Andrew McCormack Trio featuring Kyle Eastwood @ the Glasshouse, Gateshead - April 28

(© Pam)

Andrew McCormack (piano); Kyle Eastwood (bass); Rod Youngs (drums)

The signs in the Glasshouse on Sunday night directed all those in pork pie hats, roll neck jumpers, posh frocks and co-respondents shoes to the left and the big room for the Postmodern Jukebox whilst those of us more modestly attired to sit in the dark turned right to Sage 2 in search of more contemporary sounds.

Apparently it was 2014 when McCormack was last here (as the photo on THIS PAGE attests) and 2011 when Eastwood brought a group to that year’s Jazz Festival. Tonight’s gig was mainly in support of McCormack’s fine 2022 album, Terra Firma and nearly all the music was from that.

Ben Crosland Quartet @ the Railway, Stockport - April 28

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Ben Crosland (bass guitar); Dean Stockdale (keys); Jon Taylor (tenor sax); Dave Tyas (drums).

Like last week, the audience for this Sunday night gig was less than usual but there were enough people present to give the room some atmosphere and Ben wisely turned over most of the tune selecting to his tenor saxist Jon Taylor who as far as I know has never played here before. I remember seeing him play a gig many years ago at a small pub in Yorkshire but I think it was during the time I used to make frequent trips to the Anchor Inn in Brighouse a great venue, run by jazz loving landlord Rod Marshall who, I believe, is no longer with us. 

Sunday night @ the Globe: Alligator Gumbo - April 28

(© Sheila Herrick)

James Paylor (bass, vocals); Chris Williamson (trumpet); Greg Surmacz (clarinet, sax); Tim Hurst (trombone, vocals); Mike Rudland-Simpson (steel guitar, vocals); Chris Lloyd (piano, vocals); Jose Williamson (drums, washboard, bells, whistles)

Sheila, who supplied the photo, describes the evening thus: 'The joint is jumping, singing, dancing, everything'. She didn't elaborate on the 'everything' but it certainly looks as if a good time was being had by all which befits the Jazz Co.op's tenth birthday celebrations. Lance

Postmodern Jukebox @ the Glasshouse - April 28

Rogelio Douglas Jr. (vocals MC); Sarah Potenza, Ashley Campbell + 2 (vocals); Kyle Morgan (tenor sax, clarinet, flute); ? (trombone);  ? (guitar); Adam Kubota (bass); Tony ? (piano); Jack Amblin (drums, washboard); ? (dancer)

Once again the 'three bus' syndrome came into play. Three gigs, two in the same building, and each one as tasty as a Sunday dinner of sherry trifle, roast lamb and apple crumble served on the finest porcelain tableware.

As well as a foot-stomping session at the Globe, the Andrew McCormack Trio featuring Kyle Eastwood were in Sage Two at the Glasshouse whilst in Sage One it was the all-singing, all-dancing machine known as Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

I opted for the latter - me and maybe a thousand others some of whom had travelled a fair distance. The girl sitting next to me was from Billingham which is a good place to come from.

Album review: The Jazz Defenders - Memory in Motion (Haggis Records)

George Cooper (Wurlitzer, organ, vibes, perc.); Nick Malcolm (trumpet); Jake McMurchie (tenor sax); Will Harris (acoustic/electric bass); Ian Matthews (drums) + Doc Brown (vocal tk 4); Gemma Bott, George Cooper (backing vocals tk 4)

It was two years almost to the day (April 7) when the Jazz Defenders tore Hoochie apart with some danceable hard bop. That was quite a night. A couple of weeks back they played Cluny 2 but it clashed with several other gigs that same evening so I didn't make it. 

Teddy Edwards @ Darlington

Teddy Edwards, one of the all-time great bebop tenor sax players alongside Wardell, Dexter and Gene, was born on April 26, 1924, which was 100 years ago yesterday. Alyn Shipton paid tribute to the occasion on last week's JRR as others have, or will do, on various jazz stations around the world.

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

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

Playlist 28/04/24 (repeated Tuesday 30/04/24) 

Requests: Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Bix Beiderbecke, Oscar Peterson, Gerry Mulligan Qt + Chet Baker.

Memories: Ella Fitzgerald, Ma Rainey, Jimmy Giuffre, Modern Jazz Quartet, Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges, Teddy Edwards, Dexter Gordon.

Jazz on the Tyne takes 5, with special guest Michael Lamb

To mark the fifth anniversary of Jazz on the Tyne, presenter Colin Muirhead chats with Michael Lamb, leader of the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, about the new album “Strictly Smokin’ & Friends” and about upcoming shows.  Along with tracks by the band, you’ll hear music by George Benson, Stu Collingwood, Jo Harrop, Signe Emmeluth, Fergus McCreadie, and Makoto Ozone.

You can listen to the programme anytime HERE.

Plus, you can request tunes 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.

Jo Harrop & Paul Edis w. Ken Marley @ Clothworkers' Centenary Concert Hall, Leeds University - April 27

Jo Harrop (vocals); Paul Edis (piano); Ken Marley (double bass)

Jo Harrop and Paul Edis are on a short tour of northern England and their itinerary includes one or two performances with Newcastle-born, west of the Pennines resident, bassist Ken Marley. Following a Thursday evening concert performance at Seven Arts in Leeds, our trio arrived at Leeds University's School of Music for a Friday lunchtime engagement in the historic Clothworkers' Centenary Concert Hall. 

Paul Skerritt w. the Danny Miller Big Band @ the Glasshouse - April 26

(© Patti)

Swing singer Skerritt is moving up the ranks. He may have yet to conquer Vegas but that horizon no longer looks to be quite as distant, at least that's the way it seemed last night at the Glasshouse.

Backed by the punchy 18 piece Danny Miller Big Band from Liverpool, seven of whom are actually north east based*, he entertained a near capacity Sage Two audience with expertly tweaked covers of songs from the repertoire of Sinatra, Bennett, Bublé, Bennett, Tormé, Darin, Connick Jr., Anka, Stevie Wonder and Take That.