Jazz this wekend on 3 18 -20/8

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Alyn has some modern big band to serve as a comparison for the NYJO

Geoffrey is into portraiture in jazz which is a handy hook for some favourite tracks ... nice playlist

Claire showcases Karen and Nikki

Claire Martin presents UK saxophonist Karen Sharp in session at this year's "Music in the Garden" Series.
Karen took up the tenor saxophone whilst studying composition at the Royal Northern College of Music. After an introduction to a recording of Dexter Gordon, she was instantly hooked, quickly joined the college jazz band and found regular work in a busy soul band based in Liverpool. Since relocating to London in 1999 Karen has become a busy freelance musician working alongside many top class British and American musicians
In this set her quartet consists of: Karen Sharp, Saxophone; Nikki IIes, Piano; Dave Green, Bass and Steve Brown, Drums.
Also on the show, Claire talks to Christine Tobin about her new album, "Sailing to Byzantium", and also to Colin Mills, Baritone Sax player, taking part in this year's European Jazz Orchestra tour

jon3 has more bands

Jez Nelson presents performances by two up-and-coming British big bands: Beats & Pieces and Sid Peacock's Surge.

Since emerging from the Manchester student scene in 2008, Beats & Pieces has developed a growing reputation for its fresh approach to the big-band genre. Bandleader Ben Cottrell's music embraces the influence of artists such as Radiohead and Bjork as well as British jazz from Loose Tubes to Led Bib. This gig sees them playing in front of their home crowd at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Sid Peacock's Surge is another of the UK's most exciting large ensembles. Peacock is a Northern Irish composer now based in Birmingham, writing kaleidoscopic music that combines an avant-garde edge with party-like energy. The band includes strings and African percussion alongside more traditional big-band instruments, here performing in an exclusive session recorded late last year.

[Serial_Apologist]

Geoffrey is into portraiture in jazz which is a handy hook for some favourite tracks ... nice playlist

That list includes a track from Kenny Wheeler's richly-composed, long not reissued "Windmill Tilter" album, for which he borrowed an extended Johnny Dankworth band - definitely not to be missed for those who so far have; and also one from Stan Tracey's "Alice in Jazz Land", recorded not long after

Claire showcases Karen and Nikki

Karen's a good straight-ahead tenor player - the Dexter connection being stylistically germane - and she's in fantastic company, though I have not heard this particular line-up.

jon3 has more bands

Both groups tops for quirky novelty value, if that takes yer fancy

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

speakin of dex [coz i like it]

[Serial_Apologist]

Was always sorry I missed Dexter on that visit to Ronnie's in '63, (being still at school), the time he was photoed having his shoes shined in Piccadilly Circus - he acted great in Round Midnight, one of the great jazz performances of all time I reckon.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

tonite

Beats & Pieces / Sid Peacock's Surge

30 musicians take to the stage during the course of this week's programme and that can only mean one thing – a big-band special! It's a second chance to hear a rabble-rousing gig and an exclusive session recorded for Jazz on 3 in the last year – including music we didn't have space for first time round – from two of the UK's most exciting large ensembles.

First up, Beats & Pieces, with an almost entirely previously unbroadcast set from their hometown gig in Manchester back in February. Leader Ben Cottrell draws inspiration from the big-band tradition of Colin Towns and Loose Tubes, as well as everything from glam-rock to trip-hop; and the opener, Jazzwalk, sets the tone, mixing swinging, big-band blasts with cheeky bits of musical detail and rock-inspired riffs. It's a rich and varied soundworld, but heavy drums and distorted guitar play an important part in defining the band's sound, nowhere more so than in the closing Djimi.

Northern Irish composer Sid Peacock loves a groove too, but the inclusion of marimba, flute and violin in his Surge ensemble gives his music a lighter, if no less vibrant flavour. Peacock's instrumentation is often masterful: there's a wonderful ballad mid-way through the set that starts simply before the texture builds; and there's a piece for the saxophone section of the band only that shows his skills off even when the forces are reduced.

[handsomefortune]

'bits & pieces', 'splurge' etc is yet to come.

in Round Midnight, one of the great jazz performances of all time I reckon.

i must remember to watch that film ....a hearty thanks to whoever it was that posted a dexter doc on the jazz forum fairly recently, it was fascinating....especially dexter walking along a beach pier & fun fair complex where band residencies once thrived. priceless....... no wonder some people were so upset at the arrival of 'les discotheque'! tbh i had to look up 'goofballs' in order to follow dexter gordon's story of travelling by bus from gig to gig with his new bride, (who soon slung dexter the hook, presumably heading for a goofball-free life)! i looked it up and 'goofballs' were used in wartime to keep US soldiers going, going gone....later taken up by jazz guzzlers so as to keep up with the pace. dexter is lucky to have made it through ......though one of the first links to surface is one for a play school called 'goofballs' which seemed an unusual choice of name nonetheless!

iirc a trusty wooden bookshelf behind dexter, whilst he's smokin & chattin his unique tales!