What live music are you going to see tonight?

[BillF]

Good performance last night at a sold out and packed Swanage by John Donaldson and his quartet - 'Tribute to Bheke Mseleku'. Lea DeLaria's band with Janette Mason on piano also went down very well. Coming up in a few hours time - Peter King Quartet.

Clearly something to look forward to!

[sidewinder]

Predictably good Swanage performance by Peter King - I'd forgotten just how fast he runs through the keys. His band was stellar too - with Steve Melling, Geoff Gascoigne and Martin Drew. The evening show with Liam Noble (solo piano) and Stan Tracey's Octet was also fantastic. Stan is not to be missed at the moment - especially playing stuff like the 'Hong Kong Suite' which could almost have come from his 'big brass', such was the big sound that the trumpet/bone/3 saxes generated. That suite in particular (written for ex-Governor Chris Patten in the 1990s just before they pulled up the drawbridge) is well worth checking out.

Probably the most interesting music of the day that I heard was, strangely, the most sparsely attended. Dave Stapleton Quintet from Wales playing tunes from 'Between The Lines' - music that seems to have been influenced by Ran Blake/film noir, Eddie Henderson/Nucleusy jazz-rock and some of the methods of Graham Collier. Nice !

Logistics mean that I'll unfortunately miss Stan's trio gig this morning but hope to check out Colin Hodgekinson and 'Back Door Too' in a few hours time. And then to check out some Alan Barnes.

Edited July 18, 2010 by sidewinder

[A Lark Ascending]

Probably the most interesting music of the day that I heard was, strangely, the most sparsely attended. Dave Stapleton Quintet from Wales playing tunes from 'Between The Lines' - music that seems to have been influenced by Ran Blake/film noir, Eddie Henderson/Nucleusy jazz-rock and some of the methods of Graham Collier. Nice !

Stapleton (always seems odd punching his name in!) seems to be one of those workaholic types - as well as playing, writing and (I think) teaching, he's put together a very professional label, drawing to it some marvellous current talent. I also like his determination to make his way from Wales rather than shifting to London. The previous record is worth getting too...marvellous guest vocal from Julie Tippetts at the end, doing a rare bluesy piece, something she is brilliant at. I believe Dave S. studied with Keith.

Re: Steve Melling - try and get to hear the title track of the New Jazz Courier's 'Brazilian Thoroughfare' - he does a particulary striking solo on that.

Edited July 18, 2010 by Bev Stapleton

[sidewinder]

I also like his determination to make his way from Wales rather than shifting to London.

To be applauded, for sure ! That place is like a damn black hole..

I'll try to check out the Steve Melling track that you have mentioned. I'm sure I've seen him before at Swanage - possibly as part of Don Weller's Octet.

Edited July 18, 2010 by sidewinder

[Guest Bill Barton]

Yesterday it was Sounds Outside in Cal Anderson Park (Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.) One to eight p.m., adventurous sounds, lots of sun, good friends... Great day of music. Kudos to Beth Fleenor, John Seman and everyone in the Monktail Creative Music Concern. The next one is August 14th. Not to be missed! Kahil El'Zabar and Hamiet Bluiett in duo are the "headliners."

Sounds Outside

[jlhoots]

Bitches Brew Revisited

Cindy Blackman was great. The rest I'm not so sure.

Unrelenting tempo.

Volume & mix were O.K..

Blood Ulmer did not appear "due to illness".

Vernon Reid substituted.

[sidewinder]

Tina May with Nicky Illes sounded (and looked) very good on the last day at Swanage.

Alan Barnes' 'Swanage Suite' for his octet was also a treat - and very funny too with the Barnes 'repartee' in full swing. Jim Hart on vibes and a young Swedish trombonist who's name I didn't catch both outstanding.

Gilad Atzmon performed with the Meier Group and in a cutting contest with Alan Barnes. He took no prisoners in both performances - probably the best playing I have seen from him.

After checking out the performance on the beach by Mr A Punch (beating up his wife, kid and croc), really enjoyed hearing 'Back Door Too' in the revamped 'Bar Seven' venue just opposite the Town Quay too. Very cool.

Edited July 19, 2010 by sidewinder

[A Lark Ascending]

Sounds like a great weekend, sidewinder.

I wish Nikki Iles would record more - the 'Printmakers' sextet she toured with last autumn (including Norma Winstone, Stan Sulzman and Mike Walker) was superb. Her website says she is doing another trio record in the autumn for spring release.

I've often thought that if the BBC put on a 45 minute jazz club series with Alan Barnes as compare, jazz could capture the general public's imagination again. You're never in any doubt that it's all about having fun.

[sidewinder]

I've often thought that if the BBC put on a 45 minute jazz club series with Alan Barnes as compare, jazz could capture the general public's imagination again.

What a great idea - he would be a natural in that role. He could probably have made a living as a stand-up comic. Had the audience in stitches for most of his (unscripted I think) interludes. His story about cooking a meal for Harry Diamond was priceless (the 'Old Harry' tune in the suite was for both the local landmark rocky outcrop and also served as a nice tribute to the late Mr Diamond).

First time I've ever seen Tina May and Nikki Illes - but I liked it. Too bad I missed the Barnes/May 'grand finale' (which was packed out at the time I left).

Other than that, nearly ran over 3 cows strayed into the road in Wareham Forest on the way back. A close thing...

Edited July 19, 2010 by sidewinder

[A Lark Ascending]

he would be a natural in that role. He could probably have made a living as a stand-up comic. Had the audience in stitches for most of his (unscripted I think) interludes.

My favourite was when he was promoting his Horace Silver tribute album, 'Yeah!' Went something to the effect of 'if Horace Silver had been British he'd have called the tune 'Perhaps' or 'Maybe' or 'Possibly'.'

[ejp626]

Saw Konono No. 1 in Chicago. It was really touch and go (it was an outside concert and it starting drizzling with a chance of thunderstorms). I decided to go ahead and go to the park. I sat quite far up in the seats (much further than normal) under the huge Gehry-designed canopy which blocked most of the rain. And in fact the rain eased up and it didn't pour, which was a huge relief to all.

I was surprised that essentially they opened for Kid Sister (a local rap artist, who's nothing that special). But given the iffy weather, I wasn't at all sad to be able to leave before 7:30. They played 3 pieces (the last one might have actually been a blend of two songs) stretched out at 15 minutes each.* The songs all sound pretty similar, but they have a nice groove (if a bit on the loud side) and it was still awfully cool to see them playing live. Never really thought I would see them in person. I suppose that's one of the positives of globalization -- that world music groups actually can make it over to major US/Canadian cities. Very little of this was happening 15-20 years ago. In the US at any rate, there was a bit of touring activity in the late 1960s with Mama Africa (Makeba) and a few other artists out of South Africa, but then very little until Paul Simon helped break Ladysmith Black Mambazo. At the time, I was pretty dismissive of what Simon was up to, but I was wrong (I now think). I've been exposed to some really terrific stuff, and there are still a few more great upcoming concerts (hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer for the next one).

* Reminded me of my trip to the Village Vanguard where I caught Don Byron. He played two songs in his set, each a 30 minute jam.

Edited July 20, 2010 by ejp626

[Chalupa]

Last night - Konono no.1

Tonight - Bill Orcutt/Blues Control

Friday - D.Charles Speer/Boogie Witch(early show) - Endless Boogie(late)

Saturday - Sun Ra Arkestra

[jlhoots]

Miguel Zenon Quintet

[Guest Bill Barton]

Earlier tonight it was Paul Kikuchi's Portable Sanctuary with Stuart Dempster and Bill Horist, then the Owcharuk 5 at the Chapel Performance Space in Seattle, part of the Jazz:The Second Century series presented by Earshot Jazz. Fine show! I had fun being a last-minute fill-in MC too...

2nd Century

[Kevin Bresnahan]

George Coleman is playing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston tonight. I'm really looking forward to this. What could be better? How about Harold Mabern on piano!

Kevin

[BillF]

I've often thought that if the BBC put on a 45 minute jazz club series with Alan Barnes as compare, jazz could capture the general public's imagination again.

What a great idea - he would be a natural in that role. He could probably have made a living as a stand-up comic.

Yes, indeed! Alan Barnes told one at Wigan last year about the man who couldn't get through on the phone to the incontinence clinic. Asked where he was ringing, he replied, "Everywhere from the waist down" :blush2:

[Utevsky]

Hoping to catch the Dana Reason trio tonight at the Bastyr University Chapel in Kenmore, Wash.

[sidewinder]

George Coleman is playing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston tonight. I'm really looking forward to this. What could be better? How about Harold Mabern on piano!

Kevin

A classic ! Had several good evenings listening to those two gents. Enjoy !

[jazztrain]

Headed shortly to the Lowell Folk Festival: Lowell Folk Festival

George Coleman is playing at Sculler's Jazz Club in Boston tonight. I'm really looking forward to this. What could be better? How about Harold Mabern on piano!

Kevin

A classic ! Had several good evenings listening to those two gents. Enjoy !

[jlhoots]

Toshiko Akiyoshi / Lew Tabackin Quartet & Big Band.

Also a live interview of Toshiko by A.B. Spellman.

[Chalupa]

Tonight - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

[Tom Storer]

On Friday I saw Kenny Barron solo in a small club - a privilege. He sounded great.

This Friday night, it'll be Charles McPherson, with one R. Porter on piano, Wayne Dockery on bass, don't know who the drummer's going to be.

[kh1958]

Nick Moss and the Flip Tops at Pearl on Commerce. Very good guitarist and band, he saved the best song for the end of the second set; modest sized audience of 30 or so. Looking forward to seeing Michael Burks again here, and to seeing Janiva Magness, both at Pearl in about a month.

[medjuck]

Last night I saw and danced to the Janiva Magness band with the fantastic Jim Alfredson on keyboards and (many) back up vocals! Beer, blues and dancing-- a great way to spend Friday night.

[jlhoots]

Po' Girl

Boris & The Saltlicks