Jazz on the Beach 193 & Blues Beach 78: Franceso Sotgiu, Etienne Charles, Ineza, Jamie Leeming & Kaya Thomas-Dyke, Pharaoh Sanders, George Benson
Jazz and blues radio for another hot weekend
There are eight new releases on this week’s Jazz on the Beach radio playlist as well as three live ‘60s tracks by Miles Davis (Joshua from Four and More), Thelonious Monk (Epistrophy from Palo Alto) and John Coltrane (Softly, as In a Morning Sunrise from Coltrane ‘Live’ at the Village Vanguard). There are also some favourites from George Benson, Khan Jamal, Pharoah Sanders, Kool & the Gang, Lou Donaldson and Ted Curson.
But the song I can’t seem to shake this week is the explosive version of Mongo Santamaría’s Afro Blue by the Italian drummer, composer and arranger Franceso Sotgiu. It comes from his album Passing (Mono Jazz, 2024), and was featured on Massimiliano ‘Jazzcat’ Conti’s The Congregation - Jazz Alliance International (Mono Jazz, 2024), an excellent compilation that also featured Nicola Conte’s Freedom & Progress featuring Zara McFarlane.
One of the two saxophonists on Afro Blue is Emanuele Cisi, (the other being Riccardo Luppi), and I’ve played Cisi’s Pharoah’s Message and the title track from his album Rushin’ over the last few weeks. The other musicians are pianist Luigi Bonafede and double bassist Salvatore Maiore, while trumpeter Paolo Fresu also appears elsewhere on the album. I’ve got to say that the more I dig into Italian jazz, the more I realise how much I appreciate their attitude and love of music.
I really enjoyed the Trinidadian trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles’ last album Creole Orchestra, and am delighted that he’s back with another cracker. Gullah Roots (Culture Shock, 20th June), focuses on ‘the history, culture, and music of the Black ethnic group centred in the Lowcountry of southeastern U.S’, and it’s absolutely terrific.
I’ve picked Watch Night II (Ring Shout) that features guest vocalist Quiana Parler and percussionist Quentin E. Baxter (that washboard solo!) with alto saxophonist Godwin Louis, pianist Christian Sands, guitarist Alex Wintz, double bassist Russell Hall (he’s everywhere these days) and drummer Harvel Nakundi. Charles is fast tracking to auteur status, his vision and strong and clearly defined.
Four new releases from London…..Alfa Mist-ers guitarist Jamie Leeming and singer, bassist and guitarist Kaya Thomas-Dyke come together for Thinking of Yesterday, a track from Leeming’s upcoming Sequent, (Sekito, 19th September). It’s produced by Alfa Mist with percussionist Richie Sweet and bassist Joe Downard.
The Rwanda born Ineza has a wonderful voice, and returns with the deeply soulful Silence from Ibuka (Remember) (Inez Music, 12th September). She’s well supported by alto saxophonist Michael Lack, pianist Rob Brockway, double bassist Ben Crane and drummer Kuba Miazga.
There’s another single from keyboardist and producer Yoni Mayraz, this time he’s joined by flautist Tenderlonious for the middle eastern jazz funk of Ghostown! (PPK Records, 12th June), with bassist Tom Driessler and drummer Zoe Pascal.
And yet another single from Kokoroko, with the optimistic Just Can’t Wait from Tuff Times Never Last (Brownswood Recordings, 11th July), with trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, trombonist Anoushka Nanguy, saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael, guitarist Tobi Adenaike-Johnson, keyboardist Yohan Kebede, bassist Duane Atherley, percussionist Onome Edgeworth, drummer Ayo Salawu and joyous vocals from most of them. Kokoroko seem to be everywhere, they really exemplify the sound of London this Summer.
Two tracks that I associate with late nights and early sunrises, starting with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders’ A Prayer Before Dawn (Theresa, 1987). I’m continually drawn to this album, and especially, his beautiful version of Piero Piccioni’s The Light at the Edge of the World, performed on tenor saxophone with William Henderson playing piano and synthesiser.
The second is guitarist George Benson’s era defining (for me, anyway) On Broadway from Weekend in L.A. (Warner Bros, 1978), recorded the year before at The Roxy in West Hollywood with rhythm guitarist Phil Upchurch, pianist Jorge Dalto, keyboardist Ronnie Foster, bassist Stanley Banks, drummer Harvey Mason and drummer Ralph MacDonald.
And finally, there’s trumpeter Ted Curson’s Nosruc from his debut Plenty of Horn (Old Town, 1961), with tenor saxophonist Bill Barron (Kenny Barron’s big brother), pianist Kenny Drew, double bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Pete La Roca. What a great and underrated player he was, and what a strong lineup this is.
To listen to this week’s Jazz on The Beach on Mixcloud, just click below:
Blues Beach
I hope you also enjoy the latest Blues Beach radio show playlist. There are some tracks that may be not be so familiar, such as the terrific version of I Feel So Good from Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy and Larry McRay’s powerful title track from Born to Play the Blues.
There’s Feelin’ Good by J.B. Lenoir, a song you’ve probably heard as Fool For a Cigarette/Feelin’ Good by Ry Cooder on Paradise and Lunch, while Paul Butterfield’s Better Days do Smokey Hogg’s Too Many Drivers from It All Comes Back. And I finally gave in and played Robert Johnson’s I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom and Elmore James’ Dust My Broom back to back without causing a rift in the space-time continuum, so far at least.
To listen to this week’s Blues Beach on Mixcloud, just click below:
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Jazz On The Beach broadcasts every Wednesday evening from 10:00 PM to midnight (UK time), repeating on Monday morning from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM (UK time).
Blues Beach broadcasts every other Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (UK time).