Jazz On The Beach 140 & Blues Beach 53
Jazz On The Beach 140 & Blues Beach 53
New Jazz Underground, The Boodang, new releases and a killer blues playlist
One of the highlights of this week’s Jazz On The Beach radio playlist is oney one’s one by the exciting young American trio New Jazz Underground - saxophonist Abdias Armenteros, double bassist Sebastian Rios and drummer TJ Reddick. It’s the opener on cook/swing/work/relax that also features their regular collaborator, pianist Eric ‘Elew’ Lewis, and was launched on YouTube in March, just a couple of months after their terrific Harlem to Havana: Afro-Cuban Modernism VOL.1 with vocalist Gina D 'Soto and keyboardist Axel Tosca.
NJU really know what they’re doing, sticking to video and building an online audience to spread the word and using Bandcamp for sales while eschewing vinyl, CDs and streaming. They’re also passing on their knowledge by teaching students not only about the music but helping them with understanding how to connect with an audience. Here’s cook/swing/work/relax
Here’s a recent post by Bret ‘The Video Guy’ Primack about what’s happening.
Among the new releases this week is music from two wonderful South African artists on the new Blue Note Africa imprint. They are pianist Nduduzo Makhathini with Waterspirits: Amanxusa Asemkhatini from Unomkhublawane (June 7th) and tenor saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane with Inkehli from Iladi (July 12th), which was produced by Makhatini.
There’s a previously unreleased live version of Song For Sarah by the Thomas Stańko Quartet from September Night (ECM, June 21st), and a second track from Israeli guitarist Tal Sandman’s Sandman Project with Karnataka from the excellent Where Did You Go (Baton, June 7th). Also new this week is Yorkshireman turned Amsterdammer alto saxophonist Sam Newbould’s vibrant title track from Homing (ZenneZ, June 7th) that features drummer and bandleader Guy Salomon, whose own octet’s Shoulder Folder Twist Rag Shebang is another exhilarating ride from the album Free Hugs (self released, May 31st).
The jazz rock fusion milestone this week is The Boodang by the Tony Williams Lifetime from The Old Bum’s Rush (Polydor, 1973). It may not be particularly well known, but drummers will tell you that Williams’ playing here is unbelievable. This has a chaotic, dirty, funky groove with Webster Lewis’ Hohner clavinet and Hammond organ, a huge bassline from Herb Bushler, wild synths from David Horowitz and Laura ‘Tequila’ Logan leading the vocals. Ben Sidran co-wrote and produced and Bruce Botnick mixed it, and half a century later it still sounds fantastic. Thanks to my old friend Henry ‘Traps’ Lascelles, who turned me on to this back in the ‘70s. Henry is the drummer you hear at the start of every show along with Marla Madison’s gorgeous voice.
And finally, a thank you to ‘Brian-san’ McCrory and Jazz Of Japan for alerting me to the Otohito Fuse Trio, whose Narrow And Wide from the album Isolated (self-released, March), is an excellent find.
The full playlist is below, hope you enjoy it.
Blues Beach
It’s Blues Beach week again (it’s biweekly), with killer shuffles from Earl Hooker and Claude High & the High Tones, the original You Don’t Love Me from Willie Cobbs with Muddy Waters’ Sammy Longhorn on guitar, Larry Dale’s Midnight Hours with sensational Mickey Baker guitar and Champion Jack Dupree at the piano, the K.C. Douglas Trio’s Mercury Blues and Fats Domino’s version of Smiley Lewis’ hit Blue Monday. There are two Geoff Muldaur vocals, one with his ex wife Maria (but before they were married) on Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band’s Chevrolet and one on his own over thirty years later with Downtown Blues.
Here’s the full playlist, click on the link below.
Listen Live
You can listen live to Jazz On The Beach every Wednesday evening from 10.00pm - midnight* and to Blues Beach every other Thursday from 6.00pm - 7.00pm* on DealRadio.co.uk or via the TuneIn Radio app. (*UK time)
Or you can ask your smart device to ‘Play Deal Radio’.
Both shows are broadcast live from the Deal Radio Studio at 69a High Street, Deal, Kent CT14 6EH, a stone’s throw from the beach.
Jazz On the Beach and Blues Beach radio shows are sponsored by our good friends at 6 Park Avenue Coffeehouse & Bar, Deal and Wellingtons Coffeehouse & Bistro, Dover.
If you’ve just visiting (you’re very welcome!) or perhaps forgot why you subscribed in the first place, here’s a reminder of what this newsletter is trying to achieve:
Distribute the playlists and playback links for my two radio shows avoiding social media platforms
Make those shows more enjoyable by offering background on the music played
Share music and whatever knowledge I have
Appreciate and grow the listener community
You can get back to me through Substack or even good old fashioned email at jazzonthebeach@icloud.com