Not jazz? Count me in, Stilgoe

**BLUESNIK'S REVOX** · 10-03-17, 16:45

Johnny may hate Jazz. But Stewart Lee is a big fan/advocate of Evan Parker and associates? He's also very funny about Paul Nuttall of Ukp notoriety. Who lost many of his "really close friends" in a pie shop.

BN.

**Serial_Apologist** · 10-03-17, 17:13

Originally posted by BLUESNIK'S REVOX View Post

Johnny may hate Jazz. But Stewart Lee is a big fan/advocate of Evan Parker and associates? He's also very funny about Paul Nuttall of Ukp notoriety. Who lost many of his "really close friends" in a pie shop.

BN.

Stewart did an "illustrated" radio interview with Billy Jenkins a few years ago, but bully for him - I didn't realise he was an all-round advocate. I guess were the beeb to be a bit more turned on they'd offer him a themed series at least, if not a telly show featuring jazz musicians of his choice, as Spike Milligan did for Stan Tracey back in the 1970s.

**BLUESNIK'S REVOX** · 10-03-17, 17:38

Yes, he's a very strong advocate for Evan and I think plays some of his music as a warm up. Which lets the audience know they're not getting Jim Davidson or "Tarby"!

BN.

**Manupstairs** · 10-03-17, 17:38

Lee would be a better host of a show than Ken Clarke (whose recentish series proved that while he is one of the better Tories that is not saying much and he is still quite obnoxious).

**Alyn_Shipton** · 10-03-17, 18:46

I think that is a bit unfair to Ken, whose last series I co-produced (and I worked with him as an associate producer on all the previous ones). His jazz knowledge is excellent and he worked with his guests on music selection for all the shows. Stewart has done various jazz shows (mainly for R4, but also on the recent jazz pop up station) - and curated an excellent pair of concerts at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival a few years ago before the Cullum invasion - with a good cross section of UK avant gardists. But - and he'd be the first to say this - his interests are firmly at that end of the spectrum. Ken's breadth of knowledge is extremely wide from swing to post-bop, and he has not only photographic recall of album covers, but a really first rate memory of the music itself. BTW if you can't wait for Geoffrey's show on Oliver Nelson, there's always this podcast to keep you going: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013lqqf

**Alyn_Shipton** · 10-03-17, 18:48

BTW BN Stewart's warm up for his current show "Content Provider" was Moroccan hip hop...not quite as, er, accessible as Evan....

**BLUESNIK'S REVOX** · 10-03-17, 19:17

Originally posted by Alyn_Shipton View Post

BTW BN Stewart's warm up for his current show "Content Provider" was Moroccan hip hop...not quite as, er, accessible as Evan....

He'll do anything to get a laugh? Gone way down in my estimation already. Next he'll be nicking jokes from very old Ted Ray tapes. (I met Ted Ray once, he was "comedy"(!) on a Larry Parnes stabled Marty Wilde/Billy Fury "end of the pier teen show" in Yarmouth. Misery, morose and malignance do not cover).

BN.

**Tenor Freak** · 11-03-17, 10:48

Remember reading "Notes and Tones" where Art Taylor interviewed a number of fellow musicians. Most of them hated the word "jazz" and I understand why.

That Jazz Now on Monday looks interesting as Cohen the Trumpet is excellent (he plays a blinder on Mark Turner's CD Lathe of Heaven).

Example here:

**BLUESNIK'S REVOX** · 11-03-17, 12:28

Originally posted by Tenor Freak View Post

Remember reading "Notes and Tones" where Art Taylor interviewed a number of fellow musicians. Most of them hated the word "jazz" and I understand why.

That Jazz Now on Monday looks interesting as Cohen the Trumpet is excellent (he plays a blinder on Mark Turner's CD Lathe of Heaven).

Example here:

That's very OK. He (Cohen) reminds me a lot of Jon Eardley, at least at the start of his solo. For those who still have the Mulligan Qrt EPs next to the Dansette. And...a tune to define laconic hipness? THAT one. Bonjour Benny ...and Betty. But not Theresa.

BN.

**Ian Thumwood** · 12-03-17, 17:40

I am really surprised that the Israeli bassist Avisahi Cohen has not generated more opprobrium on this board and also seems ignored. He is massive in France where he enjoys a profile far, far greater than in the UK. I would have to say that his trio is pretty useful and I attended one of his gigs expecting to come out feeling really hostile to what I perceived his approach to be but found myself completely won over. The music is, if you like, a kind of piano trio response to the Pat Metheny group and the material is hugely listenable. It still remains jazz and the pianist, Gilad Hekselman, was unfortunate to have second billing to the leader as he as much a star as the bassist. I think they were called back to play three encores and the audience were extremely reluctant to let them leave the stage. It was one of that year's musical highlights and no small wonder the trio was invited back the next year albeit the novelty of their music had worn off a bit for me as you cannot beat hearing a group for the first time and encountering something fresh.

Musically it was a bit safe yet the whole thing was delivered with such panache that even the harshest of critics would have been converted. My only reservation is that I am a firm believer that the UK should not be encouraging Israeli artists to perform in this country and this is supporting terrorism. The two gigs I saw were both non-political yet I had a slight misgiving that nothing will be done about Israel if their artists are allowed to have succour in European venues. I wonder if, under Trump, we will end up in a similar position regarding American artists?

**CGR** · 13-03-17, 17:41

Originally posted by Ian Thumwood View Post

I am really surprised that the Israeli bassist Avisahi Cohen has not generated more opprobrium on this board and also seems ignored. He is massive in France where he enjoys a profile far, far greater than in the UK. I would have to say that his trio is pretty useful and I attended one of his gigs expecting to come out feeling really hostile to what I perceived his approach to be but found myself completely won over. The music is, if you like, a kind of piano trio response to the Pat Metheny group and the material is hugely listenable. It still remains jazz and the pianist, Gilad Hekselman, was unfortunate to have second billing to the leader as he as much a star as the bassist. I think they were called back to play three encores and the audience were extremely reluctant to let them leave the stage. It was one of that year's musical highlights and no small wonder the trio was invited back the next year albeit the novelty of their music had worn off a bit for me as you cannot beat hearing a group for the first time and encountering something fresh.

Musically it was a bit safe yet the whole thing was delivered with such panache that even the harshest of critics would have been converted. My only reservation is that I am a firm believer that the UK should not be encouraging Israeli artists to perform in this country and this is supporting terrorism. The two gigs I saw were both non-political yet I had a slight misgiving that nothing will be done about Israel if their artists are allowed to have succour in European venues. I wonder if, under Trump, we will end up in a similar position regarding American artists?

Let's leave the nasty antisemitism at the concert hall / jazz club door and just enjoy the music.

**Rcartes** · 25-03-17, 22:47

This is NOT anti-semitism

Originally posted by CGR View Post

Let's leave the nasty antisemitism at the concert hall / jazz club door and just enjoy the music.

Let's be clear: it's perfectly possible to criticise Israeli policy, especially towards the Palestinians whose territory it has under occupation, without being antisemitic. This tactic is often used by the Israeli government and its apologists to try to deflect criticism. Not sure whether you've simply made a mistake, or are an Israeli apologist, but either way you are wrong.

**Quarky** · 26-03-17, 08:53

Originally posted by Rcartes View Post

Let's be clear: it's perfectly possible to criticise Israeli policy, especially towards the Palestinians whose territory it has under occupation, without being antisemitic. This tactic is often used by the Israeli government and its apologists to try to deflect criticism. Not sure whether you've simply made a mistake, or are an Israeli apologist, but either way you are wrong.

According to House Rules, political discussion should be reserved for Ideas and Theory Board.

However I was prompted to listen again to the bassist Cohen Trio ( I thought the quartet on Jazz Now was brilliant). The music seems so innocuous that it is difficult to make any criticism. It does seem to have a Hebrew flavour, but so does Klezma.

Currently listening: "Arab Medley" - best number so far.....................

**Rcartes** · 26-03-17, 10:22

Originally posted by Oddball View Post

According to House Rules, political discussion should be reserved for Ideas and Theory Board.

Fair enough, but it was CGR wot done it first, so your comment might have been better aimed in their direction....

Not jazz? Count me in, Stilgoe

Not jazz? Count me in, Stilgoe

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