Jazz on the Beach 165 & Blues Beach 65
Sullivan Fortner, M.T.B, Nikara Warren, John Nau, the deal with Deal
Here’s this week’s Jazz on the Beach radio playlist with some sensational new releases and a few old favourites. Let’s start with the pianist Sullivan Fortner’s version of the Cuban composer Osvaldo Farrés’ Tres Palabras, a preview from his upcoming album Southern Nights (Artwork Records, February 14th). The album was recorded during a five night stand at the Village Vanguard in July 2023 with double bassist Peter Washington and drummer Marcus Gilmore. Just listening to it warms up the house and chased last weekend’s driving rain and high winds over the horizon.
Fortner’s a marvellous player whether leading a trio, performing solo or collaborating with singers, including Cécile McLorin Salvant. I’m looking forward to seeing him at Ronnie Scott’s next March with double bassist Tyrone Allen and drummer Kayvon Gordon.
Also this week, the terrific opening title track from M.T.B’s Solid Jackson (Criss Cross Jazz, November 29th), featuring pianist Brad Mehldau, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner and guitarist Peter Bernstein, plus double bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart. it’s the same lineup (apart from drummer Leon Parker) as on their Consenting Adults album that was recorded in 1994 and released by Criss Cross Jazz in 2000.
It was only a week ago that I was raving about Mark Turner’s piano-less quartet The Fury (with guitarist Lage Lund, double bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Tyshawn Sorey), and here he is again in yet another incredible line up making outstanding music.
Among the other new releases, I was charmed by pianist John Nau’s dancing and swirling Lupita from Four Corners (Posi-Tone, December 6th), with vibraphonist Nick Mancini, bassist Trey Henry and drummer John Ferrano.
There’s also the latest in a raft of previously unreleased live performances by pianist Bill Evans with What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life from Bill Evans in Norway (Resonance, December 6th), recorded in 1970 at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival with double bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell.
My thanks to China Moses’ Jazz Adjacent (radio show and Substack) for alerting me to vibraphonist and singer Nikara Warren’s Eastern Parkway from the album The Queen of King’s County (Switch Hit Records, October 18th), released under NIKARA presents…Black Wall Street.
The writing, playing and groove on this (and the whole album) is terrific, from Nikara and saxophonists Craig Hill and Hailey Niswanger, trumpeter Alonzo Demetrius, guitarist Corey Sanchez, pianist Axel Tosca, bassist Parker McAllister and drummer David Frazier Jr.
There’s a fine ‘live in the studio’ version of Van Morrison’s Cyprus Avenue from Astral Weeks performed by the deeply soulful Jo Harman & bassist/producer Stefan Redtenbacher from the upcoming The Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume One (RBS Records). The rest of the line up features vibraphonist Orphy Robinson, guitarists Nat Martin & Tony Remy, organist Mike Gorman and drummer Mike Sturgis.
Here’s the video:
From my days at Sony Jazz there’s an 11-plus minute DJ friendly edit of Miles Davis’ title track from Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970) which had a similar length edit of Spanish Key on the flip. It was pressed on clear red 12” vinyl and used for promoting the 4CD box set Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (Columbia, 1998).
There’s Stone Alliance’s absolutely killing Sweetie-Pie from Stone Alliance (PM, 1976), with tenor saxophonist Steve Grossman, electric bassist Gene Perla and drummer Don Alias. The album was reissued by Now-Again Records recently and here’s mastering engineer Bernie Grundman cutting the lacquers from the original masters:
I couldn’t resist playing Kool and The Gang’s Heaven at Once from Wild & Peaceful (De-Lite, 1973) where bassist Ronald ‘Kool’ Bell answers his younger brother Rory’s question: ‘What are you doing to make things better (in the world today?)’ with the classic response: ‘Well, you see, we are scientists of sound / We're mathematically putting it down’.
To listen to this week’s Jazz on The Beach on Mixcloud, just click below…
The latest edition of Blues Beach goes back to the 1930s with Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell and Robert Johnson, the ‘50s with B.B. King, the ‘60s with Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert King, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield and Earl Hooker….
….the 70’s with Muddy Waters, Z.Z. Top and Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, the ’80s with Stevie Ray Vaughan, the ‘90s with Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown and right up to 2024 with Dave Ferra.
To listen to this week’s Blues Beach on Mixcloud, just click below…
And finally…some of you have been asking about Deal, the town where I live on the South East Kent coast. Here’s a recent video by Benjamin Kelly, a local musician and video maker who has just released Salt Song, an album of sea shanties. Could be the next thing….anyone remember Bill Murray and Christopher Guest’s Mel Brewer’s Insomnia Time with Ron Fields?
Listen live on Deal Radio or Catch up on Mixcloud
Jazz On The Beach is broadcast live every Wednesday evening from 10.00pm - midnight and repeated the following Monday from 2.00am - 4.00am
Blues Beach is broadcast live every other Thursday from 6.00pm - 7.00pm