Phil Robson at Davenham

On Thursday 12th June Davenham Jazz present

The Phil Robson Trio 
Organ, guitar, drums; an unusual line up,which these 3 will surely make the most of. Guitarist Phil Robson, who's fronted several excellent bands and toured with American luminaries such as Dave Leibman, this time teams up with drummer Gene Calderazzo and organ virtuoso Ross Stanley.

Bookings 01606 74502 & 44253 or email jazz@davenham.co

Venue- Davenham Theatre: 59 Church Street, Davenham, Cheshire CW9 8NF

SPONSORED BY TATTON BREWERY
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

Jazz at Undercliffe

Ken Butler writes

The June and July jazz programme at Undercliffe Cricket Club, Bradford features

Wed 11 June: Jenny Smith & Tony Denton
Wed 18 June: The Devil's Jukebox (red hot ragtime)
Wed 25 June: Georgina Barr & Matt Ball
Wed 9 July: Joyce Bryant & Rod Mason
Wed 16 July: Em Brulee Mason & the Do-rite-trio
Wed 23 July:  Lara Rose & Jim Corry
9.00pm –11.00pm

All with the Ken Butler Trio

Undercliffe Cricket Club Intake Rd, Bradford, Undercliffe BD2 3JR
01274 637162
www.undercliffecricketclub.co.uk/

Live jazz in the steel city

Matt Postle

Jez Matthews writes - Jazz Wednesdays at the Lescar, Sheffield

4th June / Sally Doherty / £5
Singer and songwriter Sally Doherty makes a welcome return.  A musician with eclectic influences from Astrud Gilberto to Nick Drake, this line-up features the lyrical playing of Paul Kilvington (piano), Frank Grime (bass), and Caroline Boaden (drums).  An intimate evening of original music, jazz ballads and folk with a latin flavour.

11th June / Fat Face  (part of Kim Macari's new Apollo Jazz Network tour) / £5
Featuring Matt Postle (trumpet), Molly Jay (tuba) and Troy Conn (guitar), this unconventional trio from North Carolina draw on many influences including Bill Frisell, Ron Miles and Kenny Wheeler. Embracing the unusual line-up, theirs is a whole new take on the jazz trio; from old time jazz standards to effects pedals and free improvisation. Molly Jay is sponsored by Wessex Tubas.

18th June / Spacef!ght / Shatners Bassoon double bill (in association with Jazz North) / £5
Two bands ploughing new territory. First up, mixing jazz improvisation with electronics and projections, Spacef!ght feature Roller Trio’s James Mainwaring, guitarist Tom Adams and electronics by Radek Rudnicki, combined with 3D projections from Jakub Hader. Then Shatners Bassoon feature six Leeds based composers/improvisers Michael Bardon (bass/electronics), Ollie Dover (sax/clarinet), Joost Hendrickx (drums/electronics), Andrew Lisle (drums), Johnny Richards (keys/electronics) and Craig Scott (guitar/electronics).

25th June / Jamil Sherrif Trio (in association with Jazz North) / £5
Straight from an international tour of China, one of the UK’s most respected pianists, Leeds based Jamil Sheriff brings his top class trio to the Lescar with Pete Turner on bass and Dave Walsh on drums. A fresh take on the classic piano trio; deep yet melodic, swinging and approachable.

Website - http://www.jazzatthelescar.com/

The Lescar Hotel
Sharrowvale Road
Sheffield
S11 8ZF

Southport summer specials

From Geoff Matthews

On Sunday 22nd June at The Royal Clifton Hotel Southport PR8 1RB Southport Melodic Jazz presents our ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ special

Matinee 2 pm -The SuEyo Sextet. First class Liverpool vocalist with Steve Parry (tmpt) Andor Jensen (saxes) Anthony Ormesher (gtr) John McCormick (bass) Rob Stringer (drums) Tickets £13/12
5 pm Dinner-Jazz - Twin Frets (Willy Fluss/Vernon Fuller gtrs-vocals) Tickets £16 includes dinner
8 pm Evening gig - David Newton/Colin Oxley/Andrew Cleyndert Trio Tickets £15/14
All day ticket £42/40.

August 1st to 3rd in Victoria Park Southport PR8 2BZ ‘Jazz, Blues & Soul In The Park’
A joint promotion with Southport Melodic Jazz and Southport Flower Show to raise money for Queenscourt Hospice Southport

Friday 1st 6.30 pm to 11 pm in the Grand Marquee Wine, dine & dance to Swingshift Big Band with vocalist AJ Brown – tickets £25 includes hog roast supper

Sat 2nd 12 noon to 5.30 pm on the park bandstand (admission £2 or £5 per family of 4) Mike Smith’s Ginger Tunes Quartet, SuEyo Quartet, Vernon Fuller, The Angry Men

Sat Evening in the grand marquee 6.30 to 11 pm Wine dine & dance to King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys and Vernon Fuller’s SoulCall sextet. Tickets £40 includes dinner

Sunday 3rd 12 noon to 5.30 pm on the park bandstand (admission £2 or £5 per family of 4)
Andy Champion's ACV band, 909 Bluesband, The Weave, Zoe Gilby Quartet.

Full details for all the above on www.jazzinsouthport.co.uk
For tickets ring 01704 541790

Mardi Gras in York

Karen Sharp

Ron Burnett writes - The York scene is thriving!

My Mardi Gras Band plays at the poshest venue, Middleton's Hotel Skeldergate Cromwell Road on fortnightly Thursdays . My weeks are 5th and 19th June playing everything from Bix to Bird. We alternate with Bejazzled plus Mike Riley on 12th and 26th June 

www.ladyannes.co.uk 01904 611570

Plus - at NCEM - Karen Sharp Quartet
Friday, June 6 @ 7:30 PM
Karen Sharp saxophones Nikki Iles piano Steve Brown drums Dave Green bass
One foremost saxophonists in the country, Karen is joined by world-class musicians and performs a mixture of standards and contemporary tunes by Jimmy Rowles, Thelonius Monk, Mingus and Kenny Wheeler with material from the band's latest album, ‘Spirit’ as well as some new compositions.
£13/11/5
National Centre for Early Music , Walmgate, York, York, GB

All the regular York Jazz gigs can be found on http://jazzinyork.com/events

Barnes and Emblow at Scarborough's 30th....

Mike Gordon writes

4 June Alan Barnes & Jack Emblow
www.alanbarnesjazz.com
This is the first of two 30th Anniversary gigs for Scarborough Jazz.  Alan Barnes is one of Britain’s most renowned and well loved reeds players. An acclaimed composer and bandleader, he is compere of The Scarborough Jazz Festival, and has won many British Jazz Awards in the arranging, baritone, alto and clarinet categories.  Legendary accordionist Jack Emblow has worked on radio, TV and films and with many top  jazz players including George Chisholm, Stephane Grappelli and Toots Thielemans.  He was with Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django band and has played concerts world-wide.  With Alan’s clarinet inter-weaving with the sound of the accordion, these musicians share a musical affinity that is delightful to hear.  They will be backed by The Mike Gordon Trio. (MG3) £6

11 June Matt Holborn Quartet
www.mattholborn.com
Matt is a jazz violinist who has played all over the world.  He’s appeared at Buckingham Palace, The Edinburgh Jazz Festival and the Festival Django Reinhardt de Samois.  Matt has toured Holland, Germany, France, Hungary, Belgium and the UK.  His quartet play gypsy jazz with Matt on violin, Ben Mallen – lead guitar, Ben Danzig – rhythm guitar and Emlyn Vaughan on double bass.  The Internationally renowned jazz violinist Tim Kliphuis says “ Matt stands out with his instantly recognisable sound”.  £5

18 June Matt Ball
www.matthew-ball.co.uk
Trombonist/composer Matt has played with Clare Teal, Andy Prior, Alan Barnes and Dennis Rollins at many venues including Ronnie Scott’s.  As a session musician, he has worked with Gloria Gaynor, Candi Staton, Martha Reeves and Percy Sledge.  Matt has plenty of big band experience with NYJO, The Pasadena Roof  Orchestra and The Memphis Belle Orchestra.  His festival credits span Manchester, Scarborough, Wigan and Southport.  MG3.  £3

25 June Julia Wray
Julia has played saxes across the North of England either as leader of her own quartet, with General Cluster, or as a soloist.  For a while she went much further afield, working in the Middle East and on cruise ships.  She played for United Arab Emirates royalty and had residences at prestigious hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  Julia is now once again a hard working musician in Yorkshire.  For this appearance she will play a mixture of standards and jazz classics.  MG3.  £3


Scarborough Jazz @ The Cask Inn
Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 2LQ
01723 500570

website: www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk

Parr Jazz''s new venue...

 David Knopov

John McCormick writes

'ParrJazz', Liverpool is now housed every Tuesday in Frederiks Bar/Bistro, 32 Hope St. Liverpool L1 9BX .

Our June programme is

Tuesday 3rd June
The Angry Men- Fusion quartet, £3,
   
Tuesday 10th June
Anthony Kinsey- Jazz singer/pianist

Tuesday 17th June
Harold Salisbury- Jazz saxophonist    

Tuesday 24th June
David Knopov- Jazz singer

£3, Students FREE ENTRY on presentation of NUS card, 0151 708 9574, Jazz and open jam session, www.parrjazz.co.uk      

More details http://www.parrjazz.co.uk/

Five from Seven....

AJ Brown

A mouthwatering month of music this June presented by Seven Jazz Leeds. Swoon to the jazz vocals from AJ Brown, Larynges Inc, Anne Cleveland and the Allsorts Trio, and the Jean Watson Collective. Be amazed by the new music from Kasseldown and Kim Macari's Sextet, tap your feet to the swinging Al Woods band, groove to bluesy improvisation from Jim Corry- Rob Mitchell and to celebrate Le Grand Depart in Leeds hear the brand new Yorkshire Jazz Suite from James Hamilton and the Doncaster Youth Jazz orchestra

Kasseldown@Inkwell
Sun 1 June 1-4pm. Matt Anderson (tenor sax), Harry Orme (guitar),Martin Longhawn (keys) Sam Vicary (Bass) and Steve Hanley (Drums)
A new project led by guitarist Harry Orme, formed in late 2013 playing all original compositions.  The compositions and approach are inspired by the music of contemporary groups led by Ari Hoenig, Aaron Parks, Gilad Hekselman, Julian Lage, Brad Mehldau, Jonathan Kreisberg, Adam Rodgers and Aaron Goldberg, as well as the great quintets of the 50s/60s led by Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis and Brown/Roach.  £7/5 conc, kids under 16 free

AJ Brown@ Seven Arts
Sun 8 June 1-4pm AJ Brown vocals and sax, Martin Longhawn piano, Alex Dee guitar, Dan Owen bass, Tim Carter drums
AJ Brown is a talented singer and alto sax player who recently appeared to great acclaim with Clare Teal and Ian Shaw at the Harrogate International Festival. He performs a programme of great songs ranging from popular standards to his own refreshing material. With his easy charm and captivating stage presence this will be a great afternoon’s entertainment. Tickets http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events. Tickets £7/5 concessions kids under 16 free,

"Vocal Heroes”@ Inkwell
Sun 15 June 1-4pm. Over the last couple of years Seven Jazz have featured “Local Heroes” - jazz groups that have come up through our jazz workshops. Today will be a chance for some of the talented jazz singers that we’ve glad to have been associated with in Chapel Allerton over the last few years, as we feature jazz singers Anne Cleveland with the Allsorts Trio, Jean Watson and her Collective , and accapella vocal quartet "Larynges Inc" featuring our Seven Jazz Voices choir inspiration John Sermon. £7/5 concessions kids under 16 free

Jim Corry- Rob Mitchell Quintet @Seven Arts 
Sun 22 June 1-4pm. Jim Corry on alto sax, Rob Mitchell tenor sax, Martin Longhawn keys, Gary Jackson bass, Steve Hanley drums
It has been quite a year for Jim Corry recording and touring with the band Jamiroquai and featured on their number one platinum selling album 'Rock Dust Light Star'. Be good to see him at Seven Arts with his quintet featuring the very groovy leader of the Abstract Hip Hop Orchestra Rob Mitchell
Tickets: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events. £7/5 concessions kids under 16 free

World Premiere of the “Yorkshire Jazz Suite”@Seven Arts
Sun 29 June 1-5pm. A special extended afternoon of Jazz showcasing to the world the very best of Jazz in Yorkshire, part of 2014 “Le Grand Depart Fringe Festival” with James Hamilton conducts the Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra – “The Yorkshire Jazz Suite”, Matt Bourne solo piano, Kim Macari Sextet featuring Leah Gough Cooper, and Al Woods Quintet. Tickets- http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events. £7/5 conc kids under 16 free – advance purchase advised!

Our venues:
Seven Arts 31(a) Harrogate Road Chapel Allerton Leeds LS7 3PD Tel 0113 26 26 777
Inkwell  31 Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton Leeds LS7 3LW Tel 0113 307 0108

Coming soon in July- BLUESFEST14

More details http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/

A date to save in your diary..

From Lucy Woolley at Jazz North

Here’s a date to save in your diary! On Monday 21st July 2014 Jazz North will showcase 12 bands from the new 2014 northern line roster at the Manchester Jazz Festival (mjf) from 12pm until late at 3 venues in the city centre.

So we’re talking about 12 artists, 3 venues, 11 hours!  We hope you’ll be able to join us and spend the day taking in the music and meeting the artists and Jazz North team who will be on site all day.
We’ll be back in touch soon with more details. Here are the diary dates and venues in Manchester on Monday 21 July

www.jazznorth.org

Fusebox Leeds gig cancellation

Fusebox Leeds have sadly had to cancel the gig at Seven Arts featuring Space F!Ght + Radek Rudnicki / Matthew Postle Duo on 29 May 2014.

Co-founder, Dave Hatfield is seriously ill and as a mark of respect the bands decided that it would be sensitive to re-schedule to another date.

Fusebox will let people know when the new date will be and we all wish Dave the very best for a recovery.

http://www.fuseboxleeds.org.uk/

It's (British) trad dad@the Spa

Chris Walker's Pedigree Jazz Band

From Les and the Team

7th June 2014 – Chris Walker/Roger Marks Pedigree Jazz Band – a wonderful evening’s entertainment last year and probably the most professional and interesting presentation ever from the stage in Boston Spa. Formed with the specific intention of being a tribute to the popular tunes of the “British Trad Jazz Era”, the band is led by Chris on reeds and Roger on trombone and features other members of Roger’s legendary West Country “Armada Jazz Band”. One not to miss.

14th June 2014– Hot Fingers with Emily Campbell – the fingers in question belong to the inimitable “Spats” Langham. The music is described as “vintage acoustic string music” – the red hot jazz of 1920s New York and sophisticated 1930s swing to which is added the “French Coffee House sound”. Following requests, they are joined on this occasion by the classically trained Emily Campbell who adds a further touch of class with her vocals drawing inspiration from such as Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

21st June 2014– Chris Pearce’s Frenchman Street Jazz Band – a welcome return by this respected traditional jazz band from the Midlands led by Chris on reeds and featuring long standing friends Richard Leach on trombone, Phil Probert on banjo and “Uncle” Graham Smith on drums. First class musicians all and a rousing session is guaranteed.

28th June 2014- Harlem Hot Stompers – and talking of rousing sessions and raising roofs we welcome back those enthusiastic purveyors of stomping traditional jazz sounds. Now led by ace banjo player Ian McCann, the band features Bozza’s favourite – Bill Smith on cornet, the superb John Ronan on trombone and the wonderful piano interludes of John Reade. Sheer enjoyment!


Jazz is at the Village Hall High Street Boston Spa, Leeds LS23 6AA

Situated just off the new section of the A1(M) at Junction 45 signed Wetherby and Otley.

Summertime jazz @Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme

Don Weller - Wilmslow Sept 2nd

Graham Brook writes about the events happening in Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme

Summer Jazz in Wilmslow....
June 3rd:- Rosie Harrison and Ron Hills with the Tom Kincaid trio
June 10th:- Zoe Kyoti, Alan Barnes and Dave Turner
June 17th:- The Freddie Garner Quartet
June 24th:- Jamie Brownfield, Matt Palmer and the Tom Kincaid trio
July 1st:- Dave Newton, Dave Minshull and Ed Harrison
July 8th:- Greg Abate, Mike Hall and the Vinnie Parker trio
July 15th:- Rod Mason and the Tom Kincaid trio
July 22nd:- The Brownfield/Byrne Bop Six
July 29th:- Zoe Gilby, Dave Browning and the Vinnie Parker trio
August 5th:- Shades of Shearing
August 12th:- Tom Kincaid (solo keyboard)
August 19th:- Terry Brunt, Peter Carlton and the Tom Kincaid trio
August 26th:- John Hallam, George Galway and the Tom Kincaid trio
September 2nd;- Don Weller and the Steve Moore trio
September 9th:- Gilad Atzmon, Rosie Harrison and the Tom Kincaid trio
September 16th:- The Janet Seidel trio

Every Tuesday night at Wilmslow Conservative Club, 15, Grove Avenue, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5EG (01625) 528336. Start 8.30pm. £7 on the door.


Summer Jazz in Cheadle Hulme.... 
The Sinatra Swingers with Dave Browning, Nigel Cretney, Vinnie Parker, Gordon Robinson, Dave Turner and guest vocalists
June 5th:- Roy Forbes
July 3rd:- Rosie Harrison
August 7th:- Loretta Scott
September 4th:- Zoe Kyoti
October 2nd:- Debbie Wilson

The first Thursday of each month at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club, Mellor Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5AT 

Phil wins "best newcomer" award

Well done to Phil Meadows who has won the "newcomer of the year" in the 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Phil is a sax player from Manchester, who was educated at Leeds College of Music. His debut album is called Engines of Creation. Other Northern Winners include Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year-Arun Ghosh and Jazz Ensemble of the Year - Beats & Pieces Big Band

Christine Tobin won jazz vocalist of the year in the 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The Irish-born singer and composer, whose fine interpretation of songs ranges across jazz, blues and folk, was born in Dublin but is now based in the UK. In 2012 she won a British Composer Award for Sailing to Byzantium, her settings of poems by WB Yeats and last year she recorded imaginative versions of Leonard Cohen classics. Tobin has recorded frequently with many leading jazz musicians, including Kenny Wheeler and Mike Gibbs. Her vibrant interpretations of Bessie Smith were featured in film director Mike Figgis's Red White and Blues documentaries in the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series.

The winners were announced last night for the parliamentary awards, which are now in their 10th year, and which are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG). The awards are sponsored by music licensing company PPL.

The 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards in full:
• Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Christine Tobin
• Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Arun Ghosh
• Jazz Album of the Year: Troykestra ‘Live At Cheltenham 13 Jazz Festival’
• Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Beats & Pieces Big Band
• Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Phil Meadows
• Jazz Venue of the Year: EFG London Jazz Festival
• Jazz Media Award: Jamie Cullum
• Jazz Education Award: Issie Barratt and the National Youth Jazz Collective
• Services to Jazz Award: photographer David Redfern
• Special APPJAG Award: Chris Barber

Chris hangs up his hat...

After 29 years at the helm, Jazz Services Director, Chris Hodgkins has taken the decision to retire.

Chris has been a  good friend of jazz promoters and musicians over the years. He was instrumental in the development of Jazz Services as a national resource for the music, championing its cause and offering his advice to anyone who required it.

Among his many successes, he helped to establish the National Touring Support Scheme with Debbie Dickenson, which has enabled the careers of hundreds of artists over the years, along with the organisation’s Rural Touring Support Scheme (with the National Rural Touring Forum), the Jazz Promoters Award (with the PRS for Music Foundation) and the Online Music Business Resource, which offers free career advice to anyone who needs it. Chris also helped to set up the annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards to recognise jazz talent and ensured the Arts Council’s continued support of Jazz Services.  His influence and guidance have been crucial to the careers of many of the UK’s top jazz artists, and his enormous contribution to the wider scene has already been recognised by the receipt of a BBC Jazz Award and a British Jazz Award - both for Services to Jazz.


Chris himself says, “It’s extremely satisfying to be able to look back on my time at Jazz Services with pride; not so much for myself, but for the work the whole organisation has done for the jazz scene and for the artists and promoters who have come through its schemes over the years.  To have been so involved in the scene and in the careers of the many fantastic players and volunteer promoters who have used Jazz Services is quite humbling, and I something will always cherish.  I wish to thank all the trustees at Jazz Services and everyone I’ve worked with over the years for their contribution.”

Pink Lane bubbles with Pink Champagne...

Dave Parker doing the business....

It is always good to spend time in the company of people who get stuff done and Pink Lane Jazz Co-op are do-ers, enthusiastic, welcoming, with good ideas. At the opening event on Friday 9th May saw The Globe, an empty pub in Newcastle City Centre re- open - as a jazz venue. The place was packed out with 200 or so people who'd bought shares in the venture and wanted to come along to show support.

Pink Lane have a good team. Dave Parker (why is it so often bass players who run jazz clubs?) and Minnie Frazer gave the introductions. Good to hear that Minnie is a surveyor - all the best projects have one, they are just the people to tackle all that tricky building stuff. Not that The Globe is in bad nick - a bit of TLC and some paint will help enormously. More importantly it's locations is pretty good - no neighbours to annoy, the college car park not far away, the station and metro just a short walk. Visitors were offered a tour. The downstairs room is cosy - it is going to be crowded for the bigger gigs but that'll be no bad thing. The upstairs has potential for a chill out area, education space, maybe even with a patio!

We were all given a glass of celebratory champagne and a questionnaire to fill in about the place, and crucially to say what we were prepared to do to help make it happen. This was a good idea, immediately getting people thinking and talking. I liked the genuine welcome and the optimism too - no negative comments here about the uneconomic nature of jazz or gloom about the future.  A co operative will undoubtedly be hard to make work and there will inevitably be fall outs but the first session felt good and the support genuine. Joan Geany, who has seen it all when it comes to co operative ventures, was stunned by the support and number of people who had come forward. "The largest and best co-op I've been involved in" she says. Good to see a jam session in full swing too and nice to be invited to play by Dave (the fraternity of bass playing jazz organisers is intact) and nice also to see that the original tenants of the pub were back to help run it and were so pleased it see it full again.

So keep an eye on Pink Lane Jazz co - op. This could be a model for the rest of the UK Jazz world, invented in Newcastle.

Manchester Jazz Fest line-up announced

Tin Men and the Telephone

Manchester Jazz Festival have announced their line up of bands for the 2014 Festival 18-27 July.

Headliners include Soft Machine + Keith Tippett, Arun Gosht, The Bad Plus, Tin Men and the Telephone (the world's first interactive jazz ensemble!), Natalie Williams, Lonnie Liston Smith and Beats n Pieces and many more.

Ten days of great music (much of it free) in the middle of Manchester with 85 band, 8 venues, a festival commission by guitarist Anton Hunter, plus afternoon teas at the Midland Hotel with music - will be good!

More details here http://www.manchesterjazz.com/festival-programme-2014/

Dave Douglas and Uri Caine live at Leeds

There were several alternatives for the jazz audience in Leeds this Friday – Snarky Puppy were at the Wardrobe,  Melt Yourself Down at the Brudenell - but for those who like their jazz to be more reflective there was just one place to be, to see trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianist Uri Caine at the Assembly Rooms. The concert was the only UK date on a wide ranging European tour. Perhaps too wide ranging - “We’ve just played dates in Turin, Basle Hamburg, Seville, Katowice in Poland and now Leeds” said Dave Douglas.  “Not the most obvious tour schedule!”

The evening in Leeds was a captivating conversation between trumpet and piano full of memorable melodies and a wide palette of musical colours. The concert showcased their music from “Present Joys”, newly released on the Greenleaf label. There was a spiritual feel to some of the pieces, inspired by “The Sacred Harp” tradition - a cappella choral music that flourished in the south of the United States in the 18th and early 19th centuries, originating from Protestant Christian music.

Other pieces including several new Douglas compositions, embraced classical music, jazz and blues.  “Hamfist” was fast and furious, “End to End” (a tune composed of endings to pieces) was witty and fun, “Old Put” inspired by the distant sound of a train featured Dave Douglas whistling through the trumpet. Uri Caine’s piano playing was awe inspiring- a brilliant accompanist, an inventive soloist, always listening, always finding new directions to explore.

Their delight in playing for the audience and for each other was clear. As the daylight faded into night through the Assembly Room windows and the atmosphere became even more enchanting, the duo were given a rousing acclamation at the finish and the inevitable encore.

Leeds has been a good city in which to hear jazz duos in recent months. The Assembly Room, and especially Jo Nockells, the programme organiser are to be commended for their excellent programme. The concert was recorded by the BBC for Jazz on 3, so listen out – it will be well worth it.

Steve Crocker