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Jazz comment on gigs, CDs and more from the centre of the United Kingdom
Recent Posts Tagged With 'bass'
Sub Ensemble in a Meccano world
Looking like toys in a futuristic mechanical universe, the Sub Ensemble captured in this fab pic by Garry Corbett during the final Free Jazz session in the Symphony Hall foyer on Friday evening. It was a gig of old favourites (tunes like 22 21, the ...
Gig review: The Gannets
Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham UK 16-12-09 It’s natural when you have a real, live pop star in your band that he is going to be the main selling point and threaten to be the main focus. But, in fact, this free improv band is one of ...
Nicholls and Hyderabad tonight
Good gig by the sounds of things at the Cross in Moseley this evening. Dan Nicholls, keyboard master and Birmingham Conservatoire grad recently returned from a spell in Denmark, is full of new music and brought some new friends back with him to play ...
Disc of the day: 14-12-09
Eberhard Weber: Colours (ECM Old & New Masters Edition 27197638) Before bassist Eberhard Weber and keyboardist Rainer Bruninghaus were members of the Jan Garbarek they had played together many times in this band, Colours, which is led by Weber an...
Gig review: Paul Booth Quintet with Ingrid Jensen
Biggin Hall, Coventry, UK 07-12-09 It must be over 15 years since my last visit to the upstairs room of this classic substantial suburban pub, but if my two visits are anything to go by, it’s a magical room. Of course, in reality, that magic is...
Taste the Apple in two venues tonight
When it’s Thanksgiving in the United States, as it was just 10 days ago, then the Maria Schneider Orchestra is in residence at the Jazz Standard, the classy basement jazz club in mid-town Manhattan. On trumpet and flugelhorn was Ingrid Jensen. ...
Russ’s pic of the week: 07-12-09
Each week photographer Russ Escritt sends me his favourite picture of the week, or perhaps one from his extensive archive. As his mind was on Dave Holland and the fact that he was unable to catch him at Birmingham Conservatoire this week, here̵...
The second Dave Holland Ensemble Award
Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham UK 04-12-09 Three bands in the frame for the award once again, all, as the great double bassist and visiting teacher at the Conservatoire said, deserving of recognition. But there could only be one w...
Dave Holland’s back in town
It’s a week of jazz greats at the Birmingham Conservatoire – on Monday veteran saxophonist Lee Konitz was giving a masterclass to the students of the jazz course, and today and tomorrow master bassist Dave Holland is in the house. And th...
Disc of the day: 30-11-09
Gwilym Simcock: Blues Vignette (Basho Music SRCD 32-2) Gwilym Simcock and his record company are extremely generous people. This album is a double CD, the first consisting of the pianist solo and in a duo with cellist Cara Berridge, the second a pian...
Russ’s pic of the week: 30-11-09
Each week photographer Russ Escritt sends me his favourite picture of the week, or perhaps one from his extensive archive. He’s particularly pleased with this one of Henry Grimes, taken at the soundcheck before the Profound Sound Trio’s con...
Concert review: Profound Sound Trio
CBSO Centre, Birmingham, UK 28-11-09 They started and finished their continuous set with intense, tumbling pieces that had the same individual instrumental ingredients delivered in remarkably similar fashion. But what a difference! At the beginning i...
Gig review: Haines Puddick Jazz Orchestra
Symphony Hall Foyer, Birmingham UK 27-11-09 Hey, remember Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band? A horn player and a drummer leading a group that became an institution and sparring ring for many a fine young jazz player? Well, fast forward a good few decades...
Disc of the day: 27-11-09
Holland/Rubalcaba/Potter/Harland: The Monterey Quartet: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF Records 0888072312449) Remember that great tenor led quartet concert from 1964, immortalised on the album Forest Flower? The band was the Charles Llo...
The elixir of life is jazz
There are a lot of people spending an awful lot of money trying to cheat the effects of aging; three men are in Birmingham this week who could share with them the secrets of eternal youth. I’m guessing, but I think they would probably include const...
Last minute reminder: Gemini at the Yardbird
Vibes player Jim Hart brings his excellent Gemini quartet, featuring fellow Loop musicians Ivo Neame on saxophone, Jasper Hoiby on bass and Dave Smith on drums, to the Yardbird in Birmingham this evening for a gig organised by the Cobweb Collective. ...
Gig review: Zed-U
Shabaka Hutchings (Pic: Russ Escritt) Jazz Club The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham 26-11-09 Many bands like to take their time and build to a big finish – not this trio of saxophonist/clarinettist Shabaka Hutchings, electric bassist Neil Charl...
Sound that is bound to be Profound
Birmingham Jazz doesn’t just put on gigs in Birmingham – sometimes it organises national tours and spreads the jazz word far and wide. Currently BJ artistic director Tony Dudley-Evans is spending some of his time on the road with the Prof...
An evening to catch some Zeds
No, not those kind! This is a reminder that an exceedingly exciting trio plays the Jazz Club, the monthly get-togethers for intrepid jazz explorers at the Rainbow pub in Digbeth, Birmingham, tonight. It sometimes feels in this behind-the-pub courtya...
Disc of the day: 24-11-09
The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane: Dig It! (Prestige PR7229) Of course it is that crucial “with…” that makes the ears prick up, and pricked ears are just the thing for listening to Coltrane’s dazzling opening solo on ...
The week ahead in gigs
Two hugely contrasting gigs in as many days – contrasting in so many ways but both with a great deal to recommend them. On Tuesday, 24 November, a singer who has shifted an exceptional number of CDs and can fill a large auditorium but still continu...
Disc of the day: 17-11-09
Matthew Halsall: Colour Yes (Gondwana Records) Trumpeter Matthew Halsall is based in Manchester, apparently, and is a name completely new to me. His group comprises Nat Birchall on saxophone, Adam Fairhall on piano, Gavin Barras on bass with Gaz Hugh...
Disc of the day: 16-11-09
Jim Hart’s Gemini: Narrada (Loop Records LOOP1010) This is a persuasive disc if you give it time to persuade you. When it starts out, it is clear that the playing is most accomplished and the writing strong but it feels that as a composer Jim H...
Disc of the day: 14-11-09
Sonny Rollins: Moving Out (Prestige 0888072315945) Sonny in 1954 with Kenny Doreham on trumpet, Elmo Hope on piano, Percy Heath on bass and Art Blakey on drums. This is still bebop inspired music, and swift from the start with the title track, even s...
Disc of the day: 12-11-09
Outhouse: Ruhabi (Loop Records LOOP 1009) The coming together of the London jazz quartet and the five Sabar drummers from The Gambia is best experienced live, I think, but then you could say that of most jazz. On disc it still has a lot to recommend...
Tonight’s gigs – late reminder
There is a four-way choice this evening – yes, we are spoilt – and while one option is not really jazz at all, it’s still worth a mention. It’s brass all the way at the Yardbird in Birmingham as Brass Jaw swing in as part of a Jazz Services n...
Gig review: Steve Tromans Debop Quartet
Last Words of Victor Jara Glee Club Studio 11-11-09 Victor Jara was a Chilean singer, songwriter, theatre director and political activist who supported those who did all the work and had none of the power. As a supporter who helped to bring the socia...
Debop dedicated to memory of Jara
Victor Jara This evening pianist and composer Steve Tromans brings his Debop Band into the Glee Club Studio in Birmingham to perform his Last Words Of Victor Jara. Jara was a Chilean singer-songwriter, political activist and all-round charismatic goo...
Disc of the day: 09-11-09
George Benson: Songs And Stories (Concord Jazz 0888072303645) Ah, it’s the other gorgeous George. For some weak-minded reason every time a new George Benson album comes out I am interested enough to hear it and hope that it will be as good as t...
Disc of the day: 08-11-09
Geoff Gascoyne: Pop Bop (Jazzizit Records JITCD 0952) Gascoyne made his reputation as bass player and MD in the Jamie Cullum band, and is joined here by fellow JCer Sebastiaan De Krom on drums, Jim Mullan on guitar and Graeme Blevins on saxophones. H...
