Jazz notes

Although York has a number of pubs and other venues which sponsor regular weekly jazz sessions by local players, and these are a great asset for residents and visitors alike, the city does not have a dedicated jazz club. The reason is that in York no one has enthusiasm enough to take on the role of entrepreneur, to find a venue and to book a regular and varied programme. More importantly, it takes expertise and vision to apply for sponsorship and funding.

We must applaud the expertise of David Porter Creative Productions and the National Centre for Early Music, who between them have brightened our lives recently with the J Night International Series and the Late Music Festival, respectively.

The names of both Porter and the Early Music Centre appear in a new press release, as does The Shed, Brawby and the Hull Truck Theatre. It comes directly from the Arts Council of England and lists the names of successful grant applications for the Arts Investment Plan 2003-06.

Is there anyone in York willing to take on the David Porter or Simon (The Shed) Thackray role? In the city now, the entrepreneurs are the musicians, who form the bands and chat up the pubs and restaurants for playing opportunities. True, they are doing something they love, but they are also providing subsidised music for the public, usually with free entry.

The big question - is there a jazz following in York that will buy tickets and support a jazz club?

Until we discover the answer, I will just have to continue the listings for other cities nearby.

However, before I do that, York has a new jazz session starting tonight. Every Friday, John Addy will bring his Some Like It Hot band to the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane. This expands on the Sunday afternoon sessions at the pub by Finesse, with Carol Addy, and special guest tonight is Steve DeVine and his sultry saxophone. John has more guests planned.

As an alternative to the Victoria Vaults, Wakefield Jazz Club also maintains a varied programme. Tonight Australian singer Trudy Kerr presents her Tribute To Chet Baker, with trumpeter Dick Pierce standing in for the late Chet and Derek Nash playing the Gerry Mulligan role on baritone. Call Alec and Faith Sykes for more details 01924 782339.

Jazz at the Crown, Boston Spa, tomorrow night presents Phil Mason's New Orleans All Stars with Christine Tyrell. Details from 01937 842544.

Fine and Mellow (Karl & Nina) are at York's newest pub, the Rook and Gaskill, Lawrence Street on Monday.

On Tuesday, Scarborough Jazz at Scholar's Bar welcomes Leeds-based singer/saxophonist Hannah Meriden, details from 01723 379818.

Wayne Shorter is a saxophonist and composer who has played a major role in jazz since the 1960s. Hard on the heels of his 2002 album, Footprints Live! (Verve) comes an ambitious studio album, Alegria (Verve). His celebrated Quartet of Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade expands over ten tracks to include percussion, brass and woodwinds, with Brad Mehldau and Terry Lynn Carrington guesting on piano and drums for three tracks.

For an outing into classical territory, Bachianas Brasileiras No 5, by Villa-Lobos, he uses seven cellos, with solo cello stating the initial theme. Shorter's following tenor saxophone improvisation shares something of the cello's timbre. However, the opening sound on the CD is his bird-like soprano, on his own composition Sacajawea, and he double-tracks a tenor in a duet with himself.

Shorter's arrangements move between joyful improvisation and beautifully textured ensembles, from a medieval carol to a traditional Celtic folk song, and a small brass orchestra featured on a 1960s Spanish song, Vendiendo Alegria.

Leroy Anderson's Serenata is re-jigged from its normal brisk tempo into a surprisingly successful chamber piece, with a through-composed clarinet, oboe, bassoon and cello ensemble behind Shorter's ruminative soprano. Alegria means "joy" in Spanish, and this is an epic, masterful and important album.

Updated: 10:22 Friday, April 04, 2003