Jazz On The Beach 107 & Blues Beach 36
George Freeman, Christian McBride's New Jawn, Blues Saxophone Special & Bagels
This week’s playlist features something rather special from guitarist George Freeman, the brother of tenor saxophonist Von Freeman and a stalwart of the Chicago jazz scene. At 96 years old he’s one of the last men standing to have played with Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and Billie Holiday, and has worked with artists including Sil Austin, Jackie Wilson, Groove Holmes and Gene Ammons. Although he recorded some fine solo records, his style may just have been a little too outside to build a larger following, but he can really play. His latest album The Good Life (High Note) was recorded in 2022 with two separate trio lineups. I picked the track Mr D that features organist Joey DeFrancesco (his final recording date) and drummer Lewis Nash. Freeman’s guitar tone and choice of notes have enough grit to rough up any smooth edges on this killer blues groove while DeFrancesco’s Hammond B3 sounds as majestic as ever.
I was in London on Monday for Christian McBride & New Jawn’s opening set of a two night stand at Ronnie Scott’s. I had a table right in front of the stage and heard some great jazz music by truly extraordinary musicians - you can read my review for London Jazz News here. One of the songs they played was Sonny Rollins’ East Broadway Rundown from their album Prime (2023, Mack Ave) which just happens to be on this week’s show.
New music this week includes the haunting Don’t Break My Heart by the Polish pianist, composer and singer Hania Rani, featuring Portico Quartet’s Duncan Bellamy. It’s from her third solo album Ghosts released a couple of weeks ago (Gondwana). And hold on to your hats for I Am What I Am by singer Veronica Swift from her eponymous second album released last month (Mack Avenue), her voice will surely blow you away.
Meanwhile back on the South East Kent coast there’s a single from tenor saxophonist Graeme Airth, who leads the weekly Deal Jazz Club at the Walmer Castle on Saturday from 5pm - 7pm. It’s a cool version of Ronnie Laws’ Night Breeze (Milo Sound) featuring keyboardist Mick Bishop, drummer Kieron Mien with guitarist Cliff Ovenden and percussion by Joe Crisp.
From the special box at the foot of my desk there’s pianist Keith Jarrett’s marvellous Long As You Know You’re Living Yours from Belonging (ECM, 1974) with tenor saxophonist Jan Garbarek, double bassist Palle Daniellson and drummer Jon Christensen. This song influenced Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker as the title track on Gaucho will testify, and Jarrett went to court and was granted a co writing credit and royalties. Maybe he just wanted to see his name on a Steely Dan album! Also this week, there’s the Dan’s late masterpiece Everything Must Go (Reprise 2003) from the album of the same name, with Walt Weiskopf’s tenor saxophone heralding the demise of the CD era in the wake of the Napster revolution.
There’s much more on the playlist below, enjoy the music and if you like what you hear, please help spread the word!
This week’s Blues Beach is a blues saxophone special featuring many of the great tenor players including Willis ‘Gator Tail’ Jackson, Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson, Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor, Joe Houston and Big Jay McNeeley. It’s where the blues meets swing, rock and roll and rhythm and blues, so listen up and blow those blues away!
And finally….Bagels
While in London on Monday, following coffee with London Jazz News founder Sebastian Scotney in Kings Cross, I walked over to It’s Bagels!, a recently opened New York style bagel shop in Primrose Hill who serve eleven kinds of bagels baked on the premises and excellent shmears (fillings to you). It’s really good, recommended for those who like a softer bite. What are the eleven? Here you go…plain, sesame, everything, egg, garlic, pumpernickel, salt, onion, poppy, cinnamon raisin and rainbow (Saturdays only). I saw that Roni’s Bagel Bakery is about to open a new shop right across the street from them, so hopefully the queues will get shorter.
While we’re talking bagels, let’s not forget Sub Rosa in Margate, just along the coast from Deal. They’re chewier, which for me is a good thing. And although my sponsors Welly’s of Deal & Wellingtons of Dover don’t bake bagels (well, yet anyway ) their giant hot pretzel is still an important part of the morning coffee ritual!
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Radio Times
Broadcasting live from Deal Radio, 69a High Street, Deal, Kent CT14 6EH. Just drop by if you’re passing and browse the racks in the record shop at the front.
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