What live music are you going to see tonight?

[medjuck]

Neil Young tonight.  I expect the longest solos since the last time I saw Coltrane. 

[A Lark Ascending]

Three concerts at:

Lovely, small festival - loads to hear from everybody-join-in free events round the village to ticket events in small venues. Incredibly enthusiastic audiences in everything I saw.

Django a la Creole - Evan Christopher (New Orleans (via California)): clarinet; Don Vappie (New Orleans): guitar; Dave Kelbie (UK): guitar; Sébastien Girardot (France (via Australia)): double bass. One of the best concerts I've been to all year (up there with Mara! in August). I knew what to expect from Evan Christopher but was quite unprepared for the guitar and banjo of Don Vappie (who I believe is new to the group) - absolutely thrilling. Great bass as well. Normally in a concert audience enthusiasm rises and hits a peak around 2/3rds of the way through the first set. This band had the audience hopping after the second song. Christopher did an interesting pre-concert talk about New Orleans, Django and his own experiences learning music. Very engaging personality.

Arun Ghosh Indo-Jazz Sextet - A South Asian Suite - Arun Ghosh: clarinet; Chris Williams: alto saxophone; Liran Donin: double bass; John Ellis: piano; Nilesh Gulhane: tabla; Dave Walsh: drums. Another electrifying performance from, a very different clarinet player. Bolton lad from an Asian background. Very much in the style pioneered by John Mayer - ranging from the hard driving to more reflective moments. Ghosh is a wonderful front man, really engaging with the audience between songs. After telling us which parts of South Asia each section were from over the concert he admitted that he'd never been to any of them but he did like the hills of the Lake District and Pennines! After playing the full suite he launched into a solo version of 'You've Got a Friend' which had all the baby boomers singing a-long. That's his chance of a commission from the 'Art' crowd blown. 

Lauren Kinsella Ensemble -  Lauren Kinsella (voice), Tom Challenger (sax), Dan Nicholls (keys and electronics), Conor Chaplin (bass) and Simon Roth (drums). One of the most impressive of the younger vocalists I've heard of late. Came across her singing on Laura Jurd's last album and the Blue-Eyed Hawk record done with Jurd. New compositions that have an impressionistic song basis but quickly fly off into more free-style vocal gymnastics - think Norma Winstone in the late-60s/70s (although her voice is not like Norma's). A voice of enormous range that never betrays any dodgy intonation, despite veering all over the place harmonically. I think this was a new commission and was clearly in the process of coming together - not as fully realised as the first two concerts but impressive nonetheless.  

Edited October 11, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[BillF]

Three concerts at:

Lovely, small festival - loads to hear from everybody-join-in free events round the village to ticket events in small venues. Incredibly enthusiastic audiences in everything I saw.

Django a la Creole - Evan Christopher (New Orleans): clarinet; Don Vappie (New Orleans): guitar; Dave Kelbie (UK): guitar; Sébastien Girardot (France): double bass. One of the best concerts I've been to all year (up there with Mara! in August). I knew what to expect from Evan Christopher but was quite unprepared for the guitar and banjo of Don Vappie (who I believe is new to the group) - absolutely thrilling. Great bass as well. Normally in a concert audience enthusiasm rises and hits a peak around 2/3rds of the way through the first set. This band had the audience hopping after the second song. Christopher did an interesting pre-concert talk about New Orleans, Django and his own experiences learning music. Very engaging personality.

Arun Ghosh Indo-Jazz Sextet - A South Asian Suite - Arun Ghosh: clarinet; Chris Williams: alto saxophone; Liran Donin: double bass; John Ellis: piano; Nilesh Gulhane: tabla; Dave Walsh: drums. Another electrifying performance from, a very different clarinet player. Bolton lad from an Asian background. Very much in the style pioneered by John Mayer - ranging from the hard driving to more reflective moments. Ghosh is a wonderful front man, really engaging with the audience between songs. After telling us which parts of South Asia each section were from over the concert he admitted that he'd never been to any of them but he did like the hills of the Lake District and Pennines! After playing the full suite he launched into a solo version of 'You've Got a Friend' which had all the baby boomers singing a-long. That's his chance of a commission from the 'Art' crowd blown. 

Lauren Kinsella Ensemble -  Lauren Kinsella (voice), Tom Challenger (sax), Dan Nicholls (keys and electronics), Conor Chaplin (bass) and Simon Roth (drums). One of the most impressive of the younger vocalists I've heard of late. Came across her singing on Laura Jurd's last album and the Blue-Eyed Hawk record done with Jurd. New compositions that have an impressionistic song basis but quickly fly off into more free-style vocal gymnastics - think Norma Winstone in the late-60s/70s (although her voice is not like Norma's). A voice of enormous range that never betrays any dodgy intonation, despite veering all over the place harmonically. I think this was a new commission and was clearly in the process of coming together - not as fully realised as the first two concerts but impressive nonetheless.  

Marsden has almost gone by without me noticing this year. Did go up there a couple of years ago and saw Ben Crosland with Steve Waterman. I see Crosland was back there a couple of days ago, but I'm due to see him at Wigan Jazz Club on the 25th anyway.

This afternoon it's up to Whitefield on the Metro to see tenorman Liam Byrne who definitely has the right idea and is a personal friend into the bargain. 

Three concerts at:

Lovely, small festival - loads to hear from everybody-join-in free events round the village to ticket events in small venues. Incredibly enthusiastic audiences in everything I saw.

Django a la Creole - Evan Christopher (New Orleans): clarinet; Don Vappie (New Orleans): guitar; Dave Kelbie (UK): guitar; Sébastien Girardot (France): double bass. One of the best concerts I've been to all year (up there with Mara! in August). I knew what to expect from Evan Christopher but was quite unprepared for the guitar and banjo of Don Vappie (who I believe is new to the group) - absolutely thrilling. Great bass as well. Normally in a concert audience enthusiasm rises and hits a peak around 2/3rds of the way through the first set. This band had the audience hopping after the second song. Christopher did an interesting pre-concert talk about New Orleans, Django and his own experiences learning music. Very engaging personality.

Arun Ghosh Indo-Jazz Sextet - A South Asian Suite - Arun Ghosh: clarinet; Chris Williams: alto saxophone; Liran Donin: double bass; John Ellis: piano; Nilesh Gulhane: tabla; Dave Walsh: drums. Another electrifying performance from, a very different clarinet player. Bolton lad from an Asian background. Very much in the style pioneered by John Mayer - ranging from the hard driving to more reflective moments. Ghosh is a wonderful front man, really engaging with the audience between songs. After telling us which parts of South Asia each section were from over the concert he admitted that he'd never been to any of them but he did like the hills of the Lake District and Pennines! After playing the full suite he launched into a solo version of 'You've Got a Friend' which had all the baby boomers singing a-long. That's his chance of a commission from the 'Art' crowd blown. 

Lauren Kinsella Ensemble -  Lauren Kinsella (voice), Tom Challenger (sax), Dan Nicholls (keys and electronics), Conor Chaplin (bass) and Simon Roth (drums). One of the most impressive of the younger vocalists I've heard of late. Came across her singing on Laura Jurd's last album and the Blue-Eyed Hawk record done with Jurd. New compositions that have an impressionistic song basis but quickly fly off into more free-style vocal gymnastics - think Norma Winstone in the late-60s/70s (although her voice is not like Norma's). A voice of enormous range that never betrays any dodgy intonation, despite veering all over the place harmonically. I think this was a new commission and was clearly in the process of coming together - not as fully realised as the first two concerts but impressive nonetheless.  

Marsden has almost gone by without me noticing this year. Did go up there a couple of years ago and saw Ben Crosland with Steve Waterman. I see Crosland was back there a couple of days ago, but I'm due to see him at Wigan Jazz Club on the 25th anyway.

This afternoon it's up to Whitefield on the Metro to see tenorman Liam Byrne who definitely has the right idea and is a personal friend into the bargain. 

[A Lark Ascending]

Marsden has almost gone by without me noticing this year. Did go up there a couple of years ago and saw Ben Crosland with Steve Waterman. I see Crosland was back there a couple of days ago, but I'm due to see him at Wigan Jazz Club on the 25th anyway.

This afternoon it's up to Whitefield on the Metro to see tenorman Liam Byrne who definitely has the right idea and is a personal friend into the bargain. 

I wondered if it was in your orbit - train services seem very good both to the west and east. Good for a car too - free parking!!!! 

I think the Crosland sold out (it was on at the same time as the Evan Christopher concert) - though given the small size of the venues in Marsden selling out is likely to happen very quickly.

Never been before but was very impressed. None of the glossy, corporate sheen you get in the big festivals. Bizarre moment in the early afternoon yesterday - I went for a walk up into the hills and as I descended you could hear the street music from right on top..."River Deep, Mountain High"!!!!!    

Edited October 11, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[BillF]

Marsden has almost gone by without me noticing this year. Did go up there a couple of years ago and saw Ben Crosland with Steve Waterman. I see Crosland was back there a couple of days ago, but I'm due to see him at Wigan Jazz Club on the 25th anyway.

This afternoon it's up to Whitefield on the Metro to see tenorman Liam Byrne who definitely has the right idea and is a personal friend into the bargain. 

I wondered if it was in your orbit - train services seem very good both to the west and east.  

   

Yes, pretty good. Metro from West Didsbury (200 yds from my house) to Victoria takes 24 mins. Train from Victoria to Marsden 32 mins. Of course, when Osborne transforms the trans-Pennine route I'll be able to be in Marsden 3 mins before setting off!

[A Lark Ascending]

 

   

 Of course, when Osborne transforms the trans-Pennine route I'll be able to be in Marsden 3 mins before setting off!

Very good! 

[mjazzg]

Brotzmann, Adasiewicsz, Noble, Edwards @ Oto tonight. all being well

[jcam_44]

Greg Osby Quartet at the Blue Whale tonight

[Steve Reynolds]

Me wants reports on Brotz et al and Osby

post haste!!

[relyles]

Yesterday I caught pianist Fred Simmons playing duo with Jay Hoggard. Originally it was supposed to be a quartet, and then the program handed out at the venue suggested a trio with Pheeroan akLaff. Ultimately it was just the two and it was a delightful performance in a very intimate room. I knew Simmons' name because of his prior association with Dewey Redman, but for the most part his career has been teaching at Wesleyan University for a number of years. Too bad he has not performed more frequently - I was very impressed.

[jcam_44]

Me wants reports on Brotz et al and Osby

post haste!!

Osby was fantastic! First time the group had played as a collective but you would have never known had Osby not announced it. Greg on alto of course, Joshua White on piano (he's a monster and honestly stole the show with each and every solo), Eric Revis on bass and the formidable Jonathan Pinson on drums. White solo'd on almost every song. Pinson had an epic solo at the end of the second set and Revis was given plenty of space to stretch out. Osby was in top form but he really let the others show out. It was a fantastic show. They did have Natalie Gooday (?) sing one song each set, which I think the crowd, myself included could have lived without, but White did solos in both standards that made them memorable.  

[Utevsky]

Last night, the Wayne Shorter Quartet in the Earshot Jazz Festival.

[BillF]

British jazz veterans Brian Dee and Len Skeat at Wilmslow this evening.

[Hardbopjazz]

Tom Harrell quintet at the Village Vanguard.   

[catesta]

Not tonight but on Saturday the 17th I will be seeing Kenny Barron with George Mraz and Lewis Nash.

[jlhoots]

Myra Melford Snowy Egret

[duaneiac]

Tomorrow: SFJAZZ Collective performing selections from Joe Henderson's "Page One" in SFJAZZ's intimate 'Joe Henderson Lab'. 

Friday: Wayne Shorter Quartet in SFJAZZ Miner Auditorium.

I saw the Wayne Shorter Quartet there tonight, BFrank.  They are obviously a very cohesive group playing challenging music with much sincerity and commitment, and I'm glad to have seen them perform, but I must admit the music did not always connect with me.

It was the first concert I'd seen in the Miner Auditorium.  A very nice venue, indeed, with very good acoustics.  Even the cheap seats in the balcony are good.  I will be back there next week to see the SF JAZZ Collective's concert featuring the music of Michael Jackson.

[A Lark Ascending]

Fay Hield and the Hurricane Party at the Sheffield Crucible (only three of the above on duty)

Dr. Fay Hield, no less...she'd been doing a lecture at Sheffield Uni where she works in the morning!

First half - familiar songs from her first two records with two of the above on concertina and fiddle/nyckelharpa and a bit later a guitar/fiddle player. Highlight was a wonderful song accompanied by just three fiddles - scratchy and droney as I like my folk music.

Second half - previewed some of the songs from her new record coming out in February. Two extra musicians - double bass and drums. A marvellous mixture of the unfamiliar (she seems to like pillaging collections of children's songs, sticking bits together and then writing a new tune), Tom Waits and familiar ballads with different tunes and fresh arrangements - Seven Gypsies, Jack Orian etc.  

We live in a golden age for English folk music with a flood wave of outstanding performers. Hield is at the head of that flood.

*****************************

If you need a nasty lullaby to scare your kids, try this:

Ropey video but you get the gist. Do as you are told or Bonaparte will tear you limb from limb and eat you. 

[OliverM]

Will be seeing in Paris...

Tonight:

NICOLE MITCHELL flûte, CHRISTOPHE ROCHER clarinettes, TOMEKA REID violoncelle, AVREEAYL RA batterie

Followed by THIRD COAST ENSEMBLE directed by ROB MAZUREK

 

Monday:

Golden Quartet
Wadada Leo Smith, trompette et électronique
Anthony Davis, piano
John Lindberg, contrebasse
Mike Reed, batterie

Duet
Roscoe Mitchell, saxophones et flûte
Mike Reed, batterie

Double-Up
Henry Threadgill, composition et direction musicale
Roman Filiu, Curtis Macdonald, saxophone alto
David Bryant, David Virelles, piano
Christopher Hoffman, violoncelle
Jose Davila, tuba et trombone
Craig Weinrib, batterie

[uli]

Will be seeing in Paris...

Tonight:

NICOLE MITCHELL flûte, CHRISTOPHE ROCHER clarinettes, TOMEKA REID violoncelle, AVREEAYL RA batterie

Followed by THIRD COAST ENSEMBLE directed by ROB MAZUREK

 

Monday:

Golden Quartet
Wadada Leo Smith, trompette et électronique
Anthony Davis, piano
John Lindberg, contrebasse
Mike Reed, batterie

Duet
Roscoe Mitchell, saxophones et flûte
Mike Reed, batterie

Double-Up
Henry Threadgill, composition et direction musicale
Roman Filiu, Curtis Macdonald, saxophone alto
David Bryant, David Virelles, piano
Christopher Hoffman, violoncelle
Jose Davila, tuba et trombone
Craig Weinrib, batterie

Looks like a plan.

[A Lark Ascending]

JEAN TOUSSAINT’S BLAKEY PROJECT at Sheffield Crucible

Jean Toussaint: saxophones; Byron Wallen: trumpet; Dennis Rollins: trombone; Julian Joseph: piano; Daniel Casimir: bass; Troy Miller: drums.

Was a bit hesitant about this one...we get so much repertory jazz on the circuit in the UK, recreating the great bands of the past, that I thought it might be a bit dull.

Wrong! As Toussaint made clear from the start when describing why he put the project together, this is joyous music that just deserves to be heard live. Sensibly most of the programme sought out tunes that you don't hear played a great deal, saving up 'Moanin'' and 'Blues March' for the end. 

A great band. I'm only really familiar with Wallen who I used to see a fair bit at Cheltenham and Bath. I think Rollins must have played at every jazz festival I've ever been to yet I've never seen him before. Special credit to the young bass player and drummer (who I think was someone different from the listed name). Both pulled off really engaging solos in much more experienced company. Both not long out of college. 

Biggest surprise for me was Julian Joseph. Seems to have been around forever both as player and jazz radio host. I have a CD of his from the 90s but he's never really caught my ear but last night he was superb. Some beautiful solos where he seemed to be in that mid-60s Herbie Hancock world, floating impressionistic chords over highly rhythmic music. And his gospel-drenched prelude to 'Moanin'' was worth the trip alone. 

Great to see a bunch of musicians so clearly enjoying themselves and encouraging one another. Lots of variety in the solo order - the first tune had just bass and drum solos with none of the front line featured. 

Seem to be playing widely in the UK at present (though I don't think Joseph is a regular). An entertaining evening guaranteed.    

 

[sidewinder]

That's a show that's definitely worth seeing. Some of the numbers they do are from the more obscure Blue Note albums e,g, The Freedom Rider. Wallen is quite an interesting player of late, definitely a hint of Dizzy Reece in his style.

When I saw them they had Shane Forbes on drums and a different pianist to Julian Joseph (Andrew McCormack I think).

Check out also Dennis Rollins' Power trio with Ross Stanley on organ. Recommended !

Edited October 18, 2015 by sidewinder

[A Lark Ascending]

The drummer was very young and Toussaint said it was his first gig with the band (Joseph's too). They played in Marsden last week on the day after I left and I think Jason Rebello was on piano...another name from one of the past periods of jazz popularity in the UK.

Meant to say the venue was packed and the audience ecstatic. I go to so many thinly attended jazz concerts it was great to see this (similarly at Marsden last week).  

[mjazzg]

Here's a VERY entertaining 2 1/2 minutes of Brian Blade from the Wayne Shorter show I saw on Friday.
You might have to be on Facebook to see it.

FB not required it would seem . Fun indeed. I've only ever seen this band once, about ten years ago, and the thing that stood out most for me on the night was Blade. He did something very similar that night too

[jazztrain]

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya.  Boston.