What would Sir Titus think? New jazz venue to open in Saltaire

From Nanette Brimble

On the last Sunday of every month we bring the some of the best local Jazz acts to the Salt Beer Factory Taproom. Our first 'Jazz On Tap' on Sunday January 26th, 7.30pm features...

Jamil Sheriff Quartet
“Jamil Sheriff is the Head of Jazz at Leeds college of music and has been described in the Times as “Excellent northern pianist who brings together a range of classic, contemporary and urban approaches”. He brings with him an outstanding quartet – Joel Purnell (tenor saxophone), Dave Walsh (drums) and Richard Hammond (bass). This is a first rate group that plays music from the Great American Songbook.

Mila Lee Music
Member of the National Youth Jazz Collective.

Doors 7.30pm - £5 entry, pay on the door.

Salt Beer Tap, 199 Bingley Road, BD18 4DH Saltaire, Bradford

Parliament gets something right!

(pic Tatiana Gorilovsky <tagorra@gmail.com>)

From Steve Crocker
I was really pleased to present the award of jazz vocalist of the year to a real favourite in our area, Newcastle's Zoe Gilby, who is not only a fantastic singer but also does so much to support jazz promoters in the region.

The ceremony was held at the Pizza Express in London's and winners came from many parts of the UK jazz scene - not just the London which tends to get all the plaudits in the jazz press at the moment. There was a really interesting diverse and eclectic mix of winners this year- it gave a good snap-shot view of what is new and current in jazz while still giving due respect to people who've been involved for most of their lives. Lovely to see that so many of the nominees and winners have links to Northern Jazz promoter venues too - including Barney Stevenson from Marsden Jazz Fest and Jamil Sheriff from Leeds College of Music

The awards this year were:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Zoe Gilby
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Josephine Davies
Jazz Album of the Year: Fergus McCreadie – Turas
Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Ezra Collective Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Xhosa Cole
Jazz Venue of the Year: Watermill Jazz, Dorking
Jazz Media Award: Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann
Jazz Education Award: Nikki Iles
Services to Jazz Award: Dame Cleo Laine
Special APPJAG Award: Henry Lowther 

More details here https://londonjazznews.com/2019/12/04/2019-parliamentary-jazz-award-winners

Steve Crocker
Northern Jazz Promoters/JazzLeeds

Winter gigs to warm you up in Leeds

Six JazzLeeds gigs to choose from this month, plus a special jazz jam session, and ... "Pope Visits Leeds!"- couldn't resist Lance Liddle's headline...

Kim Macari and John Pope @Inkwell Sunday 1 Dec 1.30pm 
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live” is the project of trumpeter Kim Macari centred around the power of storytelling to deliver great truths, to entertain and to take people on a journey. Music & spoken word in the great tradition of Celtic storytellers. John Pope (bass/electronics) an improviser and composer with a lifelong engagement with jazz, funk, rock music, pop-culture and mysticism through the cracked vessel of the free improviser.
Tickets http:// https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds/kim-macari-and-john-pope/e-pzklmy

Karen Sharp Quartet @Seven Arts Thus 5 Dec 8pm
“Sharp loves melody, whether composed or improvised, as reflected in her relaxed and natural phrasing” — Downbeat Magazine, February 2019
Karen Sharp, a multiple award winner, will be appearing with her long established line-up of Nikki Iles, Dave Green and Steve Brown – world class musicians who also happen to be great friends. Together they create a unique sound that is warm, spontaneous and exciting, incorporating free flowing improvisation with almost telepathic ensemble playing. Support from "Harmony Row" vocal harmonies and jazz trio
Tickets https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds/karen-sharp-quartet/e-zgxlpa

Tribute to Miles: Kind of Blue and Milestones @Seven Arts Sunday 8 Dec 1.30-4pm
What are the two greatest jazz album ever made? Perhaps it's an impossible question, but there are strong candidates in “Milestones” and “Kind of Blue”, recorded by the Miles Davis Sextet in 1959. Fergus Quill’s Sextet set out to recreate the magic
Tickets https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds/tribute-to-miles-fergus-quill-s-sextet/e-kymbkg

Chapel FM Jazz Collective @Roundhay Bar on Park Lane, Friday 13 Dec 8pm
Led by musician, composer and pianist Dave Evans, ChapelFM Jazz Collective is a young band with great vocals, exciting grooves and great jazz solos as you listen to a range of jazz, funk, neo-soul, afro-beat and original tunes.
Tickets https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds/chapel-fm-jazz-orchestra/e-jmlbpb

Christmas Jazz Cafe and Jam session @Inkwell Arts Sunday 15 Dec 1.30pm
Our final Christmas jam session is always the best! Bring your horn or your voice or just come down and watch the fun. The Jazz Workshop will be performing their Christmas party pieces and we've borrowed Matt Anderson's trio for the afternoon to play a few tunes and support the jam - Albert Palau piano , John Marley bass and Jay Davis drums.

Rush Hour Jazz@Seven Arts Bar Wed 18 Dec 6-7pm with Jon Taylor payf
Jon's extensive repertoire of standards from the great American songbook, jazz classics, latin numbers and blues, as well as tunes not usually associated with jazz – maybe a Christmas tune or two…

Xmas Party with Tom Sharp’s Big Band @Seven Arts Dec 19th 8pm
Silly Hats time! Led by trumpet virtuoso Tom Sharp, this 18-piece big band were the 2016 winners of the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival. Drawing on some of the finest musicians in the Yorkshire area, many of whom are outstanding soloists in their own right, the band features classics from the golden age of big bands, a giant xmas raffle and maybe a carol or two….
Tickets https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds/christmas-party-with-tom-sharp-big-band/e-vojlgx

That's it for 2019 but we'll be back in January 2020 with more great jazz (and a little soul too...)

Parr Jazz Liverpool- December dates

Matt Anderson Quartet 17 Dec

3rd Dec  The Weave Xmas special

Local band The Weave create a kaleidoscope of sounds which resists type. “Inventive”, “upbeat”, “celebratory”, “refreshing” are amongst the terms used by their reviewers.

10th Dec The Magpie Trio
United by their love for the tradition of legendary jazz trios from Ahmed Jamal to Sonny Rollins, Oscar Peterson to Dewey Redman, the Magpie Trio wind their way through many gems of the jazz canon

17th Dec Matt Anderson Quartet + Jam
The Quartet have "a quality that resonates with its inspirational source... Enjoyably un-pretentious." - Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise. This will be followed by a xmas jam! Jammers get free entry!

Parr Jazz address:
Studio4
33-45 Parr Street,
Liverpool,
L1 4JN

Bradford JATP winter highlights

 Mark Williams Trio 6 December

From Steve Bootland. JaTP Bradford

6 December MARK WILLIAMS TRIO
“Rock, metal and fusion influences, with added electronic effects, give this guitar trio from Newcastle an edgier and more modern sound, yet with melody and improvisation at its core. Having supported many big jazz names, Mark steps to the front with consummate jazz axe-man glory.”
Mark Williams – guitar
Paul Susans – bass
Russ Morgan – drums
Doors 19.45 for 20.30
Admission £7 or £5 for students and members

3 January FORJ QUARTET
“High octane grooves and expansive improvisation across a whole series of original compositions. Drawing inspiration from Jim Black, Ornette Coleman and Chris Lightcap, FORJ blur the lines between composition and improvisation in a highly interactive and exciting manner.”
Joe Wright – tenor sax
Josh Arcoleo – tenor sax
Nick Jurd – double bass
Jonathan Silk – drums
Doors 19.45 for 20.30
Admission £7 or £5 for students and members

17 January SOUNDS OF ’59
“Sounds of ’59 pay homage to four classic jazz albums: Mingus’ “Ah Um”, Davis’ “Kind of Blue”, Brubeck’s “Out of Time” and Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” amongst many others. Comprising some of Leeds’ finest jazz musicians. Adrian Knowles (bass) punctuates the music with the history and the tales behind these classics.”
Adrian Knowles – bass
Joel Purnell – tenor sax
Jim Corry – alto sax
Mark Chandler – trumpet
Kevin Holbrough – trombone
Jason Scott – piano
Caroline Boaden - drums
Doors 19.45 for 20.30
Admission £7 or £5 for students and members

@ New venue at The Latvian Club – tel 01274 546235.
Latvian Club
5 Clifton Villas
Bradford
BD8 7BY

Directions - It is the third building on the left-hand side of the street and car parking is available both on the road in in its own car park, off Manningham Lane, close to Clifton Villas.

December and January news at Ribble Valley

Manchester Jazz Collective -10 January 

From Sue Bradley

Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues is celebrating Christmas in funky style with local band, Red Hot Drop, 8pm on Saturday 14th December 2019 at Low Moor Club, Clitheroe.

We start 2020 with a Festival 2020  launch special featuring the Manchester Jazz Collective 7.30pm Friday 10th January 2020 at Clitheroe Rugby Club, Littlemoor Road, Clitheroe.

In the meantime, whilst our Low Moor Jazz Jammers are taking a well earned rest till their next session from 7.30pm on 30th January 2020 at Low Moor Club, our Women In Jazz group will be getting together from 4pm on Friday 13th December, and our community Big Band – the Ribble Valley Jazz Big Band has a sell out gig on Sunday 15th December at the Spread Eagle, Sawley, Lancs.

Scarborough Jazz at the Cask in December

New York Brass Band 19 Dec

From Mike Gordon : Gigs at the Scarborough Cask this December

December 5 Jazz Aesthetic
Jazz Aesthetic always enchants Scarborough audiences with its energy and challenging repertoire of contemporary jazz. The band comprises music students from the University of Hull, directed by Peter Elsdon. Each year the line-up varies – there may be nine players, there may be twelve! £5

December 12 Players’ Night
This is always a night for surprises. Anyone who frequents Scarborough Jazz and would like to play or sing some jazz is welcome to perform. It’s an evening of variety and emerging talent. The resident trio will be happy to provide backing if required. Please contact Mike Gordon (01723 379818) if you would like to take part. It’s a fun night. £5

December 19 Christmas Party with the New York Brass Band
For our Christmas party leader James Lancaster is putting together a special selection of some of Yorkshire’s finest musicians. Their repertoire reflects a broad range of styles from jazz to pop, reggae to funk and New Orleans to ska. So it’s going to be a very jolly and entertaining evening. And there’ll be food to go with it! ‘A must see genre-splitting band’ The Guardian. £6

Doors open at 8.00 pm and music begins at 8.45.For more details, go to our website: www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk. Doors at The Cask open 8.00pm.

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

John Ellis plays Davenham

Our next great concert at Davenham in on Thursday 12th December (slightly early "Christmas concert") 7.30 for 8 pm £10 with The John Ellis Quartet

John Ellis is a pianist, composer, producer from the north of England. A founder member of The Cinematic Orchestra (contributing heavily to the albums Everyday and Man With The Movie Camera) he has also worked with the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen and DJ Vadim and led his own trio and 12 piece big band The John Ellis Big Bang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELuKFgGhERg

The line up is Ed Kainyek - Sax, John Ellis - piano, Grant Russell - bass , George Grundy - drums

You can book by e mail to jazz@davenham.co(no uk or com) or you can call 01606 74502 or 44253.
If you book by e mail, we should always send you a reply! If you don't get one, please call us or text Dave on 07919 621289.

From JAZZ@DAVENHAM TEAM
Doors and Bar open 7.30pm - Concert starts at 8.00pm

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

Sponsors - Tatton Brewery
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

Three lovely gigs at Sheffield Jazz

Fabled 6 Dec

Sheffield Jazz’z 2019 programme finishes on Friday 6 December at 20.00 at Crookes Social Club, featuring Fabled. Fabled is the brainchild of saxophonist/clarinettist Sam Rapley who has assembled a group of the most exciting young musicians on the UK music scene. In October 2018 they played a highly successful gig at The Lescar and we vowed then to bring them back soon to Sheffield. All close friends, the band’s empathy is clear in their unified sound. Richly atmospheric and expressive, Sam's music draws inspiration from Debussy, Jobim and Sarah Vaughan and is heavily influenced by film music: shimmering, impressionistic and multi-textured.

The 2020 programme commences on Friday 24 January at 19.30 at the Crucible Studio with the Jean Toussaint Quartet. Expect seriously exciting music from a saxophonist of international stature – from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the mid-eighties, to high profile collaborations in many jazz styles. Having wowed audiences at the Crucible Studio with his sextets in recent years Jean Toussaint now brings another excellent band to showcase his and their talents in the more intimate quartet format, featuring the acclaimed pianist Andrew McCormack who so impressed as part of Jean’s most recent Sheffield performance

Back at the Crookes Social Club at 20,00 on Friday 31 January, we welcome the
Fergus McCreadie Trio Do not miss this gig! Although you may not yet have heard of him, Fergus McCreadie is a phenomenal young pianist and his trio is one of the hottest, most exciting young groups in European jazz at the moment. Their concerts, highlighting their thrilling virtuosity, brilliantly attuned collective dynamism and their music’s huge emotional charge, have earned five-star reviews and an invitation to appear at Ronnie Scotts’ International Piano Trio Festival in 2019. They have also featured at Oslo and Stockholm Jazz Festivals. “Simply outstanding” – Jazzwise

Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, Sheffield S10 1TD,

Further details of the complete Sheffield Jazz programme can be found at
www,sheffieldjazz.org.uk 

Winter Jazz at Boston Spa

From Les and the team at Jazz at the Spa

Saturdays in December 2019

7th – Hot Fingers + Emily Campbell (pictured) – one of our most requested groups led by the UK’s finest exponent of the guitar and banjo – ‘Spats Langham’. The music is described as the “red hot jazz” of 1920s and 30s New York plus the French Coffee House sounds of Django Reinhardt et al. It’s a truly class act much enhanced by the delightful Emily – a superb, classically trained vocalist. Talent here in abundance and wonderful sounds. Not to be missed. www.hotfingers.co.uk

21st – Christmas Party Night with the Harlem Hot Stompers – and would you believe it – it’s party time again! Welcome to an evening of Christmas festivities with its warm atmosphere, nibbles, sarnies, mince pies and the rest plus the renowned Christmas raffle. Bring your own festive fare and share with your neighbours. And the whole fun filled evening driven along by the Harlems with guest musicians, Bill Smith and Mike Pembroke. All in all – a ‘cracker’ for Christmas! (Sorry!)

Saturdays in January 2020
4th – Savannah Jazz Band – our “traditional” start to the New Year. Despite the excesses of the past two/three weeks - you can’t have too much of one of UK’s most respected traditional jazz bands. Always a lively, humourous session with a smattering of R & B for good measure.

11th - G T Big Band – one of Yorkshire’s legendary Big Bands which has been in existence since 1969 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in June of this year. Specialising in the Big Band classics which you all know and love, the session will be enhanced by the presence of vocalist, Michaela Smith. One of our really special evenings – do join us!

18th – Frank Brooker’s Happy Chappies – our local hero, Frank, leads a star line up including Greg Wadman on trumpet, the superb Jim Wright on banjo/guitar, Phil Kampen on bass and all driven along by our favourite drumming man, Rod MacNamara. A truly eclectic combination of Dixieland, standards and R & B. Something here for everyone.

25th - Harmony Hounds – another blast from the past. One of our star performing groups in earlier times. The band, led by Chris Howse on banjo/guitar and vocals, has now reformed as a five piece and includes Andy Henderson on cornet, Willie Entwhistle on reeds/violin plus Colin Turner on bass sax and John Smith on drums. A miniature version of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra??  Whatever – it will be melody to the fore and we guarantee a most enjoyable evening.

Jazz in the Spa – Village Hall, High Street Boston Spa, Leeds, LS23 6AA. Weekly Live Saturday Traditional/Mainstream Jazz. 8.00.pm

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

Russel Corbett's winter round up in the North East

 Fergus McCreadie Trio 19 January Middlesborough

Christmas is on the horizon yet there is little indication of promoters winding down for the festive season, on the contrary, the month of December is as busy any other. Yes, there is a plethora of (near compulsory) Santa hat-wearing events but, hey, it's Christmas!

Jazz North East is straight in there on the first of the month with Deep Tide at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle and seven days later (Sun 8) at the same venue it's Magpie. The Jazz Co-op invites pianist Ben Gilbert to conduct a workshop at Sage Gateshead (Dec 7, 2:00pm) with a follow up trio concert at its Railway Street HQ (7:30pm). Birmingham Conservatoire undergraduate Francis Tulip brings in his quartet (Dec 22) to play an eve-of-festive season gig and the venue's annual party (Dec 15) features Budtet followed by an all-comers' jam session.

Pianist Paul Edis' A Jazzy Christmas visits Middlesbrough Town Hall (Dec 15, 2:00pm) with an array of star names including Jo Harrop and Matt Anderson getting into the spirit. This time last year Edis' show at Sage Gateshead sold out so this year a matinee performance has been added to the evening show (Dec 21). Both matinee and evening performances are likely to sell out - be quick, book your seats now, call the ticket office on 0191 443 4661.

January 2020 offers the (many) usual residencies across the region plus a few national touring names. Veteran bandleader Ray McVay returns to Sage Gateshead with his Glenn Miller Orchestra UK outfit on Sunday 5. It's a three o'clock start and if you dig beneath the schmaltzy, polished surface of Moonlight Serenade and the like you'll find a band chock full of been-there-done-that jazz musicians.

The Debra Milne-Steve Glendinning Trio calls in at the Jazz Co-op (Newcastle) on Jan 11 and at the same venue Dave Weisser's long-running Mingus-inspired Take it to the Bridge workshop (aka jam session!) continues weekly, Wednesdays and Berklee undergraduate Matt MacKellar has an engagement with his band on Jan 16. Jazz and Tapas is a hugely popular monthly jazz 'n' dine event at Arc, Stockton. The Pocket Jazz Orchestra, led by pianist Jeremy McMurray, will be there on Thursday 16, with dates already confirmed for the rest of the year. Booking essential on 01642 525199. A major highlight on Saturday 18 is up on the the border at the quirky Watchtower Gallery in Berwick upon Tweed. Adrian Cox returns with his quartet (Joe Webb, Simon Read, Gethin Jones) following this year's sell out performance.

The Middlesbrough jazz renaissance continues with Sunday Jazz, a monthly multi-bill showcase event in the Town Hall. Jan 19 is 'Burns' Night Jazz' featuring, you've guessed it, musicians from Scotland! The line-up is well worth catching - Georgia Cécile, Tom Bancroft's 'In Common', Joe Williamson's 'Animal Society' and the Fergus McCreadie Trio. Do support this venture.

Newcastle's Black Swan basement venue hosts a twice monthly jam session regularly attracting top class musicians from across the UK and beyond looking to sit-in. The first session of 2020 is set for Tuesday 14. Up on the first floor on Wednesday 22 Lithuanian-born, Tyneside-resident vocalist Julija Jacenaite makes a welcome return with guitarist Alexis de Alfaro (originally from Cusco, Peru, long-since resident on Tyneside). Three quid on the door, recommended.

Finally, on Friday 24 you'll have two opportunities - in Durham and Darlington - to hear the Dean Masser Quartet. At one o'clock in the Gala Theatre's studio space tenor saxophonist Masser will be joined by Dean Stockdale, piano, Ed Harrison, double bass and drummer Gaz Hughes. Please note this concert will be an advance sell out - book now on 03000 266 600 or miss out. In the evening (8:00pm) Masser's quartet will play to a similarly full house at Opus 4 Jazz Club. The Traveller's Rest on West Auckland Road is an established modern jazz venue and you'll need to arrive early (no advance tickets) and join the queue.

Dec 1 Deep Tide Bridge Hotel Newcastle NE1 1RQ

Dec 3 Customs House Big Band All Saints, Cleadon SR6 7UR

Dec 4 Archipelago Cumberland Arms, Newcastle NE6 1LD

Dec 7 Ben Gilbert Trio The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD

Dec 7 Roller Trio + J Frisco Bobik's, Newcastle NE2 3JY

Dec 8 Jason Isaacs Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle NE1 6SF*

Dec 10 Tyne Valley Big Band Fox Inn, Hexham NE46 3DB

Dec 12 Hot Club du Nord Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee SR8 2RN

Dec 13 Dean Stockdale Trio Merry Monk, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP*

Dec 13 & 14 Strictly Smokin' Big Band Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle NE3 3BD

Dec 15 Sunday Jazz Town Hall, Middlesbrough TS1 2QJ*

Dec 15 Alice Grace Quartet Black Bull, Blaydon NE21 4JJ

Dec 22 Strictly Smokin' Big Band Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle NE1 6SF* 

Dec 31 Zoë Gilby & Mark Williams Prohibition Bar, Newcastle   

Jan 5 Glenn Miller Orchestra UK Sage Gateshead NE8 2JR*

Jan 11 Debra Milne-Steve Glendinning Trio The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD

Jan 16 Matt MacKellar Band The Globe, Newcastle NE4 7AD

Jan 18 Adrian Cox Quartet Watchtower Gallery, Berwick TD15 2HE

Jan 19 Sunday Jazz Town Hall, Middlesbrough TS! 2QJ*

Jan 22 Julija Jacenaite & Alexis de Alfaro Jazz Café Mezzanine, Newcastle Arts Centre NE1 1SG*

Jan 24 Dean Masser Quartet Gala Theatre, Durham DH1 1WA*

Jan 24 Dean Masser Quartet Traveller's Rest, Darlington DL3 9ER