Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

6 May, 2014

Jools Holland & Friends Live @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival 5/5/14

Filed under: blues,jazz,Live Reviews,rock n roll,soul,swing — Tags: cheltenham, gregory porter, jazz festival, Jools Holland, marc almond, ruby turner — willmunn @ 14:07

 

Cheltenham jazz Festival; Jools Holland and His R&B Orchestra Guests: Marc Almond, Gregory Porter and Ruby Turner

The closing show of this years festival, and the big top is bursting, as jools R&B orchestra take to the stage, 15 strong and Jools who goes straight to the piano and a bit of boogie woogie. Plenty more of that throughout the show, but only after we have a bit of Fats Waller, ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’. Jools extravaganza is much as you would expect, an exemplary performance by both magician, Jools, and the members of his band, all fine musicians in their own right.

Conjuring up his first major guest vocalist, Marc Almond took to the stage to rapturous applause, and delivered what was wanted. ‘Say Hello And Wave Goodbye’, and naturally, ‘Tainted Love’, jazz no, blues no, but nobody is complaining.

Back to some marvellous piano wizardry, then on to the gigantic presence of Gregory Porter, a fabulous performance that brought us soul, blues and gospel. A seemingly giant of a man, with personality to match. The stage emptied leaving Jools and his drummer Gilson Lavis, for an exceptionally fine boogie. First with the help of Hammond playing, brother, Chris, both attacking the piano, changing ends seamlessly.

What next, well it could only be the powerful voice of Ruby Turner, to a standing audience, she filled the air with the sounds of blues and gospel, to tremendous applause. Jools had brought the full circus, appropriately to the big top, along with the finest vocalists who performed wonderfully with his iconic Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, a grand closing to a great week at Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

 

Words By Graham Munn

Photo By Phil Stevens www.mcphersonstevens.com

 

2 May, 2014

Laura Mvula Live @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival 1/5/14

Filed under: jazz,Live Reviews,soul — Tags: cheltenham, jazz festival, Laura Mvula — willmunn @ 20:53

 

Laura Mvula at Cheltenham jazz Festival

Artist In residence Laura Mvula, has just returned from another US tour, and brought to the stage a completely new image. Long curled locks down to her shoulders, an eye catching multicoloured dress in a rockabilly style with a wide flared hem, which sort of brought back memories of Eric Morcambe’s hooped safari shorts! The mind plays strange tricks. Laura claimed the hair was the result of Miracle Grow, strange indeed. On stage she was joined by her band, of strings and a mighty drum set. The harp, double bass, cello and violin (the later 2 being played by her brother and sister) made the sound distinctive, harmonising with Laura’s higher notes.

Her Mercury Prize album ‘Sing To The Moon‘, was destined to provide most of the music, starting with ‘Like The Morning Dew’, the driving percussion, I felt was overpowering Laura’s voice. This was unfortunate, as I sat near the mixing desk, I thought adjustment would quickly made, it wasn’t, though the levels seemed to improve further into the set. Suffice to say, when the drums dropped back and the strings and harmonies kicked in, it was like being in a dream world, mesmeric sounds combined with beautiful lyrics. The haunting, soul searching , ‘She’, was followed by ‘Flying Without You’ and the more upbeat, superb ‘Sing To The Moon’ opened with the dominant sound of the quartet of strings. The audience is silent, transfixed, hypnotized, but applaud warmly, enjoying the banter from Laura, as she glided between songs. ‘Is There Any Body Out There’ she called, and again; we caught on and responded, as she launched into this cry for attention. A nice solo piano accompanied Laura’s vocals for ‘Diamonds’, before the heartfelt, achingly lovely, ‘Father Father’, with perhaps the spirit of Nina Simone, looking on approvingly.

Such gentle, slow lyrics were looking for for a lift, it came with the chart success of ‘Green Garden’, maybe not too seriously she invited anyone to join her on stage, perhaps 20 decided that was for them and gathered either side of the band, to swing to this refreshingly bright song in memory of playing outside with her siblings in the warm summers of her memory.

I do not know how to place Laura Mvula’s music, (Wikipedia says, soul jazz) its really neither, its almost unique. A wonderful thing to experience, the lyrics, solo’s and harmonies, invite listening and appreciating quietly, the audience were reverential and appreciative. Laura and her band, finished on ‘Make Me Lovely’, with the line, I can’t make you love me, I think that is exactly what she had done.

 

Words & Photo Graham Munn

1 May, 2014

Jamie Cullum Live @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival 30/4/14

Filed under: jazz,Live Reviews,pop — Tags: cheltenham, jamie cullum, jazz festival — willmunn @ 19:29

 

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 30/04

Jamie Cullum

Its Opening evening of this prestigious festival, in the The Big Top, which dominates Montpellier Gardens. A huge red arena towering over the myriad of the lesser,white sheeted, marquees. The demand for JC had been enormous, such that a second show on the inaugural evening had been arranged, both were full houses. The stage was no different, as it filled with Jamie’s, specially assembled, big band, a big brass section, strings and percussion. To the front were multi talented, arranger Tom Richards with an equally gifted Rory Simmons. Enter the diminutive figure of Jamie, attacking the piano keys as the band blasts into action, big band, big sound. Jamie is electrifying, leaping up and around the stage, and back to the keys, small he may be, but he certainly is a magnet for attention. ‘Just One Of Those Things’ was crooned out to a backdrop of strings and a soft percussion, but not long before the band burst out again, along with some stunningly good sax and trumpet solos. ‘Trouble’ followed, Jamie is like a rubber ball, scuttling and bouncing about, the rapport with the mesmerized audience is established, like a small intimate gig, but its far from that. A hauntingly dark Surfjan Stevens, ‘Seers Tower’, in the style of Nina Simone, was accompanied by just strings and a rhythmic drumming.

A cheeky ‘bio’ ‘When I Get Famous’, started off big and brassy, and ended with Jamie standing on the Grand, and lyrically bragging to the house, absolutely superb, everyone was ecstatic, the tempo winding up. A big swing number drops down to a thumping base and piano for a slow ballad, but not for long. Jamie leaps up with a megaphone and then leaps into the stalls to sing a song made famous by Hank Williams, ‘Love Sick Blues’. This was probably the only failure of a fantastically entertaining evening. The megaphone was fine for the surrounding fans, but could not compete with the band in this cavernous arena. It was a bit of fun, and emphasised that ability of Jamie Cullum to connect with his audience, no matter the size, bringing his contagious passion to the show.

The evening was a mix of jazz, swing, and blues, with an amazing collection of musicians and a mischievous alchemist stirring us all up; a brilliant show from this years Director.

 

Words: Graham Munn

Photo: Cheltenham Festivals

24 February, 2014

Steve Ajao jazz Quartet @ Symphony Hall Jazz Lines, Birmingham

Filed under: jazz,Live Reviews — Tags: birmingham, jazz lines, jazz quartet, Steve Ajao, symphony hall — willmunn @ 11:53

Steve Ajao Jazz Quartet at Symphony Hall Jazz Lines 14/02

Well, I’ll be honest, I know nothing about jazz, no understanding about this improvised, seemingly unstructured, form of music. Its been around for about a century, coming from black American roots, as so much does.

I enjoy some forms which are closely associated with the blues side of Jazz, who cannot enjoy Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and so on, its the free form stuff I am lost with, Maybe that’s the idea!

Anyway, I found my way here to see Steve Ajao, who happens to be a very good Blues man, take to the saxophone and play some jazz.

The rush hour session at Symphony Hall, is a bit surreal, behind the glass backdrop, dark silhouettes, sheltering under umbrellas, bustle past. A crowded number 72 slowly, silently rolls bye, whilst inside a full foyer of music lovers, sip their beers and coffees as Steve plays ‘Falling In Love With Love’, he deftly substituted Lunch for all Love themed songs.

A swing along opener, followed by ‘Tenderly’, pretty laid back, cool jazz, best found in dark cellar bars in the early hours, with good company and a bottle of fine wine. ‘We’ followed at a rip roaring pace, and an entertaining drum solo from Miles Levin. Steve moved onto soprano sax for appropriately, ‘My Funny Valentine’ as the Dudley Double Decker slipped through the rain outside.

Some fine finesse’d fingering, on piano, from Tim Amann, stood out alongside Steve’s sax playing. One thing is very notable with this session and that is the undoubted passion with which the music is played. Double base was provided by Alan Gilchrist, who seemed most comfortable when accompanying Tim on the keys.

I had a train to catch, but not before an excellent ‘You Don’t Know What Lunch Is?’. Have I learnt anything? Only to be open to listening to all sources of music. I still find difficulty in this freestyle form, but I can accept that it seems to produce superb musicianship, which feeds into, and influences so many other genres. If you have the time, and make the effort, sitting in the foyer of Symphony Hall, during ‘rush hour’ is free, you’ll hear some good music, which changes from Jazz to Blues in the spring. It does fill up, so if you want to sit comfortably, be there no later than 4.30

Words and Photos Graham Munn

24 October, 2013

Norman Watt-Roy & Friends Live @ The Marrs Bar 20/10/13

Filed under: funk,jazz,Live Reviews,pop,rock — Tags: marrs bar, norman watt-roy, wilko johnson — willmunn @ 11:12

Norman Watt-Roy Should need no introduction to you music fans out there, you should know him as the bass player of the Blockheads or the various sessions with the likes of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Clash, Nick Lowe, Wilko Johnson and Nick Cave to name but a few, he’s one of the funkiest bass-players alive and this year has seen the release of his debut solo album, Faith & Devotion.

I suppose to put it in the most simplistic terms the man is a living legend of music and so when a live performance was announced here in my home town, you can only begin to imagine my intrigue and excitement.

Having not heard the solo album I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I heard whispers of jazz and funk with a bit of that old Blockheads wit. Well sure enough we got all that and much, much more, we were in truth served up a masterclass of musicality, a lesson in elastic bass and a lecture in delicious groove. Norman with the help of saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and band create a stunning, fluid blend of jazz and funk, whether it’s on album tracks such as the tender, My Foolish Heart, or the inspired life story monologue of Me, My Bass And I or Blockhead classics such Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, the band fizzle with energy and excuberance whilst the audience lapped up every lick.

Jazzy loose beats combine with saxophones flourishes and that deep elastic bass forming an incredible soundtrack to Norman’s musings, but if that wasn’t already enough to bring down the house, guitarist, pub rock legend and bravest man in rock today, Wilko Johnson joined the band for a handful of songs, adding the trademark machine gun style guitar riff and warm, welcoming vocals to a glorious Roxette, performing with a massive grin, despite his well publicized battle with terminal cancer, enjoying every minute on stage and even managing a typical Wilko strut across the boards to raptious applause.

I’ve been lucky to have seen my fair share of memorable performances here in Worcester, from the likes of Peter Green to John Cale via the likes of an acoustic Levellers, but I have a feeling I’ll be talking about Norman Watt-Roy & friends for a longtime to come, a simply incredible night and a mesmeric set featuring two genuine  larger than life giants of music, if you missed this one shame on you.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

 

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