Hodges' style alto on his own composition Portrait of Belle from his Christmas Suite which he had performed at a previous Ushaw gig.

Of course, it wasn't all Barnes, Alan, we had Barnes, David, blowing a lusty trombone on Ecaroh (hold the title up to the mirror and you'll get a clue as to the composer). Guitarist Pawel also impressed.

Northumberland Jazz Festival: Paul Edis Trio with Bruce Adams & Alan Barnes + Jambone @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - May 25

The Northumberland Jazz Festival (formerly Hexham Jazz Festival) presented two days of top quality jazz to a series of appreciative audiences. Queen's Hall, Hexham Library and the Sele hosted concerts by the Paul Edis Trio with special guests Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes, a scratch Alice Grace Trio, the Tyne Valley Youth Big Band, Bryony Jarman-Pinto and the Clark Tracey Quintet.

Saturday: Paul Edis Trio with Bruce Adams & Alan Barnes + Jambone

© Sheila Herrick

Paul Edis (piano); Ken Marley (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums) with Bruce Adams (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn); Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax)

Queen's Hall, Saturday evening, pianist Paul Edis returned to the Northumberland market town to open this year's rebranded festival. Bassist Ken Marley travelled over from west of the Pennines, drummer Russ Morgan from down the road on Tyneside. Edis' special guests - Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes - arrived from way down south. Cannonball Adderley, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, Blue Mitchell and Jimmy Smith would figure in an eclectic set list.

Alan Barnes Octet: A Jazz Christmas Carol @ Newcastle Arts Centre - Dec. 10

Alan Barnes (alto sax, bass clarinet, narration); Robert Fowler (tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Karen Sharp (baritone sax, tenor sax, clarinet); Bruce Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mark Nightingale (trombone); Andrew Cleyndert (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums) 

It's that time of year when some turn their attention to all things seasonal. Newcastle Arts Centre chipped in presenting a rare appearance in these parts of Alan Barnes' all star octet. And 'all star' is the term, each chair occupied by household names, band leaders and featured soloists in their own right, eight top class musicians. 

Scarborough Jazz Festival - Friday evening (Sept. 26)

Scarborough Jazz Festival - Friday evening (Sept. 26)

The Friday evening session here on South Bay attracted a similarly large crowd to the afternoon's opening programme. And little wonder with Trish Clowes, Gaz Hughes and Alan Barnes on the bill.

 

Trish Clowes: My Iris

Taking to the stage, Trish Clowes informed the audience that due to a family illness, Chris Montague was unable to appear. In guitarist Montague's absence, Clowes chose to perform her set of original material and select standards as a trio: Clowes, Ross Stanley (sitting at his vintage Hammond) and drummer Joel Barford.       

Trish Clowes (tenor sax); Ross Stanley (piano, Hammond organ); Joel Barford (drums)

 

A slew of original numbers, some of them new, Jobim's Midnight Sun, Richard Rodgers, Clowes appeared to be in a relaxed mood. As and when required, Stanley stoked the fires and Barford needed little encouragement. A fine, mature set from Clowes and co.   

  

Alan Barnes @ The Traveller's Rest, Darlington - Feb 8

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Opus 4 Jazz Club's February concert attracted a full house. And little wonder, with Alan Barnes on the premises! The hugely popular reeds virtuoso enjoys his annual visit to the Traveller's Rest and this Friday evening engagement, working once again with pianist and good friend Paul Edis, would prove to be no different. 

As Barnes announced the first number - Joy Spring - long-time supporter Dennis arrived, waving regally to one and all. Our guest star is a master of side-splitting one-liners, add straight man Dennis to the equation and you've got the makings of a memorable night of superb jazz and hilarious repartee. From alto on Clifford Brown's well-loved number - with a cheering audience behind him all the way - to the first of several baritone features on Time After Time, the evening was shaping up as a Gig of the Year contender. 

Alan Barnes with the Mick Shoulder Trio @ Auckland Castle - Jan. 31

Alan Barnes (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums)

The first of Alan Barnes' three north east concert dates attracted a full house. Closed for six weeks for annual maintenance, Auckland Castle's management decided to open the historic Bishop Auckland building's Old Library especially to accommodate Mr B.   

All seats occupied, Barnes renewed acquaintance with Mick Shoulder and several fans of long standing. Bassist Shoulder invited pianist Alan Law and drummer Tim Johnston to form a trio for this concert, the first of two with Barnes on this last day of January. Opening with There'll Never Be Another You, AB stretched out, MS responsive and entirely comfortable with the material, Messrs Law and Johnston perhaps a little tentative, understandably so, taking to the stage alongside the great Alan Barnes.