Jazz Glasgow Spring 2008 Season January 12, 2008
Posted by byased in Concerts.add a comment
The Jazz Glasgow Spring 2008 schedule has just been released. As usual, it looks a good mixture of styles, with return visits from lots of familiar faces, plus a few unknowns.
To me, the stand-out concert is the return of Swedish drummer and composer Martina Almgren, who is again appearing in a band co-led by Laura Macdonald. Their gig on February 7th coincides with the release of their 1st album together.
Other things to watch out for are Alan Barnes’ meeting with the Brian Kellock Trio, Scott Hamilton performing in a sax-and-organ trio setting (with Paul Harrison playing Hammond), and an appearance by guitarist Graeme Stephen’s Sextet.
Mystery band are the Radio String Quartet, Vienna, who will apparently be playing a set of pieces by the Mahavishnu Orchestra arranged for string quartet. Could be great; could be awful.
Gigs by Jesse Davis, Stephen Duffy and Konrad Wiszniewski make up the season.
Info about dates and prices can be found on the Jazz Glasgow web site. All the gigs are in the Recital Room at Glasgow City Halls.
Records of the Year 2007 January 7, 2008
Posted by byased in CDs.2 comments
My assessment of the best albums of 2007 has to be skewed by the fact that I’ve heard so few of them. several likely candidates turned out to have been released in 2006 or even 2005. Of those I have heard, my favourite is definitely “Amoroso – Only More So” by Norma Winstone, Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins. Living Cultural Treasures, all three of them.
I’ve also got a lot of time for “Six by Six” by the Paul Towndrow Sextet. Fine playing by some of Scotland’s top young players, and interesting arrangements by Towndrow. If I’d one criticism, I’d say that it’s a bit unrelentingly intense, even on the ballads: they need to learn that you can play great jazz without having everything turned up to eleven (metaphorically).
Another two are worth at least an honourable mention, although I bought them too late in the year to have got beyond first impressions: “Exit Strategy” by local electric freebop trio Trianglehead (with guitarist Graeme Stephen guesting on a few tracks), and “My Foolish Heart” by the Keith Jarrett Trio with Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock.
