The strangeness will wear off ....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Alyn is full of delights and pleasures - all killer &c

Claire does Merrry Xmas

Claire Martin presents a concert by the BBC Big Band with Australian trumpeter/ multi-instrumentalist James Morrison featuring a selection of festive classics. Conducted by Barry Forgie and recorded at Sevenoaks School,Kent.
Band Members:- Brian Rankine, Mike Lovatt, Danny Marsden, Martin Shaw (Trumpets); Andy Wood, Gordon Campbell, Ashley Horton, John Higginbotham (Trombones); Dave O'Higgins, Paul Booth, Paul Jones, Sammy Mayne, Jay Craig (Reeds); John Horler (Piano); Chris Allard (Guitar); Zoltan Dukany (Bass); Tom Gordon (Drums); Anthony Kerr (Percussion).

Geoffrey has more seasonal mischief

Jez does the year thing

Jez Nelson presents the best jazz albums of 2013. The programme features selections from Jez and studio guests, Helen Mayhew and John Fordham, including music by Pat Metheny, Kit Downes, The Thing and Kenny Wheeler. Plus, the favourites of the year from our international correspondents and, in tribute to British pianist Stan Tracey, a track by his quartet recorded live for Jazz on 3 in 2004.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Alyn is full of delights and pleasures - all killer &c

Claire does Merrry Xmas



Geoffrey has more seasonal mischief

Jez does the year thing

Enjoying Alyn's JRR whilst "sippin". Nice selection of the non seasonal obviousness. And no banjos!

Ta Ra! Have s GOOD one.

BN.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Alyn's programme really nice...."mellow"..and thats not just the cooking brandy.

Have a good one.

BN.

[Ian Thumwood]

JRR was a curious mix of stuff. I've always liked the Hampton track as I am a big fan of the all-star recordings he put together in the late 30's / early 40's. The Hodge's record is pretty special too.

I find it curious as to how the passage of time changes the perceived wisdom with alot of jazz from the 50's and 60's. Archie Shepp seems an ok-ish player these days and the coupling with Baker doesn't seem that radical as it might have done in the 1980's. Shepp seems almost mainstream nowadays and somewhat left behind by the more technically savvy saxophonists around today. A little bit of Chet Baker goes a long way too, I feel. As for the MJQ, the blues requested made intriguing listening as this tune used to be frequently called out in a band I used to rehearse with. I quite like Lewis' use of counterpoint and I can understand the poise of their playing which mades Calum a fan of the MJQ. However, they do sound a bit twee these days. You could imagine how they must have exicted a young Manfred Eicher.

Despite the inclusion of the recording by Shepp (sounded like a blowing session) and Sun Ra (hugely enjoyable although I don't understand why he is so reverred) the most modern sounding player tonight seemed to be Cannonball Adderley on the closing track. It is staggering that critics were so hard on him at the time. His playing with Miles seems always to be pushing against the harmonies. I just felt that his chorus seemed more contemporary than anything else played tonight.

Picking up on the the whimsy of the MJQ recprding , I was in a craft shop this afternoon where the owner was playing a CD by Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang which was often even more baffling. This music is of it's time but it sounded fabulous. There is something surreal about these recordings as the kind of jazz they performed petered out as the jazz in the 1930's seemed to acquire a harder edge and a smoother sense of rhythm. However, the harmonies sound really modern and almost aware of how classical music was developing at the same time.

[Quarky]

Claire does Merrry Xmas



Geoffrey has more seasonal mischief

Geoffrey's programme pick of the bunch this week - every one a winner!
Is there a case for switching Geoffrey's programme with Jazz Line up? GS is always predictably "good", and more of an early evening programme for a wider audience, whereas JLU tends to have very variable content, and perhaps better suited to late night broadcast.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

that would get my vote Oddball ...

Ian the MJQ are not twee ... play on good speakers with plenty of volume, you might catch how good they sounded in a NYC spot some decades back ... they cook but it is subtle ... no band could match their swing