Jazz Notes with Mick Day J
azz relies heavily on small independent recording companies
to promote the music and one of the most active at present is Splash Point who gave us the Sue Richardson CD I reviewed last month and now excel themselves with a first rate album from Britain’s top male jazz singer Ian Shaw. ‘The Abbey Road Sessions’ (SPR012CD) - no need to guess at which studio it was recorded - features the singer with a six piece international band and an eclectic mix of standards, show tunes and more modern popular songs. Throughout, Shaw
demonstrates his vast vocal range, clear diction and an understanding of the music he is providing. There is no chance of this being simply a competent rendering of swing style numbers: Ian and the band create exciting and at times challenging versions of their selected programme. The opening Cole Porter ‘Get Out Of Town’ leaves you in no doubt that Shaw will do things his way and the Russian, New York - resident, alto sax man Zhenya Strigalev figures strongly in this interpretation. This is followed by an interesting take on Michael Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’, while Ireland’s Phil Ware on piano and American drummer Gene Calderazzo provide the up tempo Latin feel to ‘Obsession’. By accident this album is also something of a tribute to the late Gerry Rafferty who died in January. A refreshingly different version of his ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ gives Shaw and guitarist Dave Preston a chance to explore the tune. (All arrangements on this album are credited to Shaw and Preston). This really is a CD with lots to enjoy but a standout track has to be ‘The Lady’s In Love With You’ in which veteran British bass player Pete Ind shows he is still at the top of his game as he provides the only accompaniment for the singer in the first couple of choruses before the band is let loose. Add in two blues, a bit of Duke Ellington, the almost obligatory Joni Mitchell song and a ‘Darn That Dream’ which had me going
82 March 2011
to my library and listening to a 1950s version by Billy Holiday (an interesting comparison), overall I feel that Shaw and Splash Point have on their hands a CD which eventually may be voted one of the best jazz releases of 2011. Those readers keen to use their computers to best effect might be interested in the latest idea coming the internet radio station UK Jazz Radio. Starting this month they will be streaming a number of shows under the banner UK Jazz TV. If you wish to check these out, or listen to their well- presented radio programmes, just click on to
www.ukjazzradio.com and enjoy! Whilst on the subject of the internet, this column’s gig guide only occasionally gives details of jazz events in and around the City of Oxford mainly because there are so many that it would fill up all the available space with no room to list other events more strictly in the Four Shires area, However, the website ‘Oxford City Guide’ has a pretty
comprehensive
listing which you can reach on www. oxfordcityguide. com, selecting Jazz Gigs from the menu
offered. Starting this month’s many gigs with one in Banbury, singer
Stephanie Pirrie appears
at the Veritas Wine Bar in North Bar, (01295 224890) on Sunday 13th between 1.30 and 4.00 when she will be accompanied by guitarist Pete Dixon. Weekly Sunday evening sessions continue at Stratford Jazz Club (01789 264787) in ‘The Chapel’, 1 Shakespeare Street commencing on 6th with the Will Collier Septet. It isn’t often that you get the chance to hear a seven piece band in a provincial club away from the big cities, so this should be worth a visit. The Club’s remaining March bookings are the Tim Richards Trio on 13th, regular visitor Bryan Corbett and his Quartet on 20th and the Asaf Sirkis Trio on 27th. Dipping into the start of next month, April
3rd promises a good evening with the appearance of American bass player Tom Hill and the Straightjackets. Northants jazz fans are catered for at the Wig and Pen in St Giles Street, Northampton with weekly Tuesday evening sessions. The line-up for March is:- Roy Civik band on 1st, New Orleans Hotshots on 8th, Martin Simons with the Maurice Merry Trio on 15th, All That Jazz on 22nd and Lost Latinos on 29th. Further details can be had on 01536 513973. ‘Live Jazz In Oxfordshire’ (01367
71890) has had some of its best evenings recently and hope to continue the trend on 25th when their session at the Carswell Country Club near Faringdon presents singer Julie Edwards with her Quartet. Going against what I have written above about Oxford gigs, I will just mention a couple as they feature North Oxfordshire’s contemporary jazz bass player Steve Kershaw. He can be found along with others at the Oxford Playhouse (01856 305305) on 26th and just outside the City at the Royal British Legion Club in Abingdon (01235 529012) two days earlier, on both occasions performing jazz and poetry from Italy. Guitarist Terry Hutchins is once again entertaining diners at Carluccio’s Restaurants. On 3rd he will be in Stratford (01789 298607) and on 25th will be at the Bicester Village branch (01869 247651) for an early evening set. Contemporary jazz lovers no doubt will be packing the Warwick Arts Centre (024 76524524) to hear the Kit Downes trio on 6th and for Trevor Warren’s Disassembler on 12th. Contrasting sounds at The Stables, Wavendon, (01908 280800) include Courtney Pine on 17th and Back To Basie on 20th. Finally, Cheltenham Jazz Club
offer Jean Toussaint with the Dave Newton Quartet on 5th and the Steve Melling Trio on April 5th. Both are at the Everyman Studio Theatre (01242 572573) and the Club also feature Dave Newton’s Quartet with the stunning British saxophonist Simon Spillett on 16th but at D’Fly, 1A Clarence Place. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
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