Their mothers called them Arthur

(© Ken Drew)

The knockout concert by Art Themen (pictured) at the Globe last Sunday got me to thinking as to how a lot of great jazz musicians were called by, or adopted, that first name. It also had me imagining what if the 'Great Reaper' had worked his wonders to perform and reincarnated those 'Arts' that were no longer with us to join those that are still around. Imagine this line-up (and, according to Fats Waller, God himself would be on piano!):

Art Farmer (trumpet); Art Baron (trombone); Art Pepper (alto sax); Art Ellefson (tenor sax); Art Themen (soprano/tenor sax); Art Tatum (piano); Art Davis (bass); Art Blakey (drums); Art Baxter (vocals). 

Also, waiting for their wings, Artie Shaw (clarinet), Artie Bernstein (bass), Art Hodes (piano), Art Lund (vocals) and Art Taylor (drums). Lance

Album Review: Julian Costello Quartet – And All The Birds Were Set Free (33 Jazz)

Julian Costello (tenor/soprano saxes); John Turville (pianos); Andy Hamill (double bass, harmonica); Tom Hooper (drums) + Georgia Mancio (vocals).

This album is definitely a grower. It has moved from acceptable background music to the front of the stage with every listening. There is some very fine playing, especially from Julian Costello and John Turville and it was nice to ‘catch up’ with Turville after not hearing much by him in recent years. Costello has, for the most part, a lovely flowing style, forceful but not overwhelming. Don’t be misled into thinking he’s a smooth operator, though. He has a big voice and his sound, unless he is sharing the metaphorical front line with Turville’s piano, dominates. Turville is the other star of this session. I remember him from a concert at Newcastle University back in 2013 and was hugely impressed then. This recording only serves to increase my admiration for his playing.

Album review: Ted Nash and Kristen Lee Sergeant – Holidays (Sunnyside Records)

Multi saxophonist, composer and arranger, Ted Nash collaborates with his partner in life and song, Kristen Lee Sergeant on Holidays, released in November 2023. Despite the title, Holidays delivers a much deeper and broader remit than a token collection of Yule melodies that are attractive to the refined chattering classes for its jazzifying of this great trove of 19/20th century songdom. Many of the selections are songs equally playable 12 months a year and celebrate the joy and hope that is not unique to Christmastime.

Claus Jacobi - RIP

We're very sorry to have to tell you that our friend and Classic Jazz Party music director Claus Jacobi has died after a brief illness. Jonathan Holmes (Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party) continues: The Jazz Party will not be the same without him. Claus was responsible for so many concert themes and ideas over the last 10 years. He inspired the musicians that he played with, and all of us at the Jazz Party will miss him dearly.

Photo credit: Malcolm Sinclair.

Album review: Cornelia Nilsson - Where do You go? (Stunt Records)

Cornelia Nilsson (drums); Daniel Franck (bass); + Aaron Parks (piano on tks 1,2,4,6,8,9); Gabor Bolla (tenor sax on tks 3,5,7,10)

I posted a clip of this fine album back in March with the promise of a 'proper' review to follow and then one thing led to another ad it slipped my mind which is unforgivable as it really is worth checking out. So, only one month after its March release date, here it is.

It gets off to a flying start with Bud Powell's John's Abbey. Parks almost outdoing Bud and being driven along by Nilsson with Franck doing what bass players are paid to do which is to keep the harmonic structure in place.

Sam Lightwing Quartet @ the Railway Stockport - April 21

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Sam Lightwing (tenor sax); Max Rosen (piano); Steve Berry (bass); Calum Montgomery (drums).

Tonight the train I usually take arrived on time so I anticipated arriving at Stockport Station around about 7:00pm ready for a 20 minute stroll to the Railway, but, guess what happened? Nothing! Even though I'd pressed the green button on the doors - nothing!

Jamie Toms Quartet @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - April 21

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Jamie Toms (tenor sax, soprano sax); Graham Don (keyboards); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

An audience turned out in the library located within Queen's Hall to listen to a new quartet with all of the material heard over the course of two sets composed by bandleader Jamie Toms. Blue Note and ECM informed the performance, the opening number very much a bop-inspired workout. A waltz followed, then a Latin number, all adding up to a varied set. 

Sunday night @ the Globe: Art Themen w. the Dean Stockdale Trio - April 21

(© Ken Drew)

Art Themen (tenor/soprano sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax).

In the ten years of its existence the Jazz Co.op - often, like tonight, in conjunction with Jazz North East - has put on many great gigs at the Globe to the extent that it's impossible to draw up a league table. However, if I was foolish enough to attempt that daunting task then last night's concert by Art Themen and the Dean Stockdale Trio would certainly be in contention for a Champions League place, maybe even outright winners.

It was that good!

Thoughts of the 27 bus were banished. I'd get the last one, I wasn't going to miss a single note, chord or rim shot.

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

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

Aycliffe Radio is now available on DAB in County Durham & the Darlington area.

Playlist 21/04/24 (repeated Tuesday 23/04/24)

Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz @ St Andrew's URC Church, Monkseaton - April 20

Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet, alto sax); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Alf Langthorne (keyboards); John Robinson (bass guitar); Scott Adair (drums, vocals)

A first visit to St Andrew's URC Church in something like eleven years for Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz. Where has the time gone? In its 25th anniversary year (where has the time gone?), the band's return to the well-appointed church in leafy, sleepy Monkseaton attracted a large crowd there to listen to the band and, for some, to participate in a traditional brolly parade.

Is it True What They Say About Dixie? sang Maureen. Our bandleader has sung the song many times over the years, clearly it's a favourite number. Twelfth Street Rag hit the spot, Messrs Lee and Solomon nicely warmed up. A Hundred Years From Today, (steady, medium tempo), Careless Love (ditto), then onto the first of the evening's two 'second line' brolly parades: brightly coloured, twirling, some adorned with battery-powered lights. It was as if we in New Orleans!