Sandy Brown Jazz
What's New
July 2026
In June, there was news of a well-established West-of-England jazz club losing its venue following changes in the pub's management. This poster from the North London Jazz Collective reminds us of the dedication of the many volunteers who run jazz clubs, despite the many challenges they face. We should take a moment to thank them. Hopefully the successful West-of-England jazz club will be snapped up by another venue. The Nine Lives Jazz Club in Newington Green, London is on Instagram here.
Project To Explore Community Big Bands
Led by the University of Liverpool’s Professor Catherine Tackley, the project Community Jazz Big Bands in England has been awarded an AHRC Standard Grant of £1.089 million over 3 years and will address questions of "how non-professional jazz big bands exemplify ideas of community. This will include exploring how they provide a way for large numbers of musicians and their audiences to engage with jazz and contribute to the function and value of jazz in England. ..... There is no register of community big bands, so the project will map this field working with project partners Making Music. A number of bands will be studied in depth, which will also lead to the production of a radio documentary..." There are more details here.
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2026
A new Award for Music Hubs and School Music Services has now been added to the categories in this year's Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Although nominations for other categories have closed, this Award, sponsored by the the Musicians’ Union and the help and support of SoundStorm and Music Mark, is now open for nominations. Please submit applications to Chris Hodgkins at appjag1@gmail.com by the deadline of Friday 31st July 2026 at Midnight. There will be a shortlist of three nominees selected by a panel of people from the Musicians’ Union, Music Mark, jazz promoters and jazz educators. Application forms are available through APPJAG (the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group) here.
Congratulations to Dave Cottle
In recognition of his half-century of dedication to the Swansea live jazz scene, Dave Cottle received the BEM (British Empire Medal) in this year's King's Birthday Awards. The award notes Dave's: Artistic Directorship (Running the weekly programming at the Swansea Jazz Club since the 1990s); His Event Production (having organised over 3,500 jazz events, founding the largest jazz festival in Wales); and Community Outreach (providing jam sessions and performance opportunities for local and aspiring musicians). A video is here.
Photograph courtesy of the Swansea Bay News
Peru Celebrates Jazz
The way that jazz spreads across the world was again featured in UNESCO's International Jazz Day this year. Lima, the capital of Peru, celebrated with "a program of free concerts that filled various cultural spaces with music, bringing together hundreds of people around jazz as a language of connection. ..... Four free concerts were held in different parts of the city, featuring Carlos Polo and 3ra Identidad, Inka Latin Jazz, Magenta Jazz, and Limanouche, all to full houses. This public response highlights citizens’ interest in participating in cultural experiences that not only entertain but also create spaces for encounter, strengthen the social fabric, and promote a more accessible and inclusive culture......" There are more details here. A video of the band Limanouche playing a tribute to Django Reinhardt is here.
Asha Parkinson In Saudi Arabia
Jazz musician and composer Asha Parkinson has been chosen by the British Council to be the first UK musician to travel to Saudi Arabia for a new Saudi Now project co-leading a programme called 'Orchestral Thinking, Maqam Memory & Collective Presence' alongside the brilliant Mohannad Talal and a whole team of amazing Saudi musicians. Howard Lawes spoke to Asha via a Zoom call from Jeddah and Asha explained how the initiative will work: While some Arab countries such as Egypt have a long history of jazz and other popular music, Saudi Arabia only recently allowed such music to be played in venues and festivals. Asha will be introducing jazz to Saudi musicians alongside the maqam but as she points out, the local Khaliji music already includes a swing element, apparently imitating the swaying gait of a camel. Historically, music has been passed down via an oral tradition and even now, written notation describes just the skeleton of a melody which is ornamented in an improvised way. The ensemble Asha will be working with includes members of the Saudi National Orchestra playing saxophone, oud, qanun, violin, bass, drums and percussion plus two vocalists. The ensemble will perform the new composition at a local university and the concert will be filmed and should be available to view online on the Saudi Music Commission website. We hope to report more on the project's progress in the future.
Video Juke Box
Click on the pictures to watch the videos..... or take pot luck and click on the picture of the Juke Box and see what comes up.
The New York vocal trio Duchess has a new album out - A Marvelous Party [see the Insight article below]. It is appropriately called 'Sure-footed swing, sweet-toned harmony,'. This is a video of Duchess from some years back singing On The Sunny Side Of The Street.
Deirdre Cartwright's ORGANIK play Mango Bango from their new album released in July. See this month's Tea Break with Deirdre here.
This very brief video of the Washboard Serenaders from 1933 has no given title unless you can decipher the scat.
The American vibes player Simon Moullier and his Quartet play Mr Hutcherson (? Bobby). The tune is on the band's new album Ceiba [see Recent Releases]
Saxophonist Trish Clowes plays Walking from her new album Try Me with her band My Iris. The album was inspired by a collection of field recordings from a walk along London’s Thames pathway from Rotherhithe to Blackfriars Bridge. [See Recent Releases}
Filmed in 1968, this video features Yugoslavian pianist Larry Vuckovich. Of the band here, only Larry remains with us, but the film gives us the chance to appreciate the others; Jon Hendricks, Phil Woods, NHOP and Al Heath. The Sweetest Sounds.
Michael Jackson recorded it, Miles Davis, Jacob Collier, Stevie Wonder and others all put their mark on it, but here is South Korean pianist Yohan Kim with his inspiring improvisation on Human Nature.
Did You Know?
Dollar Brand
Sadly, South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim passed through the Departure Lounge in June.
Born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town in 1934, he was of mixed-race heritage, making him a 'Coloured' person according to the apartheid system. In 1968 he converted to Islam, but in between being 'Adolph' and 'Abdullah', he took on the name 'Dollar Brand'.
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He was already an accomplished jazz pianist. Moving to Europe, in February 1963, his wife-to-be, vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin convinced Duke Ellington who was in Switzerland on a European tour, to come to hear Adolph perform as "The Dollar Brand Trio" in Zurich's "Africana Club". After the show, Ellington helped set up a recording session: Duke Ellington Presents The Dollar Brand Trio. Two years later, in 1965, Dollar Brand was playing at the Newport Jazz Festival.
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Here is Jumping Rope from the Duke Ellington Presents .... album:
Insight
A series in which musicians give us insight into the background of one of their recordings
Duchess
A Marvelous Party
They call it 'A Shindig In Song'. Duchess is a vocal trio from New York; they released their second album A Marvelous Party on the 12th June and it is a swinging album with fine vocal harmonies. Think back to the Boswell Sisters or the Andrews Sisters and you are in the right arena. But the trio are really a quartet with the hidden member being the significant contribution of GRAMMY-nominated composer Oded Lev-Ari. Listen to his arrangement of Nick LaRocca's Tiger Rag for the Three Cohens with the WDR Big Band here.
But back to Duchess - it was Oded who suggested that his wife, Amy Cervini, sing with Hilary Gardner and Melissa Stylianou. Amy says: “Oded was inspired to write custom arrangements for us. His arrangements are tailored for our voices, with this playful, imaginative correspondence between the history of this sort of music and our individual, contemporary sensibilities.” Oded adds: "There is a tradition in big-band composition – particularly with Duke Ellington – that emphasises writing for the individual playing the instrument, not necessarily for the instrument itself. Getting to know the three voices and their range of colours has allowed me to do that with Duchess. I can hear what a specific note would sound like when Melissa sings it versus Amy or Hilary. They’re so in tune with one another that it allows us to explore and experiment even while maintaining that great sound and vibe.”
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Duchess first got together in 2013 at Greenwich Village’s now bygone 55 Bar with what had initially seemed like a one-off gig ending up as obvious musical kismet. The trio recorded the studio albums Duchess (2015) and Laughing at Life (2017), prompting Downbeat Magazine to declare, “For a good time, call Duchess.”
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A Marvelous Party has a mix of songs, some well known, others new. It opens with This Could Be The Start Of Something Big. Amy says: "We're lucky, because with Oded's writing, a five-piece horn section can sound like a big band, even though we only have to pay five people! Seriously, it's the perfect intro, very 'here we are', Super fun."
One of the new songs is Champagne by contemporary singer-songwriter Kat Edmonson. "A slice of vintage-style pop - the popped cork and clinking glasses at the end of that tune are genuine - from bubbly at the wrap of the sessions."
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The penultimate song on the album is the Peggy Lee number Is That All There is? where the trio trade the solo spoken verses and come together for the sung choruses.
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Hilary Gardner says: "The world feels different today than it did when we first came on the scene, or maybe it's just that we're different. Kids are growing up. We've all weathered devastating losses of loved ones. Oh, and the planet is on fire ... But there's still joy to be found and shared. As the song goes, 'If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing / Let's break out the booze and have a ball."
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And have a ball they do .... Ain't That A Kick In The Head:​
Two Ears, Three Eyes
Brian O'Connor LRPS from Images of Jazz took this picture of guitarist Dave Warren when Dave brought his Quartet to Croydon's Clocktower Cafe Jazz Club on the 18th June. With Dave were saxophonist Alex Garnett, Steve Ashworth on keyboards and Buster Birch was at the drums. Brian says: "This was a good gig. It is some years since I've seen Alex Garnett - he just gets better and better with a lovely tone."
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Dave Warren has been described as "A superb accompanist and soloist; an accomplished bandleader and skilled guitarist. After studying in both the UK and the USA, Dave's career has seen him accrue an impressive list of performance credits, including live collaborations with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, and Eric Clapton. Dave is also a well-regarded educator as well as performer."
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Here is a video of Dave Warrren on another occasion playing Cole Porter's Love For Sale with Ross Stanley (organ).
The Clocktower cafe features free live jazz every Thursday lunchtime between 12.15 and 2.15pm.​
Anagram
Tea Break
A series where musicians and others stop by for an imaginary Tea Break to talk about their music and projects.
Deirdre Cartwright
It was raining. In many ways it came as a relief after the days of hot weather, but it had come as a surprise. The Café le Rêve was busy with customers either taking shelter or putting off going back out into the rain. Natalie was serving - it dawned on me that she didn't instruct customers to 'Enjoy' but offered her native 'Bon Appetit'.
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Ferdinand, the owner, was at the coffee machine, and Joe, the chef was taking a quick break at the small table at the back by the kitchen door. He waved. Thankfully, Natalie had put a 'reserved' sign for me in the opposite back booth.
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"Have you got an appointment, Ian?" called Joe. Joe is also a fine jazz pianist and his trio has a local evening residency.
"Yes, guitarist Deirdre Cartwright. Deirdre has a new album out."
"Is that Deirdre from Alison Rayner's 'ARQ'? I remember her from a band, The Guest Stars, she is really good. Actually, Ian, you must watch a forty-five minute video documentary on YouTube about the band - it is introduced by Deirdre and Alison and has great footage of the band from 1985 (here). It starts with them going to a gig in the snow with all their gear and you immediately appreciate how the scene was at the time. When Deirdre comes, you must introduce me."
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"I will. Deirdre is coming to talk about her latest band and recording, ORGANIK"
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"Great name! Do you think she will sponsor my organic burger recipe?"
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As if on cue, Natalie came over with an order for two burgers, Joe disappeared to the kitchen and Deirdre came into the café. Natalie spotted her and put on some music from Deirdre's album as a welcome:
Hi Deirdre, Thank you for coming in all this rain. We’ve got a booth at the back of the café so come and get dry. Can I get you a tea, coffee or something?
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Hi Ian, black coffee please.
The other members of ARQ must envy you with a guitar in weather like this – Alison carrying her double bass, Buster with a drum kit, Steve with a keyboard, and depending how many saxes Diane is taking?
Well I do have to bring my amp and some pedals when I play with ARQ as well as my Epiphone Casino guitar. Steve meanwhile usually plays the acoustic piano at the gig so I think he usually gets off quite lightly – though Steve did have to play an out of tune piano at a recent gig ... ooh not nice!
ARQ is so successful and you must know each other so well over what is a long time, personally and with playing. Do you remember how you first got together with Alison?
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Alison and I met in 1976 when she had only been playing bass for two weeks. I considered myself a ‘lead guitarist’ as was the trend in those days. Alison remembers I wanted to play very loud and very fast – it’s a miracle that we ended up playing together in so many groups over the past 50 years. We both shared a love of jazz even then, though it was more fusion jazz - Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report, Chick Corea.
Those were heady days! Not to mention when you were presenting the BBC TV’s series ‘Rockschool’ - I believe that Herbie Hancock presented the American version. What was the idea behind that and do you have good memories of the programme?
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Ah yes, the series explored the history of rock music and gave instruction in popular performance techniques. Back in 1983 I was spotted busking in Covent Garden with Ruthie Smith and Julia Doyle from The Guest Stars by the producer of the show, Chris Lent. I think he was impressed by my playing but as we were playing jazz standards he needed to know if I could play and illustrate other styles. It took the BBC two weeks to track me down and having gone in for an informal chat with my guitar, Chris offered me the guitar presenter role that day. I think it was the fact that I had played with Painted Lady in a heavy rock band, as well as my love for blues, soul and reggae – but no jazz!
There might not have been 'jazz' specifically but jazz has many influences. I guess many people now see you mainly as a member of ARQ, but of course you play with other groups too?
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Yes, that's right. I led my own group for many years and released 5 albums, mostly of my original material. We played international festivals and many UK gigs but leading a band is pretty exhausting. When Alison formed ARQ in 2012 I was very pleased to be part of her group and of course we continued to programme many gigs with Blow the Fuse club from the Vortex at that point.
And now, after how many years? you have released a new album – ‘ORGANIK’? I smiled when I saw ‘Stereo’ on the album cover. I believe that ORGANIK is also the name of the Trio. Where did the name come from?
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Well, I started to play some duo gigs with Pete Whittaker, it was the first time I had regularly played with jazz organ and we just gelled - our playing and love of the 1950s/60s guitar organ sound. Then I played a gig with Gary Hammond who was in my band for many years until he moved out of London. I wondered what it would be like to have an organ trio with congas/percussion instead of drums? The trio played a couple of gigs and it just worked. It was ‘ORGANIK’ because Pete, Gary and I worked so effortlessly as a trio.
I think the album is a nice balanced mix of standards and new tunes and immediately enjoyable. You released Mango Bango as the first single. Let’s take a listen …
That is such a happy track and Pete Whittaker’s Hammond organ and Gary Hammond’s (no relation!) percussion fit so well. Does that track take you back to your times with the Latin music of the The Guest Stars?
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The Guest Stars always had the congas and percussion of Linda da Mango. and we were influenced by Latin and African music. I think when The Guest Stars stopped touring I wanted to continue with that sound and in my first groups I often used percussion as well as drums.
I like the way the album opens with your version of Eleanor Rigby, I think well known tunes like Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise and On Green Dolphin Street too, draw listeners in to an album so they can appreciate the improvisations and also experience the new music. Was choosing tunes for the album a challenge?
Rehearsal
A series in which we catch on video musicians or a band in rehearsal.
The Original Cornell Syncopators
with Ed Clute
Sweet Like This
In September, 2018, this band from Cornell College in Ohio went to the home of Ed Clute in New York. Veteran Dixieland and Stride pianist Ed Clute has been playing piano since the age of three. He attended the Batavia School for the Blind where he learned how to read Braille music. Over the years he has played in many jazz bands, including his own, and has had the pleasure of sitting in with Benny Goodman and Turk Murphy. You can read more about him with the video below.
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The Original Cornell Syncopators are: Colin Hancock; (cornet, arranger, director); Lior Kreindler, David Connelly (trumpet); Rishi Verma (trombone); Kieran Loehr (alto sax, clarinet); Stephen Newcomb (alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Troy Anderson (tenor sax, clarinet); Uche Chukwukere (violin); Robbert Van Renesse (banjo); Christina Li (piano); Sarah Cohn-Manick (tuba); Noah Li (drums) and special guest Ed Clute (piano)
Eddie Gripper
Americana
by Howard Lawes*
Born and brought up in Oxfordshire, Eddie Gripper moved to Cardiff, entering the university to study music. Over a Zoom call Eddie described his love of both classical and jazz music and the background to his new album, Americana.
While at university Eddie grew to love jazz, deciding to concentrate on the piano, rather than the trumpet which he took up at a young age. He met and was tutored by Huw Warren who is Head of Jazz Ensembles at the university as well as being a visiting professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, which is just down the road from the university. However, what could have been such a fertile environment for an aspiring jazz musician turned out to be at times like “learning in a vacuum” due to the impact of Covid. The pandemic also delayed, by 2 years, the great American adventure that Eddie, and his long-standing friend Henry finally embarked upon in 2022.
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The idea for a trek across America came about as a way of celebrating the life of Henry’s father who had recently died, and followed on from other walks the two friends had completed together previously, walking the whole length of the Thames Path to raise money for charity and hitchhiking across the Scottish Highlands.
As Covid subsided the American trip became a reality, but in the meantime Eddie’s grandfather had died, so both walkers were marking their admiration for much loved figures in their lives. The route from Anchorage in Alaska to Los Angeles is about 3,500 miles and took 6 weeks to complete. During the journey Eddie recorded memories and composed music inspired by the stunning natural and urban landscapes, and the people they met, which has been condensed into the album Americana (2026).
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The album has Eddie on piano, Clem Saynor on double bass and Patrick Barrett-Donlon on drums. There are six original tracks composed by Eddie with one composed by another of Eddie’s favourites composers, Paul Simon.
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Here is a short video introduction to the album:
In an interview at the time of the release of Eddie Gripper’s first album, Home (2023) (Jazzwise, November 2023) Peter Jones expressed surprise that Eddie had “almost no knowledge of Jazz until 2018”. However, Eddie did know about improvisation. When Eddie selected the five albums he can’t live without (Jazzwise, May 2026) top of the list is J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1. Bach didn’t play jazz, but he was considered the greatest improviser of his time and known for his mastery of counterpoint. Eddie has long enjoyed improvising and is of the opinion that had they lived now, many of the great classical composers would have been equally at home with jazz. The great jazz trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis is quoted as saying “Bach was on to things that we haven’t quite got to yet”.
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Here is a video for the title track of Home:
Before releasing Americana, Eddie and vocalist Elijah Jeffrey recorded and released an album. Titled simply as Elijah Jeffrey & Eddie Gripper, it is described by trumpeter and educator Dr Linley Hamilton as: "A brand-new album by two young titans who have collaborated in a focused project which reflects both their passion for music, and the strong desire to create. Written and recorded within 8 weeks, pianist Eddie Gripper and vocalist Elijah Jeffrey capture stories invented by two young men not afraid to explore themes of darkness and danger, balanced by hope and love in some of its many guises. There is no room for fear here. The whole creative process, working together in a room with a piano and a well-schooled voice, was shared by both musicians together, determined to write, record and produce within the tightest of time frames. And musicians, a carefully chosen term, alluding to the output having precedence over their individual musical ability, so that the songs would, in essence, come first! This has been achieved with Eddie exploring a mix of conventional and complex chord voicings, unison melody lines, and thrilling improvisations that sparkle in this crossover original repertoire. The album demonstrates an authority augmented by an impressive vocal range, controlled vibrato, and an individual voice; the perfect tool to purvey their messages with an authoritative conveyance. Their impressive relationship with dynamics reinforces the intent of their compositions, and the narrative they generate nods to music being more than what they play, rather how they make the listener feel."
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Here they are with Shifting Seasons from the album.
Eddie’s intention with Americana was to compose music that recalled a time and place, to create tone poems. This is amply demonstrated on the first track, Third Beach, in which the repeating themes and changing dynamics readily evoke the sound of waves breaking on a beach, a place by the sea to relax after a long journey. So Long, Oregon is tinged with sadness, apparently because a hoped-for reunion with an old friend didn’t materialise.
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Here is a video of Eddie playing Third Beach:
*Saxophonist Howard Lawes is National Jazz advisor for U3A Jazz Groups and a freelance writer who contributes each month to Sandy Brown Jazz What's New magazine.
Jazz Played Here
The B-Flat
Tokyo
by Peter Maguire*
B Flat is a premier jazz venue in Tokyo, hosting both local talent and international artists. There are regular live performances, often with two sets per night (around 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm). It has a spacious yet intimate underground setting with excellent acoustics. The club has built a reputation for high-quality music programming and a serious jazz atmosphere rather than a touristy bar vibe.
This basement jazz club with a cozy, intimate feel was renovated in 2023 with improved seating and a more refined ambiance. It is often described as a place where you can sit comfortably and focus on the music. Reservations are recommended, especially at weekends. Expect a cover charge (typically a few thousand yen depending on the show)
B Flat is not just a bar - it’s a dedicated jazz listening space where music takes centre stage. If you’re in Tokyo and want an authentic live jazz experience with good food and a relaxed but refined setting, it’s one of the standout venues in the city.
The B Flat Club can be found at 107-0052 Akasaka Sakae Building, B1F, 6-6-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tokyo, Japan
Tel:03-5563-2563
Their website with details of upcoming shows and other information is here
Here is a video:
*Trombonist Peter Maguire is based in Belgium and is the creator of the Jazz Clubs Worldwide website, a valuable database if you are looking for jazz clubs elsewhere. Peter will be telling us of other clubs in future issues.
Time Out Ten
Milt Jackson and Coleman Hawkins
Close Your Eyes
For this item you need to be able to stop for ten minutes.
We are often moving on to the next job, the next meeting, scrolling down social media, taking the next call ......'Time Out Ten' asks you to stop for ten minutes and listen to a particular piece of music; to find a time when you won't be interrupted, when you can put in/on your headphones and chill out. Ten minutes isn't long.
At the risk of sending you off to sleep in this month's ten minute break, here are Milt Jackson (vibes) and Coleman Hawkins (sax) from the 1958 album Bean Bags - nicely titled from the two musicians' nick names. This is intentionally an audio track - if you have your eyes closed a video, presumably, would not be appropriate​
Close your eyes
Let's pretend that we're both counting sheep
Close your eyes
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Close Your Eyes was composed by American songwriter Bernice Petkere - dubbed 'The Queen Of Tin Pan Alley' by Irving Berlin. Of course it has been recorded countless times, but this version by 'Bags' and 'Bean' with Tommy Flanagan (piano); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Eddie Jones (bass) and Connie Kay (drums) will hopefully help to 're-charge your batteries'.
The Jazz Quiz
Duke Ellington's Musicians
For our quiz this month we have taken the names of fifteen musicians from the Duke Ellington Orchestra and mixed up the letters of their names. Can you work out who they are?
The July Jazz Quiz is​
Sandy Brown Less Heard
I'm In The Market For You
by the Al Fairweather Quartet
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Early in 1956, a year before the milestone McJazz album that firmly established Sandy Brown's band, the band had been recording with a number of guest musicians. Those recordings were issued under the title Sandy's Sidemen, but as an offshoot, some smaller sessions were also recorded. One of these was a Quartet led by trumpeter Al Fairweather on the 10th July and included Sandy, Diz Disley (guitar) and Major Holley (bass). They recorded Chinatown, My Chinatown and I'm In The Market For You, the tune we feature here.
The Story Is Told
One Good Turn
a short story
by Yvonne Mallett
Tuesday. Never the best night for a jazz gig. Start time is billed as 8 p.m. Pete is here ahead of us, his keyboard standing in its case against the wall. He’s found a spot and sits, head falling forward, at a table close to the small step up from the floor. (They call that ‘the stage’). He’s sleeping soundly.
Now, a bunch of guys unpacking their stuff, telling a few jokes and sort of re-bonding may get a bit shouty – happy, moany, surly, you name it. And so it is. Pete has a sort of scowling, dejected expression. Chris, probably the tallest bass-player on the planet, leans across and pokes him with his bow. Pete’s expression gets even more scowly, and at last he wakes up. We give a mock cheer. He still looks gloomy and doesn’t speak.
“How’re you doin'?” I ask finally, unpacking my horn.
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“I’m dead.” Pete’s voice is gravelly.
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Evan-the-Red (hair that is) is already warming up the sax. Josh, flexing his considerable, gym-enabled muscles, is engrossed, making a racket with his drums.
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“I don’t think I can do this,” says Pete. He looks like he’d rather be anywhere but with us.
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“Smarten up, Pete” I wave my arm round the room for emphasis. “Dozens are waiting out there.”
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“Yeah. Dozens of empty tables.”
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“People! Fans! There’s the jam, too, don’t forget.”
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“You’re trying to make me feel better?”
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“You will”.
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Pete groans. “Will there be singers? And will they all want to sing Black Coffee? And Willow Weep For Me?”
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I have to laugh. It’s almost a standing joke but one that’s often too close to the truth for comfort.
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Pete groans. “I’m exhausted. Including travelling I’ve worked 16 hours out of the last 24. Only one decent meal. Had a gig in Bootle. Some sort of country estate. Had to row out to a small artificial island. I hate boats. Then there was a lunch session at an arty school in Maida Vale. Monday was Southend. Two students this morning – now this.”
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“You’ll perk up once we start.”
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“I feel like jacking it in.” His sourness is beginning to get to me.
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Evan buts in: “What are we tonight? End-of-the-Pier, dance band or actual jazz?” He’s tired of waiting and getting stressed.
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I take command, like the leader of the band has to. “Okay, it’s 8.20. Forget the anti. Time we started.”
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A few folk have already wandered in, some with instruments to surprise us with later. It doesn’t take long to spot the girls with their sheet music, probably for ‘Coffee’ and ‘Willow’. I signal to the pub MC that we’re ready to go then control my murderous impulses as he makes his usual, crummy announcement about us being a bunch of great musicians plus a drummer. Josh shrugs and grins like he always does. He shouldn’t really complain. Drummers get plenty of applause. He’s pretty good anyway. Last time he dropped a stick. He was going at it somewhat so the stick sort of hurled itself out of his hand like a missile. It was caught by someone in the front row, who tossed it back to Josh, who never missed a beat.
We start off with a set list including: Now’s the Time, From This Moment On and The Best Is Yet To Come. We can be pretty versatile – everything’s on the i-Phone anyway. Sometimes I feel we should try to sort of educate the audience a bit. At least bring in some post-Parker material after the interval, before the jam. My hero is Dizzy, and sometimes I manage to let it show. After Ain’t Misbehavin' and You Stepped Out Of A Dream a sweet older lady approaches us. She is dressed in what you could call vintage-style clothes. You could describe hair and make-up the same way. And her politeness.
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“Sir,” she says to Evan, “Sir, I wonder if you’d be very kind and play a fox-trot?”
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I hate to let her down but it can’t be helped and I call across, “Sorry madam but we don’t have a fox trot on the list tonight.”
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We head back over some familiar territory: There’ll Be Some Changes Made, But Not For Me, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and So What? We’re heading for the break. To my shame I think I’ll tell an old joke: “There was a little old rock and blues band. They had a wonderful gig and were laughing and cheering and jumping in the air at the end. One of the musicians was so excited he threw his hat in the air - it was Chuck Berry!” The audience groans.“Hang around for the jam,” I say. “That’s when we play the sweet stuff.”
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It’s the break already. Pete wolfs down a burger. The rest of us tackle various thirst-quenching rewards. The management allows us two drinks each per session. While we’re resting, talking about artificial islands and the like, a tall girl happens over.
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“Do you do Black Coffee?” she says in a mock-sultry kind of way.
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“We’ve heard of it,” says Evan. And winks at us.
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“Could you possibly – I’ve got the music, let me do it tonight?”
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Josh grins and butts in. “We do Black Coffee kind of Espresso style.”
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A mum pops over. “My son is here,” she announces. “He’s only 15 but he’d love to play piano with you. He’s quite good. His name’s Edward. He’s doing music at school.” This proposition is not unique, and I have an image of a sweet faced kid playing Look For The Silver Lining. Obviously I’m wary. Then “Okay,” I say, without much enthusiasm but from the goodness of my heart. It doesn’t hurt to do the odd good turn, does it?
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“We’ll get him on first,” I say. Get it over with, I think. I guess we were all a bit jaded.
Forum
National Jazz Archive
Mark Kass, Executive Chair of the National Jazz Archive writes to say that the NJA's next fundraising gig The Story Of The Drums In Jazz will be told by the Miles Pillinger Trio. The gig will take place at Loughton Baptist Church, 92 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 4QU on the 18th July at 2.00 pm (Doors at 1.15 pm). Mark says: "Told by one of the UK’s leading emerging star drummers Miles Pillinger and his trio, the MP3 present a sonically illustrated journey of this amazing instrument. Winner of the 2025 Peter Wittingham award, Miles intertwines raw improvisation with rich, uplifting influenced by jazz greats Hermeto Pascoal, Max Roach, Chick Corea creating a melodic, creative sound described as ‘The Voice of the Youth’. He lived and studied in Brazil to further deepen his understanding of Brazilian music and culture and his upcoming debut album ‘Belonging’ highlights the importance of what and who makes you feel you, conveyed through his Afro-Brazilian jazz inspired compositions."
New Merlins Cave
Ben Hewlett (harmonica) has seen our page remembering the New Merlins Cave jazz club in Clerkenwell here and writes: "I was in a band (briefly) but stayed with them as they were all friends of mine. We did a gig in 1988 - it was our inaugural and farewell gig combined. We were: Stephen Kimber (drums); Alistair Edmondson (guitar - younger brother of the famous Adrian); Matthew Edmondson (bass - also younger brother of the famous Adrian); Neill McKenzie (vocals); Alison? (keyboards); Ben Hewlett (fired from keyboards!)"
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[Does anyone remember the band? - Ed]
Departure Lounge
Information has arrived about the following musicians or people connected to jazz who have passed through the 'Departure Lounge' since our last update.
When this page first started, links to newspaper obituaries were free. Then increasingly advertisements were added and now many newspapers ask for a subscription to read a full obituary. Where possible, we initially link to a Wikipedia page which is still free of charge, but we also give links to newspaper obituaries in case you want to read them.​
Abdullah Ibrahim
South African pianist and composer born in Cape Town in 1934. Like Hugh Masekela he played with the Jazz Epistles. He moved to Europe in 1962, and in 1967 to the United States to Juillard School of Music. Supporting the African National Congress he moved between South Africa, the USA and Europe. He passed through the Departure Lounge on the 15th June 2026. Obituaries: Wikipedia : The New York Times : A video of Abdullah's composition Mannenburg is here - read the story with the video.
James Blood Ulmer
Willie James Ulmer, an American jazz, free funk and blues guitarist born in South Carolina in 1940. After moving to New York in 1971, her played with Art Blakey's Jazz Mwssengers, Joe Henderson, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman and others. He passed through the Departure Lounge on the 3rd June 2026. Obituaries: Wikipedia : The New York Times : A video of James Blood Ulmer at the 2015 Skopje Jazz Festival is here.
Dennis Jones
Bass player Ron Drakeford tells us that Dennis Jones, trumpet player and leader of Preacher Hood's Jazz Missionaries in the early '60s has passed through the Departure Lounge. We have no further details at present but will add more when possible.
Recent Releases
A few words about recent releases / reviews:
Apart from where they are included in articles on this website, I don't have a 'Reviews' section for a number of reasons:
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I receive so many requests to review recordings it is impossible to include them all.
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Unlike some publications/blogs, Sandy Brown Jazz is not a funded website and it is not possible to pay reviewers.
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Reviews tend to be personal opinions, something a reviewer likes might not suit you, or vice versa.
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It is difficult to capture music in words, so much better to be able to listen and see whether the music interests you.
For these reasons in particular I just include a selection of recent recordings below where I share the notes issued by the musician(s) as an introduction and links to samples so you can 'taste' the music for yourselves. For those who like to read reviews, these, of course, can be checked out on other sites.
Some Recent Releases
You will find our Recent Releases page HERE where you can scroll down and see our featured releases. Included this month are: