Exclusive interview with Darius and Chris Brubeck about continuing the family legacy with the new Time OutTakes release.
A tribute to legendary trumpet man Eddie Blair from Bruce Adams
Ron Simpson takes us on a musical tour of the 50 states of America and the jazz numbers written about each of them
Scott Yanow assesses The Class of 1921
Californian sax star Jeff Clayton remembered by Peter Vacher
Patti Durham pays tribute to pianist Keith Nichols
Digby Fairweather reflects on the unique talents of Brian Lemon
Jim Simpson speaks to Gef Lucena from Saydisc about their newly reissued Matchbox Bluesmaster series in the latest edition of our Henry’s Blueshouse takeover section
Continuing our series of profiles of great jazzmen from a golden age of jazz, one of the finest of today’s saxmen, Alan Barnes, writes about the unique qualities of the much-missed Dick Morrissey.
Deprived by coronavirus of the chance to hear virtuoso French boogie pianist Ben Toury at the Birmingham, Sandwell and Westside Jazz Festival, Ron Simpson investigates his story and the development of his original style.
We look back on the unusual career of the late Dr. Frank Minyard, jazz trumpeter and (for 40 years) New Orleans coroner.
Ron Simpson interviews celebrated percussionist, Marilyn Mazur, about her latest album on Stunt Records.
One of the finest ever alto saxophonists in British jazz, Peter King, died recently. Roger Cotterrill pays tribute.
California-based jazz guru, Scott Yanow, examines the recording career of Louis Armstrong and chooses his top 50 tracks.
Articles on Jazz in Time of Plague will include piquant observations on staging a jazz festival (in Birmingham) in a world of constantly changing rules and restrictions.
Highly regarded jazz promoter, John Billett, makes his choices in I Get a Kick Out Of… Jazz Rag pays tribute to the outstanding trombonist Roy Williams, deservedly awarded the MBE in the recent Honours List.
Big Bear MD Jim Simpson shared some of his favourite tracks from his 60 years and counting in the music business with Brum Radio’s takeover show. Listen back here:
Annie Ross, Britain’s international jazz singing star, who died in July – a personal tribute and reminiscence from award-winning singer Val Wiseman.
Scott Yanow, top American jazz writer, delves back into the history of V-discs, the records that won the war.
Trombonist/arranger Callum Au gives the background on his acclaimed new album with Claire Martin, Songs and Stories.
Recently retired jazz pianist Brian Dee, the Melody Maker’s New Star of 1960, reflects on his 60 years of music – which include working with Bing Crosby, Miles Davis, Johnny Mercer and more
Ron Simpson investigates the comedy jazz band phenomenon with Bob Kerr, late of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, the New Vaudeville Band and his own Whoopee Band.
Paolo Fornara of hot Italian group The Jim Dandies gives us his personal choice of musical favourites.
AND we ask a selection of noted jazz figures the question on everyone’s lips, ‘What did you do in the Lockdown?’ Share the experiences of top singer Claire Martin, famed writer Scott Yanow, Festival Director Denny Ilett, award-winning blogger Lance Liddle, top trumpeter Digby Fairweather and many more.
‘There Must Be Thousands,’ the debut record release of Birmingham band The Quads was John Peel’s Single of the Decade. His consistent support on his now-legendary radio show was largely responsible for the record reaching Number 66 on the UK Charts in 1979. In 2001, he still listed it as one of his all-time favourite records.
With its blistering rallying cry against the establishment “The world’s a changing place, your views are history” in this era of global crisis, economic collapse and authoritarian leaders, Big Bear Records, the original UK indie label, decided that once again, “There must be thousands who will look at you, the things you do, and tell you that you’re wrong”.
Now for the very first time, ‘There Must Be Thousands’, Undertones-esque B-side You Gotta Jive and anti-unemployment anthem ‘Gotta Getta Job’ have been remastered and reissued as a digital only EP.
The Quads went on to record three more Big Bear singles, ‘There’s Never Been A Night // Take It’ (1979), ‘UFO // Astronaut’s Journey’ (1980) and ‘Gotta Get A Job // Gang Of Kids’ (1981).
The Quads were Josh Jones (vocals and guitar), Jack Jones (guitar), Jim Docherty (bass guitar), and Johnny Jones (drums).
It has been decided not to proceed with the 2020 edition planned for this Autumn.The award is always based on a musician’s performances in the year in question.
To make an award in a year which gave pitifully few opportunities for musicians to perform would be a mockery of the integrity of these well respected awards.
2020 will be the first time that the awards have not taken place in a history dating back to the launch, by Humphrey Lyttelton and Benny Green, in 1987.We look forward to the awards resuming in 2021 – follow us on Facebook for news of nominations and online voting.
Previously unheard material recorded by The Stoop Down man himself, Chick Willis, recorded in 1997 and now released for the first time on Big Bear Records as an exclusive digital-only album.
Track Listing:
Lou’s Place
Please Don’t Go
Every Day Is A Good Day
Come Back Home
You Got The Devil In You
The Things I Used To Do
What You Got On Me
One Eyed Woman
Tin Pan Alley
Big Fat Woman
Four Wives Blues
Voodoo Woman
Doin’ The Yang Thang
Featuring
Chick Willis: vocals and guitar; Tony Ashton: piano and organ; Roger Inniss: bass guitar; Sticky Wicket: drums
After a record 8200 jazz fans voted in this year’s British Jazz Awards, we’re now able to reveal who were the winners and runners up in each of the 16 categories in the 33rd edition:
Trumpet
Enrico Tomasso
Ryan Quigley
Bruce Adams
Henry Lowther
Quentin Collins
Trombone
Mark Nightingale
Ian Bateman
Dennis Rollins
Chris Dean
Adrian Fry
Clarinet
Julian Marc Stringle
Alan Barnes
Adrian Cox
Pete Long
Mark Crooks
Alto Sax
Alan Barnes
Soweto Kinch
Derek Nash
Paul Towndrow
Alexander Bone
Tenor Sax
Karen Sharp
Robert Fowler
Art Themen
Leo Richardson
Dean Masser
Guitar
Jim Mullen
Nigel Price
Martin Taylor
Dominic Ashworth
Deirdre Cartwright
Piano
David Newton
Nikki Iles
Leon Greening
Fergus McCreadie
Tom Kincaid
Double Bass
Dave Green
Alec Dankworth
Alison Rayner
Andrew Cleyndert
Tom Farmer
Drums
Steve Brown
Clark Tracey
Winston Clifford
James Maddren
Gaz Hughes
Vocals
Sara Dowling
Claire Martin
Georgia Mancio
Ian Shaw
Chris Dean
Miscellaneous Instrument
Courtney Pine (soprano sax)
Jim Hart (vibes)
Ross Stanley (organ)
Theon Cross (tuba)
Ben Holder (violin)
Rising Star
Alex Clarke
Xhosa Cole
Luca Manning
Harrison Dolphin
Flo Moore
Small Group
Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen
Nigel Price Organ Trio
Clark Tracey Quintet
Ezra Collective
Leo Richardson Quartet
Big Band
Echoes of Ellington
Gareth Lockrane Big Band
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
NYJO
Syd Lawrence Orchestra
Best New Album
Woodville Records for Alan Barnes: Plus Eleven
Stunt Records for Claire Martin and Jim Mullen: Bumpin’
Diving Duck Recordings for Jim Mullen: Volunteers
ACT Music for Gwylim Simcock: Near and Now
Ubuntu Music for Leo Richardson Quartet: Move
Best Re-issue Album
Rhythm & Blues Records for Soho Scene ’59-60
ECM Records for John Surman: The Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon
Acrobat Music for The Nat Gonella Collection 1930-62
Decca Records for Tubby Hayes: Grits, Beans & Greens
Discus Music for Keith Tippett: The Unlonely Raindancer
In addition to the four musicians, bands or albums shortlisted by our nomination panel ahead of the public vote, we’re pleased to include those receiving the most “write in” votes in their respective categories among the runners up.
A massive thanks to our nomination panel, all those who voted and helped spread the word, and most of all the musicians and labels for continuing to keep jazz alive and well and allowing us to enjoy this great music.
We are delighted to announce the nominations in this year’s British Jazz Awards. The UK’s longest-running awards for recognising the best jazz musicians, bands and album releases, the nominations in each category are chosen by a carefully selected panel of figures from across the jazz community.
The final winners are decided by the public, with an open vote taking place between now and 28th October online and by post.
Email jazzawards[at]bigbearmusic.com to obtain free copies of the postal voting form to distribute at your jazz club, record society, festival or other gathering of jazz fans
The full list of nominees are as follows:
Trumpet
Bruce Adams
Enrico
Tomasso
Henry
Lowther
Ryan Quigley
Trombone
Adrian Fry
Dennis
Rollins
Ian Bateman
Mark
Nightingale
Clarinet
Adrian Cox
Alan Barnes
Julian Mark
Stringle
Pete Long
Alto Sax
Alan Barnes
Derek Nash
Paul
Towndrow
Soweto Kinch
Tenor Sax
Art Themen
Karen Sharp
Leo
Richardson
Robert
Fowler
Piano
David Newton
Fergus
McCreadie
Leon
Greening
Nikki Iles
Guitar
Dominic
Ashworth
Jim Mullen
Martin
Taylor
Nigel Price
Bass
Alec
Dankworth
Alison
Rayner
Andrew
Cleyndert
Dave Green
Drums
Clark Tracey
James
Maddren
Steve Brown
Winston
Clifford
Miscellaneous Instrument
Courtney
Pine (Soprano Sax)
Jim Hart
(Vibes)
Ross Stanley
(Organ)
Theon Cross
(Tuba)
Vocals
Claire
Martin
Georgia
Mancio
Ian Shaw
Sara Dowling
Rising Star
Alex Clarke
Harrison
Dolphin
Luca Manning
Xhosa Cole
Big Band
Echoes of
Ellington
Gareth
Lockrane Big Band
NYJO
Scottish
National Jazz Orchestra
Small Group
Clark Tracey
Quintet
Digby
Fairweather’s Half Dozen
Ezra
Collective
Nigel Price
Organ Trio
Best New Album
ACT Music for Gwilym Simcock: Near and Now
Diving Duck
Recordings for Jim Mullen: Volunteers
Stunt
Records for Claire Martin and Jim Mullen: Bumpin’
Woodville
Records for Alan Barnes: Plus Eleven
Best Reissue Album
Acrobat
Music for The Nat Gonella Collection
Dreyfus
Records for Lester Young: Blue Lester
ECM Records
for John Surman: The Amazing Adventures
of Simon Simon
Big Bear MD Jim Simpson sat down with Alan Musson on Monday night on his Jazz Kaleidoscope show to talk him through the stories behind some of the choicest jazz cuts from our back catalogue, including getting Kenny Baker’s Dozen together, meeting Nomy Rosenberg in a gypsy encampment in Holland and how a few nights at Ronnie Scotts turned into an 18 month stay for Howard McCrary.
Many thanks to the 5500 people who voted in this year’s British Jazz Awards. As the only awards that take the pulse of the nation’s jazz fans in deciding the outstanding musicians, bands and album releases over the last twelve months, these provide a valuable form of recognition for the best in the UK’s jazz scene.
The four nominations in each of the 16 categories were selected by a group of respected figures within the Jazz community, a list of whom is included below. In addition, voters had the chance to vote for any musicians not nominate who they considered worthy of a placing as a ‘write-in’ vote – the highest placed of these from each category are included in the final listings
Despite the continued brilliance of all of the nominees over years (and in some cases, decades), a majority of last year’s winners failed to make it two in a row, with Winston Clifford topping the polls in the Drums category for the first time while Kansas Smitty’s House Band and The Gareth Lockrane Big Band making debut wins in the Small Group and Big Band categories. In addition, it was third time lucky for young trumpet star Alexandra Ridout, who walked away with the hotly contested Rising Star award, given to the best up and coming musician under 25.
So without further ado, the results of the 2018 British Jazz Awards are (with winners at number 1, runners up 2-5):
Trumpet
1
Enrico Tomasso
2
Bruce Adams
3
Freddie Gavita
4
Henry Lowther
5
James Copus
Trombone
1
Mark Nightingale
2
Dennis Rollins
3
Mark Bassey
4
Ian Bateman
5
Annie Whitehead
Clarinet
1
Alan Barnes
2
Adrian Cox
3
Pete Long
4
Julian Marc Stringle
5
Mark Crooks
Alto Sax
1
Alan Barnes
2
Soweto Kinch
3
Sam Mayne
4
Paul Towndrow
5
Mike Chillingworth
Tenor Sax
1
Karen Sharp
2
Dave O’Higgins
3
Art Themen
4
Robert Fowler
5
John Hallam
Piano
1
Dave Newton
2
Nikki Iles
3
Gareth Williams
4
Nikki Yeoh
5
Craig Milverton
Guitar
1
Jim Mullen
2
Martin Taylor
3
John Etheridge
4
Nigel Price
5
Dominic Ashworth
Double Bass
1
Dave Green
2
Alison Rayner
3
Arnie Somogyi
4
Andrew Cleyndert
5
Calum Gourlay
Drums
1
Winston Clifford
2
James Maddren
3
Steve Brown
4
Sebastiaan De Krom
5
Clark Tracey
Vocals
1
Claire Martin
2
Clare Teal
3
Tina May
4
Georgia Mancio
5
Sarah Dowling
Miscellaneous Instrument
1
Courtney Pine (soprano sax)
2
Ross Stanley (organ)
3
Emma Fisk (violin)
4
Andy Panayi (flute)
5
Ben Holder (violin)
Rising Star
1
Alexandra Ridout
2
Nubya Garcia
3
Nadim Teimoori
4
Daniel Casimir
5
Alex Clarke
Small Group
1
Kansas Smitty’s House Band
2
Nigel Price Organ Trio
3
Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen
4
Tipitina
5
Alison Rayner Quintet
Big Band
1
Gareth Lockrane Big Band
2
NYJO
3
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
4
Beats & Pieces
5
Calum Gourlay Big Band
Best New Album
1
Woodville Records: “Ask Me Now”- Alan Barnes & Dave Newton
2
ECM Records: “The Study of Touch” – Django Bates Beloved
3
ART Records: “The Tour Continues” – Art Themen’s New Directions Quintet
4
Lake Records: “Thanks For The Melody” – Jeff Barnhart & Spats Langham
5
33 Jazz Records for “Risky Furniture” by Paul Jolly and Mike Adcock
An exhibition of rarely seen Jazz and Blues photography from the 1960s by Jim Simpson, taken in Birmingham.
The musicians, from New York, Chicago, Mississippi, New Orleans, Kansas City and London have one thing in common. They were all on international tours and were photographed in Birmingham.
Among the subjects are Tommy Tucker, who had a huge hit with Hi Heeled Sneakers, touring coast to coast co-headlining with Ray Charles. Buddy Guy, photographed as a shy but smartly dressed 27 year old in the College of Advanced Technology, now Aston University, is now the grand old man of Chicago Blues.
Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Mick Jagger have all been household names for more than half a century. The passage of time has not dimmed their legendary status since the days when they were all being photographed backstage in Birmingham by trumpet player turned record company founder Jim Simpson.
There’s also The Move, The Moody Blues and The Spencer Davis Group from Birmingham – not forgetting the very first picture of Black Sabbath, the band which Jim managed on their way to the top of the charts with their first album. Back in the 1960s, access to ‘talent’ was more relaxed than it is today and Jim was on the spot to capture the stars. – Graham Young, writing for The Birmingham Post
October 2018 marks our 50th anniversary, but how did it all begin? Big Bear MD Jim Simpson sat down with Des Tong to talk him through how national service, the intransigence of major labels and the Brum blues scene all played a part in the founding of the UK’s longest running independent label
We were pleased to receive coverage for the Jagger, The Killer and The Prettiest Man In Rock And Roll exhibition at Lee Longlands on Broad Street. Big Bear MD Jim Simpson was interviewed by Stephanie Donglei Wang – you can see the article below in Chinese and an English translation provided by Yang Yue
Dave Travis invites Jim Simpson of Big Bear Records on to Brum Radio for music and anecdotes from his time on the Birmingham and international music scene. Jim reminisces about Black Sabbath, photographing American Jazz artists and missing out on managing The Charlie Daniels band amongst other stories.
Adrian Goldberg welcomed Big Bear MD Jim Simpson onto his BBC WM series, The Other Side Of… to talk talk him through Big Bear’s 50 years and counting in the business, plus some of Jim’s favourite tunes. Click here to listen.
Jagger, The Killer and The Prettiest Man In Rock and Roll
Before founding Big Bear Music in 1968, Jim Simpson worked as a photographer for Melody Maker and Midland Beat. In this interview on BBC WM’s The Sunny and Shay Show, he talks about his experiences of capturing such legendary figures as The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Nina Simone on film.
Big Bear MD Jim Simpson talks to Australian journalist on his The Vinyl Guide podcast about the Big Bear Music story, from managing Sabbath to the present day!
Black Sabbath’s first manager, and current Big Bear Music MD Jim Simpson, discusses the history of the band and what lead them to become such a world-renowned force. Interviews taken from BBC 5Live, BBC WM, BBC Shropshire, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire and BBC Gloucester in January 2017 to mark Sabbath’s The End tour finishing in Birmingham.
Jim Simpson, Big Bear Music MD, makes the case for Birmingham being The UK Capital Of Rock And Roll. With contributions from Jasper Carrott, Pete York (Spencer Davis Group), Michael Grant (Musical Youth), Roy Davis (Shy) and Garry Chapman (Cryer). Produced as part of the BBC WM Takeover in 2016.
During the 1970s, Big Bear had the pleasure of working with a number of notable American bluesmen on the American Blues Legends tours. Traipsing around Europe in a splitter bus with the likes of Tommy Tucker, Willie Mabon, Homesick James, Eddie Guitar Burns, Eddie Playboy Taylor, Lightnin’ Slim and more, at the end of each tour the musicians would gather in the studio to lay down the material they’d spent the previous weeks performing on record.
The results were the American Blues Legends series of albums, released on Big Bear Records. We’ve always been rightly proud of them. But imagine our surprise when we found ourselves the subject of a two hour Blues Unlimited podcast, all the way from Tucson, Arizona.
You can listen to Sleepy Boy Hawkins’ deep dive on the American Blues Legends 73 and 74 albums here featuring knowledgeable introductions alongside some great music.
Unfortunately, the American Blues Legends albums aren’t currently available on CD. You can, however, listen to them on this handy Spotify playlist featuring all of Big Bear Record’s American blues records:
Howard, the ninth of ten siblings, was part of The McCrary Family Choir, a force to be reckoned in American Gospel Music. He fronted The McCrary Five who shared top-billing with The Jackson Five on a coast-to-coast US tour, became friends with Michael Jackson and sang on two of Michael’s albums.
LA based, Howard subsequently recorded with Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Nina Simone, Ringo Starr, Dionne Warwick, Earth Wind and Fire and Chaka Khan, whose sister Tammy he married. He worked with Quincy Jones, was Grammy-nominated in 1985 and received The Duke Ellington Award for Most Promising Gospel Writer.
McCrary took the piano chair and was featured singer with The Phil Upchurch Combo on their 1993 UK/European Tour and for reasons that are pretty much unexplained to this day, jumped ship to stay in Birmingham at the tour’s end.
He made Birmingham his home for the following 18 months and hooked up with Big Bear Records who built a fine band of musicians around his vocals and piano-playing and secured regular gigs at Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham. The band broadcast on radio and TV, undertook several tours including a 40 date UK tour and another through Holland, Belgium and Germany.
This album shows Howard in his element at Ronnie’s, performing to yet another sell out crowd. Never before released, we are now pleased to be able to make this music available for the first time.
Track Listing
Would You?
Hurry On Down
Goin’ to Chicago
Moody’s Mood For Love
Moments Like This
Over The Rainbow
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Every Day I Have The Blues
I Was A Little Too Lonely
Route 66
Don’t You Drive Me Away
Featuring: Mike Burney [saxophones], Josh McCalla [guitar], Roger Inniss [bass] and Tim Jones [drums]
“This is probably as close as we’ll ever get to matching the legendary Buck Clayton Jam Sessions and possibly better than many of the JATP concerts recorded by Norman Granz.” – Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here
This is the second album sailing under the flag of Jazz City UK, recorded in Birmingham and seeking to draw attention to this City’s jazz heritage. Back in 1984, Big Bear had the idea of emulating the Eddie Condon New York session where two front lines alternate, and sometimes play together.
On a summer’s afternoon in Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, Humphrey Lyttelton and the then up and coming Digby Fairweather headed the two four man front lines backed by the rhythm section that made up a round dozen on stage. The session featured star players from across a wide spectrum of British jazz, the saxophone pairing of Dick Morrissey and Bruce Turner for instance, with everyone at the peak of their ability.
The concert worked so well that that it was repeated as the key element of the Birmingham Jazz Festival which it had spawned. Humph, Dick Morrissey and Roy Williams were on hand again three years later when The British Jazz Awards enjoyed a ritzy evening at Birmingham’s Grand Hotel when no less a personage than the great American pianist Sir Charles Thompson played for diners! The resultant jam session featured some of the very best from a great era for British Jazz.
Both jam sessions were originally issued as Vinyl LP albums, The M&B Jam Session and British Jazz Awards 1987, a copious selection from each have been remastered and are now available on CD for the very first time.
Track Listing
Carolina Diner
If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
Cherokee
Frankie And Johnny
Crazy Rhythm
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
The Hucklebuck
Jumpin’ At The Woodside
Honeysuckle Rose
Musicians Featured
Humphrey Lyttelton, Digby Fairweather, Roy Williams, Roy Crimmins, Dave Shepherd, Randy Colville, Peter King, Bruce Turner, Dick Morrissey, John Barnes, Brian Lemon, Mick Pyne, Martin Taylor, Jim Douglas, Dave Green, Harvey Weston, Allan Ganley, Johnny Richardson
Many thanks to Hortons for their support in producing this album
It gives us great pleasure to announce the nominations for this year’s British Jazz Awards. They’ve chosen their four favourites in each of the 16 categories – now it’s over to you!
You can vote online at http://tiny.cc/britishjazzawards18/ until midnight on Sunday 21st October (note – this replaces the previously advertised date of 30th September), with the results announced on here shortly afterwards. Email jazzawards[at]bigbearmusic.com to obtain copies of the postal voting form to distribute at your jazz club, record society, festival or other gathering of jazz fans
The full list of nominees is as follows:
Trumpet
Bruce Adams
Enrico Tomasso
Freddie Gavita
Henry Lowther
Trombone
Dennis Rollins
Ian Bateman
Mark Bassey
Mark Nightingale
Clarinet
Adrian Cox Music
Alan Barnes
Julian Stringle
Peter Long
Alto Sax
Alan Barnes
Paul Towndrow
Sam Mayne
Soweto Kinch Official
Tenor Sax
Art Themen
Dave O’Higgins
Karen Sharp
Robert Fowler
Piano
David Newton
Gareth Williams
Nikki Iles
Nikki Yeoh
Guitar
Jim Mullen
John Etheridge
Martin Taylor
Nigel Price
Bass
Alison Rayner
Andrew Cleyndert
Arnie Somogyi
Dave Green
Drums
James Maddren
Sebastiaan de Krom
Steve Brown
Winston Clifford
Vocals
Claire Martin
CLARE TEAL
Georgia Mancio
Tina May
Rising Star
Alexandra Ridout Music
Daniel Casimir Bass
Nadim Teimoori – Musician
Nubya Garcia
Small Group
Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen
Kansas Smitty’s House Band
Nigel Price Organ Trio
Tipitina
Big Band
Beats & Pieces Big Band
Gareth Lockrane Big Band
NYJO
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
New Album
ART Records for “The Tour Continues” by Art Themen’s New Directions Quintet
ECM Records for “The Study of Touch” by Django Bates Beloved
Lake Records for “Thanks For The Melody” by Jeff Barnhart & Spats Langham
Woodville Records for “Ask Me Now” by Alan Barnes & Dave Newton
Best Reissue CD
Jazz Crusade for “It Looks Like A Big Time Tonight” by Johnny Parker
Lake Records for “My Tiny Band Is Chosen” by Freddy Randall
Esoteric Recordings for “Where Fortune Smiles” by Surman, Berger, Holland, Martin and McLaughlin
Upbeat Recordings for Sir Humph’s Delight by Humphrey Lyttelton
With many thanks to our nomination panel for their input:
Packed with the usual array of news, reviews and features, including:
-Alan Barnes looking back at 27 years of Swanage Jazz Festival, and Nigel Price on his plans for this year’s event
-Plan your summer with part one of our handy Festival Guide
-Scott Yanow on some of the forgotten jazz stars who would’ve been celebrating their 100th birthday this year
-Peter Vacher on what it takes to be a jazz researcher
-Plus a blizzard of news and reviews
To order or subscribe, email jazzrag[at]bigbearmusic.com
Having hosted a major international Jazz Festival for 33 years, and still continuing to do so, Birmingham does indeed have a rightful claim on the title of Jazz City UK. Ever since the much-missed Humphrey Lyttelton employed his not-inconsiderable persuasive talents, in conjunction with BBC broadcaster to convince me that a real jazz festival in Birmingham would be a good thing, the City has enjoyed many summers of mostly-free, world class jazz.
Never one to shirk responsibility, Humph cheerfully took on the role of Festival Patron from the beginning in 1985 until his untimely death in April 2008. He was inordinately proud of what he rightly regarded as his Festival; the enthusiasm he continually expressed on his weekly Radio 2 jazz programme was responsible for the initial national popularity of this event. That and appearances by the likes of B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, The Blues Brothers Band.
The Festival has matured into an event that still presents the finest jazz, often performed by supreme young bands from all over the world as well as from this region and the rest of the UK. The trumpet ace and bandleader Digby Fairweather now splendidly fills the role of Festival Patron and each year helps bring interesting and inspiring music to Birmingham.
This CD represents some of the bands who have always lived up to – and still live up to – the Festival’s credo, Real Music, Properly Played.
So, this one is for Humph
Track Listing
The Whiskey Brothers: Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do
The Whiskey Brothers: I Feel Like A Millionaire
Tipitina: Hey Pocky Way
Tipitina: Louisiana 1927
Nomy Rosenberg: Swing 48
Nomy Rosenberg: Miro Tata Mimer
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys: Kidney Stew Blues
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys: Harvard Blues
Lady Sings The Blues: What Shall I Say?
Lady Sings The Blues: How Could You?
Bruce Adams Quartet: One Foot In The Gutter
Bruce Adams Quartet: Blame It On My Youth
Bruce Adams/Alan Barnes Quintet: Hollywood Stampede
Bruce Adams/Alan Barnes Quintet: When It’s Sleepytime Down South
Alan Barnes All Stars: California Fish Fry
King Pleasure & The Biscuits Boys featuring Val Wiseman: Since I Fell For You
Many thanks to Hortons for their support in producing this album
Billie Holiday’s life-story, as it has been told and retold over the years, is a catalogue of woes and tribulations. Reinforced by some of her best-known recordings, such as Gloomy Sunday, Strange Fruit and Don’t Explain, it has come to define her image to the world. But the image is misleading. Millions of other people have lived troubled and unhappy lives, yet none of them became Billie Holiday. It’s because of her rare gifts that she is loved and revered today, a century after her birth, and celebrated with affection by artists around the world.
This is the second album based on Lady Sings The Blues, the concert-show inspired by Billie. Its very title, Laughing At Life, should help to dispel some of the accumulated gloom, and the music itself will certainly manage the rest. The sheer variety contained in these songs shows off Billie’s expressive range better than any learned article. There are ‘swing-sing’ numbers from the 1930s, ballads and ‘mistreated woman’ pieces from the 1940s, and a hint of the wealth of classic American songs which she finally got around to recording in the fifties.
The aim of Lady Sings The Blues is not to produce a slavish imitation of Billie or an exact reproduction of any of her records, even if that were possible. It’s to revisit her repertoire and in so doing evoke the spirit, and to a certain extent the period, of her work. That’s Life I Guess is a good example. The routine follows the 1936 version fairly closely, with the vocal delayed until the second chorus and brief solos from Julian Marc Stringle on clarinet, Digby Fairweather, cornet, and pianist Brian Dee. (The originals were Benny Goodman, Jonah Jones and Teddy Wilson.) Val Wiseman’s easy, almost conversational approach fits the tempo to perfection. It’s her voice, not Billie’s, but the effect is charming and convincing.
Sometimes a song suits a singer so perfectly that we assume it was specially written, only to find out that they only met later, by lucky accident. That’s the case with You’ve Changed. There’s something about the way the descending phrases of the melody chime with the despair of the lyric that are pure Billie Holiday. She recorded it towards the end of her life, in 1958, for the album Lady In Satin. So it comes as something of a shock to discover that it was written by Carl Fischer and Bill Carey in 1942 and first recorded by Dick Haymes, with Harry James’s band. But it’s Billie’s song now and, for me, Val’s version of it, with Brian Dee’s brilliant piano accompaniment, is the high spot of this album. A wonderful lesson in how to sing one of Billie’s songs without overt imitation but with the authentic feeling.
God Bless The Child, another duet for Val and Brian, is a song that Billie did actually write – in collaboration with Arthur Hertzog Jnr (Don’t Explain was another) – and it has survived to become the one for which she is now perhaps best known. It was assumed to be autobiographical, expressing Billie’s personal philosophy.
The earlier numbers – That’s Life I Guess, Miss Brown To You, How Could You?,Laughing At Life – are full of energy, fun and terrific playing. In the case of the title piece the unbuttoned swing of Digby, Roy, Julian and the rhythm section easily surpasses the rather stolid 1940 original. The more sober songs of the 1940s are spiced with great playing, too, notably Julian’s clarinet in Loverman and Brian’s piano throughout.
I enjoyed this so much, I dug out the previous Lady Sings The Blues CD and enjoyed that, too. I looked up its date (1990) and, apart from noticing how little Val’s voice had altered in the intervening years, I discovered a strange coincidence. The distance between February 1990 and July 2015 is 25 years and five months. The distance in time between Billie’s first studio recording (November 1933) and her last (May 1959) is 25 years and six months. Make of that what you will
Dave Gelly
Track Listing
Laughing At Life
That’s Life I Guess
God Bless The Child
Miss Brown To You
Good Morning Heartache
How Could You?
Comes Love
You’ve Changed
Ain’t Nobody’s Business
Lover Man
Now Baby Or Never
My Man
Fine and Mellow
Musicians Featured
Val Wiseman [vocals]
Digby Fairweather [ trumpet]
Roy Williams [trombone]
Julian Stringle [tenor saxophone and clarinet]
Brian Dee [piano]
Len Skeat [double bass]
Eric Ford [drums]
Many thanks to Westside BID for their support in producing this recording
The Whiskey Brothers’ journey has taken them from band to band, club to club, festival to festival, and now to the Big Bear himself for this recording. It’s live and unedited.
And it’s authentic. Not because it correctly evokes the style of Sonny and Brownie, or Fats, or Big Bill, though their echoes are there.
It’s authentic because it’s just two men playing the music they love, the only way they know how.
After receiving over 5000 votes, we are now pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 British Jazz Awards!
Now in their 31st year, the British Jazz Awards are the only poll that gives jazz lovers up and down the country the chance to vote on who their favourite musicians, bands and albums have been in the last 12 months.
In addition to the public vote, each year an award is given for Services To British Jazz. This year’s goes to Chris Barber, for keeping a full touring band on the road for nearly 70 years!
The results are as follows:
Trumpet
Winner: Freddie Gavita
2nd Place: Laura Jurd
3rd Place: Enrico Tomasso
4th Place: Bruce Adams
5th Place: Steve Fishwick
Trombone
Winner: Mark Nightingale
2nd Place: Denis Rollins
3rd Place: Ian Bateman
4th Place: Adrian Fry
5th Place: Andrew Mackenzie
Clarinet
Winner: Alan Barnes
2nd Place: Pete Long
3rd Place: Julian Marc Stringle
4th Place: Mark Crooks
5th Place: Shabaka Hutchings
Tenor Sax
Winner: Karen Sharp
2nd Place: Alex Garnett
3rd Place: Art Themen
4th Place: Robert Fowler
5th Place: Tommy Smith
Piano
Winner: Nikki Iles
2nd Place: Dave Newton
3rd Place: Zoe Rahman
4th Place: Gareth Williams
5th Place: Craig Milverton
Guitar
Winner: Martin Taylor
2nd Place: Remi Harris
3rd Place: Nigel Price
4th Place: Jim Mullen
5th Place: Mike Walker
Double Bass
Winner: Alec Dankworth
2nd Place: Dave Green
3rd Place: Simon Thorpe
4th Place: Andrew Cleyndert
5th Place: Calum Gourlay
Drums
Winner: Clark Tracey
2nd Place: Winston Clifford
3rd Place: Steve Brown
4th Place: Matt Home
5th Place: Alyn Cosker
Miscellaneous Instrument
Winner: Ross Stanley (Organ)
2nd Place: Karen Sharp (Baritone Saxophone)
3rd Place: Alan Barnes (Baritone Saxophone)
4th Place: Jim Hart (Vibraphone)
5th Place: Amy Roberts (Flute)
Vocals
Winner: Clare Teal
2nd Place: Tina May
3rd Place: Claire Martin
4th Place: Georgia Mancio
5th Place: Brigitte Beraha
Rising Star
Winner: Rory Ingham (Trombone)
2nd Place: Alexandra Ridout (Trumpet)
3rd Place: Nubya Garcia
4th Place: Camilla George
5th Place: Fergus McCreadie
Big Band
Winner: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
2nd Place: NYJO
3rd Place: Echoes of Ellington
4th Place: Beats & Pieces
5th Place: Gareth Lockrane Big Band
Small Group
Winner: Nigel Price Organ Trio
2nd Place: Digby Fairweathers Half Dozen
3rd Place: Tipitina
4th Place: Brandon Allen Six
5th Place: Remi Harris Trio
New Album
Winner: Woodville Records: “The Lowest Common Denominator” – Gilad Atzmon/Alan Barnes
2nd Place: JVG Productions: “It’s Always 9:30 in Zog” – Dave O’Higgins
3rd Place: Explore Records: “Golden Moments” – Bruce Adams/Craig Milverton
4th Place: Gearbox Records: “Journey to the Mountain of Forever” – Binker & Moses
5th Place: Whirlwind Recordings: “Fistfight At The Barndance” – Gareth Lockrane Big Band
Reissue Album
Winner: Lake Records: “Dusts off the Archives” – Humphrey Lyttelton
2nd Place: Rhythm and Blues Records: “The Songbook.” – Harry South
3rd Place: Harkit Records: “Change of Setting” – Tubby Hayes & Paul Gonsalves
4th Place: Acrobat Music: “Helter Skelter” – Joe Harriott
5th Place: Miles Music: “After The Rain” – Alan Skidmore
The nominations for the 31st edition of the British Jazz Awards have been announced. Now in their 31st year, the awards were set up to help the best musicians, bands and album releases get the recognition they deserve.
Our panel of 14 experts from the jazz community put their heads together to produce the following list of nominees:
Best Trumpet Player: Bruce Adams, Enrico Tomasso, Freddie Gavita, Laura Jurd
Best Trombone Player: Adrian Fry, Dennis Rollins, Ian Bateman, Mark Nightingale
Best Clarinet Player: Alan Barnes, Julian Stringle, Mark Crooks, Peter Long
Best Alto Saxophone Player: Alan Barnes, Derek Nash, Nigel Hitchcock, Soweto Kinch
Best Tenor Saxophone Player: Alex Garnett, Art Themen, Karen Sharp, Robert Fowler
Best Guitarist: Jim Mullen, Martin Taylor, Nigel Price, Remi Harris
Best Pianist: David Newton, Gareth Williams, Nikki Iles, Zoe Rahman
Best Double Bass Player: Alec Dankworth, Andrew Cleyndert, Dave Green, Simon Thorpe
Best Drummer: Clark Tracey, Matt Home, Steve Brown, Winston Clifford
Best Vocalist: Claire Martin, Clare Teal, Georgia Mancio, Tina May
Miscellaneous Instruments: Alan Barnes (Baritone Saxophone), Jim Hart (Vibraphone), Karen Sharp (Baritone Saxophone), Ross Stanley
Best Small Group: Brandon Allen Six, Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, Nigel Price Organ Trio, Tipitina
Best Big Band: Beats and Pieces, Echoes of Ellington, NYJO, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Rising Star: Alexandra Ridout, Camilla George, Nubya Garcia, Rory Ingham
Best New CD: Explore Records for Golden Moments by Bruce Adams/Craig Milverton; Gearbox Records for Journey To The Mountain Of Forever by Binker & Moses; JVG Productions for It’s Always 9:30 In Zog by Dave O’Higgins; Woodville Records for The Lowest Common Denominator by Gilad Atzmon and Alan Barnes
Best Reissue CD: Acrobat Music for Helter Sketler by Joe Harriott; Harkit Records for Change of Setting by Tubby Hayes and Paul Gonsalves; Lake Records for Dusting Off The Archives by Humphrey Lyttelton; Rhythm and Blues Records for The Songbook by Harry South
You can vote online until 31st October at tiny.cc/britishjazzawards17/ – leave your email address, and you’ll be entered in to a prize draw for £100 worth of Big Bear CDs. Results will be announced here and on the British Jazz Awards Facebook page the following week.
