Gilli's Got Tallent

I'm just an old hippy that likes more than the three minute pop song so it was with a certain degree of trepidation and scepticism that I put on an album performed and produced by one of the BJMC members. Gilli Bloodaxe, known to frequent the Wednesday free improvisation sessions at The Open House, has produced and album called This Is Bon Bon. And it does have a hippy vibe. It is 22 short poems with accompanied by some excellent improvisation and electronic effects. Every tack is different and I have to admit to laughing out loud and thoroughly enjoying it.

Ho would I describe it? Quirky, imaginative, warm, very funny, a recording that would give Ivor Cutler some very serious competition, and not just because there is no harmonium! Gilli narrates the poems and plays drums. The fablous Geoff Hearn plays saxes, Monty Oxymoron - keys and the strangely named Adrian Newton - electronics. Check this album out - www.myspace.com/gillibloodaxe or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003O0WEL6/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1284710410&sr=8-1-catcorr but it is cheaper to buy the album directly from Gilli. Recommended track, The Curve of Your Neck.

Martin Drew

Jazzwise this month reports the death, following a heart attack, of the great drummer Martin Drew. Martin was in his 60's and played with Oscar Peterson for 30 years and Ronnie Scott for 20. I saw Martin at the BJC on numerous occasions. His hard bop driving wall of sound had a fantastic swing to it. He led his own band of stellar players, The New jazz Couriers, which included the fantastic Mornington Lockett, Steve Melling, Nigel Hitchcock, Jim Hart, and Andy Cleyndert. I also saw him with Ben Clatworthy. Martin was pretty much losing his hearing, which must be an occupational hazard for a professional drummer. Several of his albums can be downloaded from www.emusic.com

Clark Tracey Sextet

Fabulous gig at Brighton jazz Club last night. Clark is obviously promoting some of the new boys on the block. All five of his players were in their early 20s and were superb instrumentalists and the band played some nice compositions. Wayne shorters One By One was great but I really liked Clark's own composition, The Devil's Chair. He really should write all his own stuff. Although I thought they were all superb Lewis Wright, vibes, who also now plays with Empirical, played some amazing solos clearly demonstrating that he has a voice of his own. And it was good to see a packed club for such quality live music.

Brecon again

An amazing long weekend. The jazz festival is plagued by the Fringe Festival which is probably far bigger in that it has more events and is probably what draws the biggest crowd. The Fringe is mainly local rock bands and it attracts large numbers of young people who go to "have a good time" which means getting off their faces. We camped in the Rugby Club. First night was a nightmare with loud drunken yobbish behaviour going on until 4 am. It seemed to be that cock, or hen, that crowed the loudest got the most points. The town centre was also full of drunks too with police around but not doing much.

The jazz was great and so we will probably go again. Brecon is beautiful too, set in the hills and valleys of the Brecon Beacons. I saw Dave Stapleton 5tet again. Fantastic. Definitely my current favourite band. Ben Waghorn was substituted this time but the sub was a fabulous player.

Saw the National Orchestra de Jazz play songs of Robert Wyatt. Fantastic arrangements although they played so loud I could not hear the solos properly. It was bloody cold in the marquee too. 10 Piece band so pretty much a small big band. Check out the album on emusic.

Jon Lloyd Quintet - Brighton Jazz Club

First time I have come across Jon Lloyd although he has been around for some time. Currently doing a Jazz Services tour and fortunately BJC is on the circuit. With John Law and Asaf Sirkis in the band I knew it would not be a wasted night. They only play with the best and are worth going to hear in their own right. Jon has had Mark Sanders and Paul Rogers in previous bands so I was expecting something at the end of free improvisation. The music was more European than American in style (if those categories hold any more) moving between floating ECM type soundscapes and groove based extended improvisations. The excellent guitar and bass guitarists gave the band a full and locked in sound. Jon's coruscating lines made the music float and soar. His use of space and dynamics was effective and he had a number of musical conversations with John Law. In fact the band was very much that, a band, rather than just a collection of great improvisors. His compositions, arrangements and use of sop and bass clarinet reminded me strongly of John Surman but this band also built intensity through complex groove structures and extended modal improvisations. Asaf, who also plays with the likes of Tim Garland and Gillad Atzmon, drove the music with his musical and imaginative drumming along with Rodney Teague, the bass guitarist who played riffs rather than walking. Rob Palmer on guitar used effects pedals well giving the music ambience and John Law huddled at the back of the stage using sequences and recordings, as well as playing piano, to further embellish the music with effects.

As with so much jazz it is so much better live. The CD for sale at the gig is well worth the £6 but is typical of many jazz CDs in that it was produced before the start of a tour to promote the music and does not reflect the way the live music has matured as the band members have developed it over a period of gigging. Jon really should do a live double album at the end of the tour. Fabulous stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/jonlloydmusic

Swanage Jazz Festival

I caught the Dave Stapleton Quintet at the Swanage Jazz Festival on the weekend. Fantastic. Blew me away. Some really new composition and firework performances. Check them out on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBB_KqDsAt8 A new band "Aquarium" also took the festival by storm. Four of us went on a last minute whim. Will organise a bigger group next year.

Back Door Too played. A trio of Bass, Sax and Drums. The original band (Back Door) started in the late 60's and was one of the first jazz rock outfits. Unusual because of the line up and Colin Hodgkinson often played lead on his bass guitar. I met Colin in the Bar after their gig and bought a CD. I had the original Back Door albums on vinyl which Colin told me were probably worth a few bob now. Shame I gave all my viynl away last year. Still regret it but never played them even though I have a Rega turntable. Ron Asprey was the original sax player. He lived in Saltdean near Brighton and I saw play live at Brighton Jazz Club once, died a few years ago as did Tony Hicks the drummer - leaving one. John Peal used to play them regularly. Good to see that Colin is making the proect happen again as this was a seminal late 60's jazz rock outfit. There is a good interview with Colin on Cultural Foundation website.

Also Saw John Law trio. Have his four albums. Very Jarrett influenced from his 80s period, which is good. Is playing as part of the Jon Lloyd Quintet at Brighton Jazz Club tonight. Should be a treat.

Brecon Jazz Festival

A great line up this year at Brecon. Will be my first foray there. Dave Stapleton Quintet to kick it off and very cheap ticket prices. Tons of more contemporary and some scandinavian stuff too.

Tigran Hamasyan

This piano player is Armenian and has played with some of the top international jazz artists and yet is still in his early / mid 20s. All compositions are his own and the quality of playing and arrangements is right up there. Comes to jazz from listening to rock. Strong grooves, great arrangements, fabulous drumming and piano playing. Jazz that really rocks. Two albums, New Era and Red Hail and both are cracking. Red Hail has female vocals. Great voice but for me does not add anything. Probably makes the music more commercially viable though. Thanks to radio FIP for bringing this one to my attention.

Dave Stapleton Quintet

Been listening to all three albums, downloadable from www.emusic. com. Great groove based compositions with fabulous solos, particularly from the two young but virtuoso horns, Jonny Bruce and Ben Waghorn. And so young. the future of jazz in the UK? I hope so. Caught the band live at Swanage and have bought tickets to see them at Brecon in a couple of weeks time. Thanks to the Jazzwise cover disc a few months ago where the DSQ track really stood out. Dave Stapleton also runs the EQ jazz label. What a talent.

Christian Scott

A new discovery for me that is. Heard him on Radio FIP which has been playing him a lot. Really modern,atmospheric trumpet playing.