Table of contents for May 2022 in Jazzwise

The return of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival this month feels like something of a milestone in our blighted times – indeed it’s third time lucky for the event, after a cancellation and then its online iteration last year due to the pandemic – and while Covid is still very much with us live events are happening again. Cheltenham’s 25th edition mirrors Jazzwise’s own history and indeed, the festival’s forward-looking programming, as well as it’s fresh approach to presenting all strands of jazz, old and new, under one roof (so to speak) is why we’ve always supported this shared vision. This issue shines a light on some of the festival’s highlights – with a verywelcome in-depth look at the life and music of Brit jazz legend, Mike Westbrook, as well as…

1. Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin “From 1968 but my dad bought it for me mid-1970s, feeding my obsession with US soul singers. ‘Natural Woman’, ‘Ain’t No Way’, ‘Chain of Fools’ are all in there. And an amazing cover shot of a live, very perspiring Aretha. Fascinated was I. And I still own my original record.” 2. Cedar! by Cedar Walton “From 1967, Cedar in ever expanding trio, 4tet, and 5tet settings. Kenny Dorham magnificent. As ever, the much-missed Billy Higgins doing his ace thing. I feel so lucky to have recorded and toured with Cedar. I miss his stately banter. An astonishing pianist and huge Stevie Wonder fan.” 3. Songs In The Key of Life by Stevie Wonder “I had this at 13. Double gatefold, lyrics, free single. Everything…

The Royal College of Music’s Festival of Percussion goes off with a bang as acclaimed session and jazz drummer Benny Greb headlines the finale with Pete Long and the RCM Jazz Orchestra on Sunday 8 May. Greb tops an impressive list of performers including percussionists from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Owen Gunnell and Toby Kearny’s O Duo. Other highlights include Benny Greb’s Drum Clinic with the winner of the 2022 Young Drummer of the Year - Jeremie Animan- and the lunchtime concert hosted by RCM alumnus, and current percussion professor, Owen Gunnell. The full line-up can be found at www.rcm.ac.uk/percussionfestival…

The Ukrainian-born, London-based harp player and composerAlina Bzhezhinska has won a stellar reputation for her live work as, variously, a soloist, bandleader, improviser and convenor of the boldly experimental HipHarp Collective, and amassed accolades for her 2019 debut Inspiration (Ubuntu), a work drawing from the oeuvre of Alice and John Coltrane and featuring longtime collaborators, saxophonist Tony Kofi and Australian drummer Joel Prime. Having recently put the finishing touches on her much-anticipated sophomore album Reflections (BBE) – as heralded by the first single, a gloriously funky cover of Dorothy Ashby’s ‘Soul Vibrations’ – Bzhezhinska was left reeling by the crisis inflicted on her birthplace by what she calls “a Russian monster machine,” watching with horror from afar as (at the time of writing) despot Putin’s war continues to escalate, maintaining…

Life passes at an agreeable pace in the picturesque town of Dawlish, situated on the southwest coast of England. It’s as far removed from big city life as can be imagined, its tranquility once attracting literary greats such as John Keats, Charles Dickens (who used the town as the birthplace of Nicholas Nickleby), Jane Austen (who mentions the town in Sense and Sensibility), John Betjeman. That was then, but even now the town’s historians are yet to acknowledge a bona fide jazz great has been resident in their midst for the last couple of decades. Not that it troubles Mike Westbrook, who has long become inured to the lack of honour bestowed upon prophets in their homeland. Recognition for his formidable composing and arranging skills has not been in short…

Cleveland Watkiss The Great Jamaican Songbook Vol.1 CdubyaCDUB01 (CD, DL) Cleveland Watkiss (v), Orphy Robinson (vb, ky), Delroy Murray (el b), Alan Weekes (g), Phil Ramocon (ky), Carl Robinson (d), with Byron Wallen (t) and James Wade-Sired (tb). Rec. 2021 One of our greatest jazz singers has never denied his reggae origins, and this celebration of killer roots and lovers' rock anthems is as good as can be expected from someone to the manner born. Watkiss debuted in that world in the late 1970s and his gilded tone retains a pleasing shade of ‘yard’ as he glides convincingly over proper big people tunes, from Junior Byles’ ‘Curly Locks’ and Gregory Isaacs’ ‘Night Nurse’ to Burning Spear’s ‘Red, Gold & Green’ and Prince Lincoln’s ‘Humanity.’ In each case he displays the…

John Carter Castles of Ghana Gramavision 18–8603–1 (LP, CD) John Carter (cl, v), Baikida Carroll (t, v), Bobby Bradford (c), Benny Powell (tb), Marty Ehrlich (bcl, bells, gong), Terry Jenoure (vn, v), Richard Davis (b) and Andrew Cyrille (d). Rec. November 1985 John Carter was born in Fort Worth, Texas, just six months before his friend, Ornette Coleman. A prodigy, he graduated from high school at 15, gained an MA in music at 19 and a BA at 26. Despite a lifetime spent teaching in the American public school system, first at Fort Worth, then Los Angeles, he developed a parallel career in jazz, and is best known for his association with Bobby Bradford (who preceded Don Cherry in Coleman’s quintet). A clarinet virtuoso, with a clear, even tone from…

Eberhard Weber A German Jazz Story Equinox HB £ 25 Weber is widely recognised as an innovative bassist and an individual composer, closely associated with the ECM label from the 1970s on. But, although still very much with us, he hasn’t played since his debilitating April 2007 stroke at the sound-check for a Jan Garbarek quartet concert in Berlin. Probably on the advice of his original German publisher, this episode forms the opening to his autobiographical memoir. By contrast, the death in 2011 of his wife of 40-plus years is not dwelt upon, though she receives much praise for her guidance and her ECM artwork. The son of a professional cellist (who, when Eberhard was born in 1940, was a conscript in the German equivalent of the Home Guard), Weber’s…

BBC RADIO 2 88-91 FM Big Band Special (Mon, 11pm), Jamie Cullum show (Tues, 7pm) BBC RADIO 3 90-93 FM J to Z (Sat 5pm) Trish Clowes in session, plus Omar Sosa’s inspirations (30 April) The best in jazz – past, present and future (7 May) Cheltenham Festival Highlights 2022 (14 May) Daniel Casimir in session plus Melissa Aldana’s inspirations (21 May) The best in jazz - past, present and future (28 May) Jazz Record Requests (Sun 4pm) Freeness with Corey Mwamba (Sat, Midnight) BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC DAB Gilles Peterson, Sat 3pm JAZZ FM DAB, Sky, Alexa, smartphone, tablet and online at jazzfm.com (Mon – Fri) 6am-6.30am Business Breakfast, 6.30am-10am Jazz FM Breakfast with Nigel Williams, 10am-2pm Midmornings with Deb Grant, 2pm-6pm Afternoons with Jamie Crick, 6pm-7pm Jazz FM’s…

This year’s Manchester Jazz Festival returns in emphatic style with a richly diverse line-up running from 20 to 29 May at venues around the city. The expanded programme builds on the festival’s passionately progressive outlook that heavily focuses on current and future generations of jazz musicians plus key headliners this year including Nubya Garcia, Tim Garland, Anthony Joseph, Zoe Rahman, Rum Buffalo and Daniel Casimir. The festival opens with a free weekender programme at Escape to Freight Island on 20-22 May, while weekday gigs will span St Ann’s Church, Matt & Phreds, as well as Forsyth Music and The Yard with MJF partners NQ Jazz, plus a closing extended weekend-long party at Band on the Wall from May 26-29. Highlights include: Escape to Freight Island, 20-22 May, with Daniel Casimir,…

Last month’s issue of Jazzwise came with a free Ubuntu Music CD which will now be released as a charity album to raise funds of those affected by the war In Ukraine. Released on 15 April in partnership with Jazzwise, all tracks will be made available digitally for streaming and download globally, with all proceeds donated to Ukrainian refugees through the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (DEC) charity. Ubuntu founder and director Martin Hummel, explained: “Prior to the launch of the Jazzwise’s April edition, I was watching the horrific news unfold in Ukraine with my wife, who asked if there was anything the label could possibly do in anyway to help alleviate this catastrophe. This gave birth to Music Aid for Ukraine. I shared the thought with Jazzwise, who…

Rejoice! Vogue Records How low can you go? As far as ‘jazz musicians with cigarette in hand’ pics go, Red Mitchell bending down unhealthily in his chair to stub his nicotine stick into an ashtray is right at the very bottom. At any rate, it’s a long way from the iconic image of the jazz legend puffing away or sending shapely curls of smoke into the air like an airplane display team. Whoever told the legendary cool jazz bassist it was a hip pose for a jazz cover shot was probably smoking far too much themselves. The artwork for this 1962 LP release, celebrates Red Mitchell’s cello debut and comes only a few years before he started experimenting with cello tuning on his string bass. Perhaps by then he’d discovered…

The twice-postponed Jazz Stroud festival bounces back with a bumper edition of hip sounds from 26 to 29 May at venues around the picturesque Cotswold town. With previous editions showing this as a complementary boutique alternative to the highly established Cheltenham Jazz Fest earlier in the month, Stroud offers a bounty of second bank holiday weekend sounds. These include headline shows from renowned Manchester trumpeter Matthew Halsall (right), top young Scottish piano prodigy Fergus McCreadie, Jazz FM Award winning vocalist Ego Ella May (below right), conguero Snowboy and trend-setting DJ Gilles Peterson, alongside a funky throng of rising London and Bristol based names such as Onipa, Neue Grafix Ensemble, Jelly Cleaver, Zenel, Earl Temple Foundation, Footshooter and many more. With main shows taking place in the Grade 2 listed limestone-built…

Given the historical mandate of this monthly slot, it’s no surprise most entries have featured musicians no longer around, with the recent exception of Sonny Rollins (Jazzwise 271). But Herbie Hancock at 82 is still active and planning another European tour later this year. Aged 22 at the time of his debut album on 28 May 1962, he had already recorded for Blue Note on three sessions led by Donald Byrd, one of them initially unreleased. According to Herbie, it was Byrd who advised him not to go along with Blue Note’s usual approach for new artists at that period, namely “three original tunes and three standards”. So the melodically prolific Hancock held out for six originals – to be published by a Blue Note subsidiary, but at least they…

Byway of information technology a laptop screen of today can suddenly become a picture frame of yesterday. In an unexpected moment during a zoom conversation with Hermeto Pascoal, the legendary Brazilian composer whose music is unique, and whose concerts are events, an image appears on the desktop that is quite astounding. Even seasoned celebrity-watchers in the jazz world who think they have seen just about every shot of their heroes might blink. The man in focus appears to be dancing. “This is Gil Evans at SOB’s in New York, 1985,” says Pascoal’s designated translator, Jovino Santos Neto, a pianist-woodwind player and longtime member of his band, who pulled the snap from his files. The sense of elation on the face of Evans, a central architect of the orchestral language of…

Black Flower Magma Sdban Ultra The multi-reedsman Nathan Daems’ Brussels band’s new album Magma favours hip clubby groove thangs and fuses influences including Afrobeat, psych rock, Mulatu Astatke’s ethiojazz, and Roland Kirk in an engaging way. Dagobert Bohm Within A Dream Ozella Music The German acoustic guitarist Böhm presents his gently ambient jazz-folk originals with a band that has Karl Seglem as guest on saxophone, and is mellifluously reflective when reminiscent of an instrumental Nick Drake or Neil Young. Gary Brumburgh Full Circle Café Pacific Records An ex-musical theatre actor croons classics and lesser known selections from his previous repertoire, and while some interpretations are a rather twee mix of jazz cabaret and bebop, others such as the recently passed Sondheim’s ‘Sorry-Grateful’ and ‘Love I Hear’ are more interesting. Carmen…

The first Iford ManorJazz Festival is set to take place from 22-24 July at this historic Grade 1 listed manor house, situated near Bradford-upon Avon, Wiltshire, and its weekend line-up has been specially curated by Claire Martin (pictured). Iford Manor has a long-standing history of supporting the arts, including classical and opera events, and this is the first time a series of jazz concerts has taken place in its picturesque buildings and gardens. Joe Stilgoe and his Trio appear on Friday 22 July in the Archery Ground stage with audience tickets available in stage front picnic areas. Ray Gelato Giants (with a guest appearance by Claire Martin) will play Saturday 23 July in the Archery Ground and on Sunday 24 July, Martin Taylor plays a special solo candlelit concert in…

Armenian-born, US-based pianist Tigran Hamasyan releases his first ever jazz standards album, StandArt, on Nonesuch on 29 April with guest appearances by Ambrose Akinmusire, Joshua Redman and Mark Turner. Known for his adventurous blend of his native folk music with acoustic, electronic and rock sounds, Hamasyan reimagines songs from the 1920s through the 1950s, by Richard Rodgers, Charlie Parker, Jerome Kern, David Raksin, giving them his own distinctive 21st Century twist. Joined by bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Justin Brown the record also spotlights trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, who is featured on two of the album’s tracks. Other special guests on the album include saxophonist and label-mate Joshua Redman on Charlie Parker’s ‘Big Foot’, as well as saxophonist Mark Turner on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s ‘All the Things You Are’.…

Leading Canadian jazz singer and pianist Laila Biali will make her Ronnie Scott’s debut on Tuesday 3 May 2022 as part of her Trio’s European tour, which also includes a headlining spot at the Jazzahead! conference in Germany, as Canada is the partner country this year. Signed to German label ACT Music, her eponymous debut for the imprint won the Canadian JUNO Award forJazz Vocal Album for the Year in 2019 and its follow up, Out of Dust (ACT) received a JUNO nomination. Biali will be appearing with her touring Trio of bassist George Koller and drummer Ben Wittman. For more info visit www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/7310-laila-biali…

Stylish, invariably upbeat, and often startlingly adventurous in her vocal approach, Tina May, who has died aged 60 – her life cut tragically short by cancer – once explained her notion of singing jazz to writer Kenny Mathieson thus: “I see myself as a musician who uses the voice as an improvisational instrument, which for me is what makes it jazz in the first place.” And my, how effectively she delivered on that intention, both in person and on record. Whether fronting a small group or combining with other singers or indeed, appearing with a big band, Tina brought musicality and creative zest to everything she did. To see her on a bandstand was to know that something ratherwonderful was about to happen. And so it did. Irresistible, often profound…

With a new generation of bands firing up the North of England, the Leeds Jazz Festival launches in timely fashion and presents its inaugural edition over 12 nights from 1 and 12 June at venues around the region. The programme will feature a variety of free to access events and ticketed showcases, representing the wide diversity of jazz in the city. Initial gig announcements include eclectic 10-piece collective TC & The Groove Family launching their new album with support from Yusuf Yellow & The Energy Collective + Chissu (1 June, Brudenell Social Club); Bird Migration, a tribute to the music of Charlie Parker led by pianist/bandleader Hans Koller with a 13-piece ensemble (2 June, Seven Arts). The Super Friendz World Island two-dayer across Belgrave Music Hall and Headrow House, (3-4…

When Jazzwise interviewed Shake Stew’s bassist bandleader Lukas Kranzelbinder back in 2020, he was looking forward to playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Two years’ worth of pandemic postponements later, and not much has changed. “I’m still looking forward to playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival!” he laughs. “I don’t know if there’s a single concert in my history I’ve been looking forward to so regularly or so much! I’m really worried about what we’re going to play. Sixty minutes isn’t much to make up for all that excitement!” Shake Stew will surely be worth the long wait. The Austrian band are a sultry brew of shimmering Ethio-jazz, Moroccan Guembri bass grooves, lilting polyrhythms and solo improvised flights, a transportive, other-worldly trip with passages of interior beauty. A gold and black-costumed septet…

Brandon Allen The Stanley Turrentine Project Ubuntu 0111 (CD, DL) Brandon Allen (ts), Will Barry (p, ky), Conor Chaplin (b, el b) and Dave Ingamells (d). Rec. 4 January 2022 Tenorist Allen is an activist with a flair for interesting projects; most recently it was the music of star US tenorist Gene Ammons that he sought to celebrate. Now it’s the funky Philadelphia-born tenor saxophonist Turrentine [1934-2000] that he’s recalling on this album and out on the road. So what we have is tenor-led, R&B-style crossover jazz, with Barry playing catch as catch can under Allen’s meaty tenor. The album opens with ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ which turns out to be tailor-made for this kind of bluesy soul-jazz, the groove irresistible. ‘You’re Gonna Hear From Me’ goes much the same…

Pepper Adams with the Tommy Banks Trio Live at Room at the Top Reel to Real RTRLP008 (CD, 2 LP) Pepper Adams (bs), plus the Tommy Banks Trio: Tommy Banks (p), Bobby Cairns (el b) and Tom Doran (d). Rec. 25 September 1972 Plenty of hitherto unreleased sessions from jazz clubs, such as this one from the University of Alberta, team a well-known soloist with a local rhythm section – in this case baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams with the trio of Edmonton-based pianist Tommy Banks. But it can be a bit of a lottery as to how good the results are. In this case, Adams was on magnificent form, ideas tumbling from his horn in profusion, even on tracks that in other hands would be far, far too long. A…

Yamaha Revstar RSS02T Guitar Yamaha has relaunched its highly successful Revstar series with three new models: the Element, Standard and Professional. Both the Element and Standard are manufactured in Indonesia, while the Professional gets the special treatment ofYamaha’s Japanese factory (and has a price tag to match!). We chose to take a look at the more affordable Standard model, as this instrument carries all the same features as the Professional model. The Revstar is a double cutaway instrument with a very definite retro vibe, and is offered with either a pair of P90 pickups or a pair of humbuckers - we chose to test the P90 model. The body of the instrument is made up from a chambered and beautifully sculpted mahogany back (for optimum playing comfort), matched with a…

Write in to us here at Letters Dept, Jazzwise Magazine, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB or email letters@jazzwise.com Memories of Tina May Tina Maywas a joy to collaborate with, and know, as a person. An extraordinarily talented and natural singer she always welcomed unusual and challenging concepts in interpreting songs and arrangements. She would often learn her parts immediately by ear even though she was well equipped to read and play them on piano. A walking bright and beaming light was Tina, spreading music and joy in equal measure. Frank Griffith, via email Jazz In Britain – a clarification Jazz in Britain Ltd. is a voluntary, not for profit record label, run by the two of us. We maintain an archive of off-air recordings, collected and digitised…