Mark Toomey (alto sax); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Paul Smith (drums).A night of jazz standards and original compositions. All delivered with the passion and excitement that is always guaranteed with this group which isn't surprising comprising as it does some of the best jazz musicians in the Teesside area. It also gave Mark  the the opportunity to ..read more

Following on from their debut concert in Saltburn last year, the band has gone from strength to strength delivering stunning performances throughout the area including a standing ovation at a sell out concert in Stokesley earlier this year. Lead by trumpet ace Kevin Eland, the concert promises to be of the same high standard with some great arrangements and knockout soloists, many of ..read more

Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)The sun shone today. Sunny Bishop Auckland suggested the best of spring is just around the corner. Auckland Castle, a tourist attraction at the best of times, today looked a picture, a magnet for the many culture vultures milling about town. Those in the know queued at the door to the Old Library, eager to part with a mere ..read more

Synia Carroll (vocals); John Di Martino (piano); Kenny Davis (bass); Jerome Jennings (drums) + Cafe (perc on 2 tks); Will Galison (harmonica on 1 tk); Aaron Heick (reeds on 4 tks); Beatriz Hernandez (backing vocals on 1 tk); Westey Lima De Amorim (guitar on 4 tks); David Oquendo (vocals and chants on 2 tks); Houston Person (tenor sax on 2 tks).Carroll is we are told, a vocalist, poet, teacher and ..read more

Yesterday was the last rehearsal with the ISQ boys before our gig at the iconic Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho this coming Wednesday the 8th and we were sounding hawt if I may say so myself! I’ve been putting the finishing touches on the writing for the next album  and brought in some new material that we played through yesterday. Really excited about how the new songs are ..read more

Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips (tenor sax); Howard McGhee (trumpet); Bill Harris (trombone); Hank Jones (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Jo Jones (drums).As the review CDs pile up I'm in the horns of a dilemma. Our local binmen are on strike and charity shops frown at being overloaded with more of the same - particularly with  jazz CDs. So, in the forlorn hope that the hustlers out there won't ..read more

Lionel Hampton: Midnight Sun.Sidney Bechet: Muskrat Ramble.?: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.MJQ: Venice.Chris Connor: Mixed Emotions. Woody Herman: Basin Street Blues.Nat 'King' Cole: Route 66.Dave Brubeck: Take Five.Andy Brown: You're my Everything.Dinah Washington: Ain't Misbehain'.Andre Previn: I Could Write a Book.Billie Holiday: With Thee I Swing.LISTEN ..read more

It was a great night, a night that will remain in the memory of all who were present. Pam, whose birthday it also was - no secrets on Facebook - took these great shots apart from the one (bottom right of the photo) of yours truly saying a few fumbling words. Ros Rigby took that one - thank you Ros. Every number was great including the two beautiful ballad features; Ask me Now and& ..read more

© Ken Drew)Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Colin Steele (trumpet); Dave Newton (piano); Andy Cleyndert (double bass); Clark TraceyThe closing concert in Newcastle Jazz Co-op's '10 Years a Co-op' festival featured an all-star quintet led by the one-and-only Clark Tracey. The Globe considers Clark a friend and this return visit drew a capacity audience. And little wonder...the Globe's ten year ..read more

Tim Garland (soprano and tenor sax, bass clarinet, conductor); Gwilym Simcock (piano) and Asaf Sirkis (drums, percussion); Yazz Ahmed, (trumpet); Thomas Gould (violin); the Strings of the Britten Sinfonia, Clio Gould, Leader; the Strings of the London Studio Orchestra, John Mills, Leader; Rob Millett (cimbalom). It’s rare that an album puts its billy big boots on and, from the first chord ..read more