Column

The Snowboy Funk n' Jazz Column (JUNE)

Well, festival time is here at last. As you scroll down the column you will see that there's a relentless amount of Jazz ones (and they're only the one's I can find). As always, the line-ups are extremely predictable, with the highly-overrated Snarky Puppy on virtually every Modern Jazz festival. As always, the Manchester Jazz Festival stands head and shoulders above the competition, from an originality point of view. Although I'm only deejaying at Brecon, it is a festival that was always one of the greatest, so I look forward to seeing what's on offer this year. It's done incredibly well to have risen again after going bankrupt.

So, what have I been up to? At the time of writing, it is the eve of the second leg of Lisa Stansfield's tour. All the European dates were sold out (and in some case could have sold out three times over I heard), and so the UK dates begin. After that we're in Italy for a while and then we record her album and then it's full on touring again for a year or so. She may have been away a while but her following has not diminished in that time. In between playing percussion with Lisa I'm still filling in every day flying all over Essex and beyond interviewing musicians and promoters connected with the history of Jazz in Essex since 1933 (both Coleman Hawkins and Leonard Feather played in Southend in 1934). As I've mentioned before, it is a project by Essex County Council to document this very subject, and I'm very glad to be involved. It was a great pleasure to speak to Jeff Merrifield on the phone from his home in the Shetland Isles. He used to run the famous Monkey's Jazz Club at The Hermit in Brentwood. He now runs Jazz in the Shetlands. Have you checked their Jazz festival out? Very interesting. Again, it was amazing to speak to 86 year old Clarinetist, Alex Revell at his home in furthest-Cornwall. He was from Barkingside in Essex originally and was in the original line-up of Chris Barber's band. Interestingly, the original pianist and drummer were from Southend! Yep, I'm loving it. The project goes on display on October the 3rd starting in Chelmsford, and I think I'm right in saying it goes to Harlow, Colchester and Southend too, over a two year period. Inbetween that, I've been doing my weekly Friday DJ residency The Good Foot at Madame Jo Jo's and the monthly South London Soul Train at The Bussey building (the first Saturday of every month). There was 1,500 in at the last one. Unbelievable. I have a date for the big Goldmine Reunion in October with the Godfather, Chris Hill, but it's not 100% confirmed yet, so have your diaries ready for that one. As regular readers may know, I'm one of the producers for Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show on BBC6 Music ever Saturday. As an offshoot of the program we have a 12 strong all-star Funk band which I have the honour of being the band leader. It's called The Fantasy Funk Band. Festival dates for the band so far are Mostly Jazz Festival (July the 6th), Bexleyheath Festival (July the 7th) and Proms In The Park at Hyde Park (September the 7th).

Since the last column, there's not too much out there floating my boat. In the last two days, however, two seperate CD's have arrived featuring 'man of the moment' Gregory Porter. Let's face it, we can't get enough of his amazing voice can we? The first CD is an incredible Funk album by Zbonics called Time To Do Your Thing (Membran). The line-up appears to be various members of the great San Francisco Funk group, The Greyboy All-Stars. Even without Mr. Porter the album would be amazing. The overall sound is that of the sophisticated mid-70's Funk Fusion ala The Headhunters. The other album featuring Gregory Porter is by the amazing Jazz Saxophonist, David Murray. It's called Be My Monster Love (and this is on Membran too). Murray has dabbled with Smooth Jazz in the past but he's always been a man with a much wider scope than that. His sound is too muscular to hide away behind anything jazz-lite. It really is a killer album with some great dancers on there; and again, Porter shines throughout. There's some very hefty Funk out of Australia by the Kerbside Collection on their debut album Mind The Kerb.

Although they're from Brisbane the album was actually recorded in May 2011 at Cookin' On 3 Burners studio in Melbourne. After much searching it finally sees the light of day soon on the German label, Legere. Have I told you how amazing the latest James Hunter Six album is? Yes, of course I have! I just wanted an excuse to mention it again.

Glasgow International Jazz Festival
26th – 30th June

Amongst the headliners for the great Glasgow Jazz Festival are The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Georgie Fame, Burt Bacharach, Stan Tracy Quartet with Bobby Wellins, Carol Kidd, Snarky Puppy (no surprise there then!) and Leo Blanco

Glasgow International Jazz Festival organisers have announced the full programme for the 2013 Glasgow International Jazz Festival. Set in various venues across Glasgow including the prestigious Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the acoustically breathtaking City Hall Recital Rooms and the awe inspiringly beautiful Old Fruitmarket, the programme is bursting with superstar names, jazz legends and groundbreaking newcomers.

Representing the USA, the multiple GRAMMY award winning Blind Boys Of Alabama will bring their fervent blend of traditional and contemporary gospel, soul and R&B to the atmospheric surroundings of the Old Fruitmarket. Their signature four part harmonies have won them worldwide praise and have led them to a plethora of accolades and collaborations with artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Ben Harper, Eric Clapton and Prince. The much loved British rhythm & blues / jazz singer and keyboard player Georgie Fame will also be performing at The Old Fruitmarket with his band Three Line Whip. Fame is the only British pop star to have achieved three number one hits with his only Top 10 chart entries: Yeh Yeh in 1964, Getaway in 1966 and The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. All the favourites are bound to feature in this show, as well as some great new material and a wealth of anecdotes from a long and illustrious career.

The festival will also feature the iconic composer Burt Bacharach, whose internationally-renowned compositions have helped shape popular culture for decades. With 48 top ten hits and no less than 9 number one songs, Burt Bacharach is one of the most famous and successful songwriters of his generation, with credits including: Alfie, Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do), Close To You, Do You Know The Way To San Jose, I Say A Little Prayer, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, This Guy’s In Love With You, Walk On By, What The World Needs Now Is Love, and The Look Of Love. This rare UK performance is bound to be very special. Also performing will be the legendary octogenarian pianist Stan Tracey CBE, with his quartet and his outstanding Scottish tenor-sax partner Bobby Wellins. Stan’s capricious piano playing combines the percussive melody of Thelonious Monk with the robust lyricism of Ellington in a highly idiosyncratic style. A master of harmony, he possesses a potent and compelling improvisers intellect. Tracey & Wellins’ 1965 recording of a suite of pieces inspired by Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood is widely regarded as one of the best British jazz albums of all time. Another wonderful addition to the festival is the widely celebrated Scottish songstress Carol Kidd MBE, who over the course of her career has received a plethora of accolades, not least from none other than Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.

Adding a touch of punk to proceedings are Jazzateers. Signed by the legendary Postcard Records and managed by the label boss Alan Horne, Jazzateers’ debut 1983 LP Rough 46 was released 30 years ago on Rough Trade. The album was critically acclaimed but never performed live. Reforming for one night only, the Jazzateers will perform Rough 46 in full at the festival, providing a unique experience never to be repeated.

An exotic taste of South America is added to the festival’s line up in the form of Venezuelan virtuoso pianist Leo Blanco. His music is rooted in the Africa-Latina rhythms of his homeland and enriched by a vast knowledge of jazz and understanding of the classical tradition. His solo concerts are enthralling and rhapsodic displays of technical command and emotional communication, showing why Blanco has gained worldwide recognition as a leading jazz pianist and composer.

Contemporary aficionados will not be left disappointed, with hype-band of the moment Snarky Puppy making an appearance. The past two years have seen Snarky Puppy go from being an underground secret in North Texas to a fast-emerging band on the international scene. Their music combines the lyrical melodies and lush harmonies of jazz, with the straight-up groove of funky soul and their live shows have gained a reputation for unrivalled levels of energy, virtuosity and musicianship. Further young jazz stars at the festival arrive in the form of a Gondwana Records double bill, with trumpeter Matthew Halsall performing alongside the dynamic trio Gogo Penguin. Matthew’s albums are currently being praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Mr Scruff, Radio 3′s Late Junction, MOJO, BBC Music Magazine and BBC 6 Music. Gogo Penguin’s heady brew of influences from Aphex Twin to Brian Eno, Debussy to Shostakovich and Massive Attack to EST have won them acclaim from the organisers of the Mercury Music Prize and a whole host of broadsheet journalists. The festival’s contemporary programme is further fortified by defiantly exhilarating Australian Terror Jazz collective The Ames Room, who are bound to leave their audience stunned and incredulous!

A full festival programme can be found below and tickets are available at: jazzfest.co.uk

Staying with Glasgow........

VINTAGE IN GLASGOW

For the weekend of July the 27th and 28th, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway take their worlds greatest vintage event to Glasgow this time. It's part of the Merchant City Festival and will transform Candleriggs, The Old Fruitmarket and City Halls into everything you'd hope for at one of the Hemingway's trademark events – the Soul Casino, Let It Rock, cinema, vintage markets and of course The Torch Club - the huge 1940's Ball finishing off the festival on Sunday night. This, of course, is of great interest to all lovers of peiod jazz as it features The New Squadronaires, 18 piece swing orchestra plus so much more. There's a huge buzz about the event so get your tickets soon
vintagefestival.co.uk

And there's more...........

VINTAGE BY THE SEA, MORECAMBE

Again, a Hemingway event. On September the 14th this one day Vintage festival revolves around the majestic and beautiful Midland Hotel. It is a celebration of it's renovation taking it back to it's art deco splendour. There will be all the usual events revolving around it, and, as well as the two afternoon tea dances, yet again, the pinnacle is the Saturday night 30's ball where their ballroom will be transported into The Torch Club. The orchestra will be none other than the Palm Court Dance Orchestra, who accurately play the music of the great British Dance Bands of the 30's. If you love the music of Harry Roy, Ambrose, Ted Heath, Lew Stone etc, then this will be an amazing night. The hotel itself is totally sold out but I'm sure there are some tickets left for something!
vintagefestival.co.uk/vintage-by-the-sea

THE GOOD FOOT

My weekly residency at Madame Jo Jo's The Good Foot seems to be going from strength to strength. It's every Friday night from 10 til 3am. We play 60's & 70's R&B, Funk, Soul, Boogaloo and Rare Groove with the very best vintage DJ's guesting. Recent guests included Jay Strongman and Martin Freeman (of The Hobbit/Office fame).

June 14th – JO WALLACE
June 21st – GREG BELSON
June 28th – CHRIS SULLIVAN
July 5th – DEAN RUDLAND
July 12th – ADRIAN GIBSON
July 19th – SI CHEEBA
July 26th – JO WALLACE AND ROB MESSER
Aug 2nd - SNOWBOY
Aug 9th – DEAN RUDLAND
Aug 16th – ANDY LEWIS
Aug 23rd – SNOWBOY
Aug 30th – ROB MESSER
Sept 6th – SI CHEEBA
madamejojos.com

OTHER UK JAZZ FESTIVALS

June, July & August...

June 13–16 - Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival
kirkcudbrightjazzfestival.co.uk
June 15–22 - Mill Hill Music Festival
millhillmusicfest.co.uk
June 15 - Wiltshire Jazz Festival
wiltshirejazzfestival.co.uk
June 21–23 - Margate Jazz Festival
margatejazzfestival.wix.com/jazz
June 22 - Isle of Wight Midsummer Jazz Festival
isleofwightjazzfestival.co.uk
June 26–30 - Glasgow Jazz Festival
jazzfest.co.uk
June 27–30 - The Naturist Foundation Jazz and Real Ale Festival
naturistfoundation.org
June 28–30 - Cleethorpes Jazz Festival
grimsbyjazz.com
June 28–30 - Upton Jazz Festival
uptonjazz.co.uk
July 4 - Jazz by the Stour
buresmusicfestival.org/jazz.html
July 5–14 - Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival
Birmingham International Jazz festival
July 5–7 - Dove International Beer & Jazz Festival
dovejazzclub.co.uk
July 5–7 - Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival
mostlyjazz.co.uk
July 5–7 - Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival
burtonagnes.com
July 5–7 - Love Supreme Jazz Festival
lovesupremefestival.com
July 11–14 - Wigan International Jazz Festival
Wigan International Jazz Festival
July 12–14 - Swanage Jazz Festival
swanagejazz.org
July 18–20 - Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival
raaj.info
July 19–28 - Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
edinburghjazzfestival.com
July 19–21- Marlborough Jazz Festival
marlboroughjazz.com
July 19–21- Newport Jazz Weekend
newportjazzweekend.co.uk
July 21 - TW12 Jazz Festival
tw12jazzfestival.co.ukk
July 24–28 - Ealing Jazz Festival
Ealing Summer Festival
July 26 – August 4 - Manchester Jazz Festival
manchesterjazz.com
July 26 – August 3 - Guiting Festival
guitingfestival.org
July 26–28 - Hull Jazz Festival
hulljazzfestival
July 26–28 - International Gypsy Guitar Festival, Dursley
iggf.co.uk
August 3 - Stompin' on the Quomps, Christchurch
stompin.org
August 9–11- Brecon Jazz Festival
breconjazz.com
August 16–18 - Pershore Jazz Festival
pershorejazz.org.uk
August 22–26 - AberJazz - 'Fishguard Jazz 'n' Blues Festival'
aberjazz.com
August 22–26 - Rye International Jazz Festival
ryejazz.com
August 24–25 - Burton Jazz Festival
burtonjazzfestival.com
August 27–30 - Bude Jazz Festival
www.jazzfestivalbude.co.uk

LISTINGS

RONNIE SCOTT'S
LATEST INFO
47 Frith St
London
W1D 4HT

JUNE

15th – 16th - DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND
16th Lunch - KAI HOFFMAN AND KAI’S CATS
17th – 21st - CURTIS STIGERS
22nd - THE RONNIE SCOTT’S BLUES EXPLOSION
24th – 25th - EDDIE PALMIERI & THE AFRO CARRIBEAN ALL-STARS
26th – 30th - BRUBECKS PLAY BRUBECK

JULY

1st - SpokFrevo Orquestra
2nd - SpokFrevo Orquestra
3rd - Jon Baptiste and Stay Human
4th - Diane Schuur
5th - Diane Schuur
6th - Oleta Adams
7th - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra
8th - Cassandra Wilson
9th - Cassandra Wilson
10th - Cassandra Wilson
11th - Cassandra Wilson
12th - Roberto Fonseca
13th - Roberto Fonseca
14th - Club Closed Tonight
15th - Tribal Tech
16th - Tribal Tech
17th - Hermeto Pascoal
18th - Hermeto Pascoal
19th - Hermeto Pascoal
20th - Callum Au Big Band plays West Side Story
21st - Natalie Williams Soul Family
22nd - Wynton Marsalis Quintet
23rd - Wynton Marsalis Quintet
24th - Wynton Marsalis Quintet
25th - Lee Ritenour/Dave Grusin and friends
26th - Lee Ritenour/Dave Grusin and friends
27th - Lee Ritenour/Dave Grusin and friends
28th - Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion!
29th - Pharoah Sanders
30th - Pharoah Sanders
31st - Jimmy Cobb, Grant Green Jr, Pee Wee Ellis

AUGUST

1st - Jimmy Cobb, Grant Green Jr, Pee Wee Ellis
2nd - Jimmy Cobb, Grant Green Jr, Pee Wee Ellis
3rd - Jimmy Cobb, Grant Green Jr, Pee Wee Ellis
4th - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra
5th - Jon Hendricks
6th - Jon Hendricks
7th - Jon Hendricks
8th - Jon Hendricks
9th - Incognito
10th - Incognito
11th - Mary Coughlan
12th - Joao Bosco
13th - Joao Bosco
14th - Booker T Jones
15th - Booker T Jones
16th - Booker T Jones
17th - Booker T Jones
18th - Natalie Williams Soul Family
19th - Ron Carter's Golden Striker Trio
20th - Ron Carter's Golden Striker Trio
21st - Ron Carter's Golden Striker Trio
22nd – Go Go Penguin
23rd - Tania Maria Trio
24th - Tania Maria Trio
25th - Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion!
28th - The James Taylor Quartet
29th - The James Taylor Quartet
30th - The James Taylor Quartet
31st - The James Taylor Quartet

606 CLUB
LATEST INFO
90 Lots Road
London
SW10 0QD

JUNE

SAT 15TH - PETER KING WITH SPECIAL GUEST MORNINGTON LOCKETT
SUN 16th (lunch) - THE STEVE TAYLOR BIG BAND
SUN 16TH - JOE STILGOE WITH SPECIAL GUEST CLAIRE MARTIN
MON 17TH JOHN HOGG’S “THE PYRAMID SHIP”
TUES 18TH - DAN REINSTEIN / DILL KATZ
WED 19TH - JANDIRA SILVA
THURS 20TH - SHERYL BAILEY
FRI 21ST - MANTECA
SAT 22ND ALEX GARNETT'S “JAZZ AMBASSADORS”
SUN 23rd (lunch) - "606 GOSPEL GROUP"
SUN 23RD - WAYNE HERNANDEZ
MON 24TH - TOMMY BLAIZE BAND
TUES 25TH - DAVE GORDON/LUCAS DODD
WED 26TH - GEORGE GARZONE
THURS 27TH - NEIL ANGILLEY WITH SPECIAL GUEST SNOWBOY
FRI 28TH - “SAMARA”
SAT 29TH - BOBBY WELLINS
SUN 30th (lunch) - TRIO MANOUCHE
SUN 30TH - LIANE CARROLL

JULY

MONDAY 1ST - LILIANA CHACHIAN
TUESDAY 2ND - JOHN CRAWFORD
WEDNESDAY 3RD - SECTOR 7 / TORI FREESTONE
THURSDAY 4TH - BRANDON ALLEN
FRIDAY 5TH - PROTECT THE BEAT
SATURDAY 6TH - CHRIS GARRICK
Sunday 7th (lunch) - THE LONDON VOCAL PROJECT
SUNDAY 7TH - IAN SHAW
MONDAY 8TH - NOEL McCALLA
TUESDAY 9TH - VICTORIA NEWTON
WEDNESDAY 10TH - SIMON MULLIGAN
THURSDAY 11TH - TIM WHITEHEAD
FRIDAY 12TH - CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY
SATURDAY 13TH - DON WELLER
SUNDAY 14TH - LILLIAN BOUTTÉ
MONDAY 15TH - BRASS JAW
TUESDAY 16TH - DAN REINSTEIN / DILL KATZ
WEDNESDAY 17TH - THE JOHN EAST PROJECT
THURSDAY 18TH - CARL HUDSON
FRIDAY 19TH - THE TOWNSHIP COMETS
SATURDAY 20TH - SAMARA
SUNDAY 21st – (lunch) GEORGINA JACKSON
SUNDAY 21ST - DANA GILLESPIE AND THE LONDON BLUES BAND
MONDAY 22ND - MIKE LINDUP
TUESDAY 23RD - EMMANUEL WALDRON / DAVE SMYTH
WEDNESDAY 24TH - CHRIS KIBBLE
THURSDAY 25TH - PAUL BOOTH
FRIDAY 26TH - JANDIRA SILVA
SATURDAY 27TH - BOBBY WELLINS
SUNDAY 28TH - NINA FERRO
MONDAY 29TH - TOMMY BLAIZE BAND
TUESDAY 30TH - STEVE MELLING TRIO / MATT ROBINSON
WEDNESDAY 31ST - ZOE FRANCIS / GARETH WILLIAMS

HIDEAWAY
LATEST INFO
2 Empire Mews
Streatham
London
SW16 2ED

Friday June 14th - Wall to Wall – Bowie with David McAlmont
Saturday June 15th - Wall to Wall – Bowie with David McAlmont
Sunday June 16th – Lunch: NYJO
Thursday June 20th - Stevie Wonder: The Legendary Music Genius with Lex Cameron
Friday June 21st - Stevie Wonder: The Legendary Music Genius with Lex Cameron
Saturday June 22nd - Stevie Wonder: The Legendary Music Genius with Lex Cameron
Sunday June 23rd – Lunch: Blue Harlem
Thursday June 27th - The Music of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan with Nicola Emmanuelle
Friday June 28th - The Music of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan with Nicola Emmanuelle
Saturday June 29th - The Music of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan with Nicola Emmanuelle
Sunday June 30th - King Candy and the Sugar Push
WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT - Jam Session and Jazz Workshop (In the Back Room / Cuban Hideaway feat. DJ Rich (In the Main Room)

Snowboy