In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Irish pop star Imelda May for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Imelda grew up in Dublin with a large loving family. The spirit of that family remains with her today and in her powerful voice. Imelda's new album is 11 Past the Hour. [Photo above of Imelda May courtesy of Imelda May]
Here's Imelda in action...
Houston Person. Earlier this month, Houston was at pianist Emmet Cohen's apartment with Russell Hall on bass and Kyle Poole on drums. Emmet's Place, a gig stream, can be viewed live along with past streams. Go here. [Photo above of Houston Person by Alexey-Karpovich]
Here's Just the Way You Are...
Eduard Ninck Blok. Last week, after my post on Dutch pianist Frans Wieringa, I heard from Eduard Ninck Blok, who played on Jazz From Holland:
Dear Marc. Here's additional information on the LP. It was recorded on November 4, 1968 in Dorplein, a little village near the Belgian border. It was released on Europa Music (#7719). The personnel was Frans Wieringa (p), me on cornet and flute, Ruud Voordes (b) and Ton van Steenderen (d). My name was misspelled on the cover. Totally unrehearsed, we went into the studio of Johnny Hoes and made the LP in one day. It could have been better, but I still like "Work Song." Three years later, I had my masters in psychology at Groningen University and started working there after graduation. I continued to play trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn. In the '80s I had the Amstel Octet and we made two records. The second featured Chet Baker.
Mose Allison. Following my post last week on John Chin and Mose, I heard from Mark Rabin:
Hi, Marc. How Orwellian is it to hear Mose Allison's incisive lyrics from the year 1984? Between 1984 and '86, Mose was on "The Ocean Limited," a CBC program hosted by Bill Stevenson. This two-part program features 20 of Mose Allison's greatest hits recorded live in October 1984 at Pepe's Upstairs in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Pepe's was reported to be one of only two clubs in Halifax paying jazz musicians to perform in the mid-80's, so this must have been a special evening for local jazz fans. To listen to the radio show, go here.
I also heard from Pam Oberman in Australia:
Hi Marc. Loved your descriptive words used in your post about the latest album to cover Mose's music and vocals. "Rural wisdom," "jagged bluesy piano," "Moseville," "Mose art attack" and his "quiet hipster ethos," "barefoot wisdom" and "funky jazz yowl & rock." Playing the album very loudly down here in Australia at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
Julian Lage—Squint (Blue Note). The guitarist has a new album out, his first on Blue Note. Joined by bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King, Lage has a jazz-rock sound that is probably closest to John Scofield's taut, ringing attack. What I love most on this album is that each track has a different metallic personality held together with the same warm spirit. Saint Rose, for example, has a funky country feel while Day and Age features a slow shuffle and Quiet Like a Fuse is soft and soulful. And then there's Emily, the Johnny Mandel movie theme, which gives jazz heads a clear benchmark that illustrates how Lage rolls. What's also interesting is how Lage's abstraction interacts with his lyricism, like different colored oil undulating fluidly on the surface of water. Also fabulous throughout is the sound of Lage's Collings 470 JL guitar, an instrument Collings made in collaboration with Lage. It has the bite of a Telecaster and the romance of a Gibson. Go here.
Brian Charette. I last posted about the organist in March. For those of you in New York this weekend, stop off at 55 Bar on Sunday from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Brian will be backed by Ari Hoenig (d) and Gilad Hekselman (g). Here's the trio in action on Standing Still in 2018...
To view Brian's solo electronica streams every Tuesday at 9 p.m. (ET), go to his Facebook page here. Here's a recent stream...
Eddie Jefferson radio. Sid Gribetz will host a five-hour tribute to vocalist Eddie Jefferson on Sunday, from 2 to 7 p.m. (ET). To listen from anywhere in the world, go here.
Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter radio. Up now at FM Radio Archive are two concerts featuring Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter together, backed by different bands. The first is VSOP live in Japan in 1977, including Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard and Tony Williams. The second is the all-star jazz quartet known as HSHB04, with Dave Holland and Brian Blade, live in the French Alps in 2004. You can find both here. [Photo above of Herbie Hancock by Francis Wolff (c)Mosaic Images]
And finally, Jackie Trent singing This Time in 1966, the British B-side to Love Is Me, Love Is You. Little known in the U.S., Trent was a power pop star in the U.K. in the '60s and beyond. She also was a fabulous lyricist who teamed with husband Tony Hatch, who composed most of Petula Clark's hits. Trent (above) specialized in deeply passionate love songs either about getting together or breaking up. Here's This Time, with words and music by Trent and Hatch...
One more? Here's Trent singing You Baby, written by Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann for Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes...