CD Review: Yoron Israel - Visions: The Music of Stevie Wonder

Yoron Israel (dms); Lance Bryant (ten/sop); Laszlo Gardony (pno); Henry Lugo (bs); Larry Roland (spoken word); Thaddeus Haggarth (gtr/hca)

(Review by Lance.)

When a disc such as this one lands in my mailbox 'midst all the  contemporary offerings it's like getting a tax rebate.

Not that this is by any means old hat - unless strong melodic content and rich harmonies are now considered passé...

Tonight on BBC4

9pm: Trad Jazz Britannia (R. 1:40am).
10pm: George Lewis w. Acker Bilk.
10:40pm: Smokey Dives (R. 2:40am.)
11:40pm: Sonny Rollins '74.
12:40am: Ronnie Scott.

Lucian Ban & Mat Maneri @ The Recital Room, Newcastle University. May 23, 2013

(Review by Russell)

Pianist Lucian Ban and viola virtuoso Mat Maneri, on a short British tour to promote their new ECM release Transylvanian Concert (ECM 2313), were greeted by glowering rain clouds on arrival in Newcastle. 

The Recital Room in Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, elevates the Lit & Phil’s intimate Loftus Room, by comparison, to stadium rock dimensions. A few rows of chairs set-out, a makeshift bar set-up, would an audience materialise? It did, in good numbers.

Dropping Bombs @ Hoochie Coochie May 23.

Danny Allan (alt/clt); David Gray (tpt/tmb); James Harrison (keys); Ian Simpson (gtr); James Robson (bs/bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms); Belinda Voshinta (vcl).

(Review by Lance.)

Jazz is dead? Nah! I'm hearing so many fantastic young musicians these days that I'm sure it is very much alive!

Tonight was quite amazing. Tell me the last time you heard a boisterous traddy version of Bourbon Street Parade followed by All Blues? You heard it tonight!

Yes, Dropping Bombs came on like Katrina with jaw-dropping ferocity when they hit us with Bourbon Street. David Gray demonstrated his ever increasing prowess slidewise with a sort of modern tailgate that blew the cobwebs out of the cobwebs! This guy - like the other bombers - is on a roll. Danny Allan on clarinet kept the spirit of New Orleans alive and Tom Chapman had some breaks the late Lennie Hastings would have been proud of.

CD Review: Worldservice Project – Fire in a Pet Shop

Dave Morecroft – Keyboards; Tim Ower – Saxophones; Raphael Clarkson – Trombone; Conor  Chaplin  - Bass; Neil Blandford – Drums

 (Review by Steve H.)

This is WSP’s second album and what a joy ! Blistering kickass new wave jazz with a sense of humour to boot.

We launch straight in to De-Frienders a frenzied start full of crash bang wallop what a picture. Next up the title track Fire in a Pet Shop which continues the excitement with plenty of baying and roaring as presumably the animals make their escape. Barmy Army   has the feel of a fairground  Klezmer style terrace chant whilst Villain of the Aeroplane evokes the feel of the ‘Bloody Red Baron’ soaring through the skies.

Slowlight Quartet @ The Star Inn, Westgate Rd., Newcastle. May 22.

Tom Quilliam (ten/sop); Paul Lorraine (keys); Ian Paterson (bs); Jonathon Marriott (dms).
(Review by Lance/Photos by James Sebright Photography).

The opener was neither slow nor light as Quilliam set the room on fire with an aggressive almost punk-like nonstop tenor blast that started on the intro and ended on the coda. No prisoners were taken.

A switch to soprano for a more mellifluous approach - at least for a while - before building  up for the kill until Lorraine brought it back from the brink and cooled it.

SAGE GATESHEAD UNVEILS PATRONS SUPPORTING FUNDRAISING APPEAL

Sage Gateshead has today announced big names from the world of arts, business, education and sport who are supporting its 10th Birthday Appeal. The Appeal is to raise a new endowment for the music centre, which is a registered charity, to coincide with its 10th birthday in December next year.

The Patrons include David Miliband, film producer Lord Puttnam and world record-breaking athlete Jonathan Edwards. From the world of business Sir Peter Vardy, Gary Lydiate, Louise Halbert and John Squires, and architect of Sage Gateshead Lord Foster. They join musicians Mark Knopfler, conductor Lorin Maazel andKathryn Tickell.

The Appeal is to raise £4 million in order to capitalise on the Arts Council’s 50 per cent match funding scheme, which will make every pound raised worth an additional 50p, generating an additional £2 million.

The money will help Sage Gateshead continue to bring the best international musicians to the North East as well as support new and emerging artists, build its international music education links and extend its urban arts training programme by bringing urban performers from across the world to Gateshead.  

New Band in the North East.

Just finished listening to a demo record by a new band The North East Four (NE4). Four good men and true - Paul Gowland (tenor sax); Ray Truscott (6 string electric bass); Alan Laws (piano); Paul Wight (drums).

A modern quartet that doesn't stray  too far from the contemporary mainstream. A couple of originals by Truscott  and a piece entitled Savoy Cabbage which is based on the Eddie Daniels/Gary Burton arrangement of Stomping at the Savoy are what's on the demo and it shows them off to advantage - well it would wouldn't it!

The Star, The Forum, Travellers Rest,.Splinter, Lit and Phil are some of the clubs/venues this band would easily slot into.

Interested parties email Ray Truscott - raytruscott@gmail.com.

Lance.
            

CD Review: Man Overboard - All Hands on Deck

Thomas Gould (vln); Ewan Bleach (clt/sax); Dave O'Brien (bs); Jean-Marie Fagon (gtr); Louisa Jones (vcl).
(Review by Lance).

Just imagine, if Grappelli and Goodman had got together, what the end product would have sounded like!

By closing your eyes and allowing a little (well quite a bit) of imagination it's reasonable to assume the outcome could have sounded like this.

Farewell Heather Jane Arthur

(Report by Lance)
It was an emotional occasion - how could it be anything else?  A woman so vibrant and caring taken so tragically from us. It was a fitting service of thanksgiving for the life of Heather Jane Arthur.
Those in attendance represented the many facets of Heather's interests including, of course, the north east jazz world.

Rebecca Parris Tells it Like it is (on F/b)

Roy Haynes is at Scullers this weekend. Drummers! Have you lost your minds??? Why each and every one of you within a 100 mile radius aren't fighting over seats amazes me. One of the MOST prolific musicians of our time with more energy and experience in his little finger than a million of your heads is sharing his energy with you. Get your arses to that box office promptly!

Preview: Two of us: Celebrating the Lennon and McCartney Songbook.

This Sunday (May 26 - 7:30pm) sees another blockbuster event coupling the Northern Sinfonia with the jazz and pop world at Sage Gateshead..

Two of Us: Celebrating the Lennon and McCartney Songbook..

Yes it may be aimed at The Beatles still considerable following but as the participants include Claire Martin and Joe Stilgoe (along with Mark McGann) this is going to appeal to a wider audience and even without John Wilson on baton it should still be an evening full of Liverpudlian lyrics and Merseyside music - hopefully with a few jazz gestures along the way.

Have a look at Sage Gateshead's link above to view a video showing clips from previous performances.
Lance.

Lewis West @ The Recital Room, Newcastle University. May 20, 2013

(Review by Russell)

Newcastle University’s Stage 2 Music Student End of Year Recitals are in full swing and today’s busy schedule ended with drummer Lewis West up for examination. Last week’s Finals Recitals featured guitarist Mike Papapavlou with West in a supporting role, today the roles were reversed with guitarist Mike only too pleased to return the favour. The presence of five string electric bassist Ruairidh Patfield made for something of a reunion as the amiable Irishman was also in on Mike’s session.

Ukulele River Girl Song by Gordon F. Phillips.

Ukulele River Girl Song

Down by the river when the moon’s above

It sent me crazy and it got me love,

I’m crazy for my ukulele girl.

Curtis Stigers @ Sage Gateshead

Curtis Stigers (vcl/gtr/ten/sop); James Scholfield (gtr).

What can I say? The guy pleased his fans, of which there were many, he strummed acoustic and blew some nice tenor on Centrepiece. He sang You Are Too Beautiful - arguably the best version ever outside of  Johnny Hartman -  and did ok on Body and Soul. So what what didn't float my boat? I don't know. I guess I wanted more sax, less  "Greatest Hits" although the applause that greeted these numbers indicated that I was in the minority!

James Scholfield played some great guitar backing and was worthy of a solo feature.

It was a good gig but the earth didn't move.

Lance.

PS: Rather sad that my itsy bitsy light pen (essential for writing a review in the dark) was taken to task whilst the camera flashers went scot free.

CD Review: Raquel Cepeda - I'm Confessin'

Bob Chadwick -  flutes; David Caceres - alto & tenor sax; Warren Sneed – tenor & soprano sax; Dennis Dotson  - trumpet; Paul English - piano, flugel horn, trumpet; Thomas Hulten  – trombone; Brennen Nase - guitar; Guil Fonseca - guitar; Jeffry Eckels - Bass; Dean Macomber  - drums; Jorge Orta - Cro-Cro, percussion; Tony Parana - percussion; James Metcalfe  - percussion; Marcia Sterling - violin; Oleg Sulyga  - violin; Dan Strba – viola; Shino Hayashi -  cello.

(Review by Debra).

Venezuelan  jazz singer Raquel Cepeda is now resident in Houston, on account of her day job (no doubt far better paid) , as a geologist in the Texas oil industry.  Her solo debut is of jazz standards and a number of South American   bossa  novas, sambas and boleros. 

Harambee Pasadia North East Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th May, 2013

Harambee Pasadia North East, is a unique all day and night celebration of music, food and fun for all the family.  Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, its an event in which invitations are spread predominately by word of mouth, and Pasadia means to spend the whole day.  This event is set on an idyllic Easington farm on Saturday May 25th to Sunday May 26th (with grounds opening at 11 am Saturday and closing 12 Noon on Sunday). 

Live music: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, Afrodisiac, Nansady Keita Band, 10th Avenue Band

DJ: Volta 45, Zero dB, Ras Mike

For more information vist: Harambee Pasadia
For tickets visit: Wegottickets