Jazz on the Beach 232: Patrick Bartley, Rickey Kelly, Black Nile, Miles Davis, Emanuele Cisi, Franck Amsallem, John Coltrane, Blossom Dearie, Joe Webb, Serge Chaloff, Winston Edwards, Art Pepper
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I became a big fan of alto saxophonist Patrick Bartley primarily through his YouTube presence with pianist Emmet Cohen. He’s just released his second trio album, We Play Music! (self, 15th April), once again with double bassist Russell Hall and drummer Stefan Klein, and it’s just terrific. For this week’s playlist I’ve chosen the odd-metered Mr. Gino, a tribute both to the great tenor player Eddie Harris and to Bartley’s first musical mentor, ‘who always kept it funky.’
Only one song took more than a single take during the six-hour session which was recorded and mixed by Nolan Thies, in real ‘hit it and quit it’ style, then mastered by Bartley who also did the artwork. There are no plans for streaming or a physical release at present, but it’s available to buy on Bandcamp and to hear on YouTube.
I’m really enjoying the Californian marimba and vibraphonist Rickey Kelly’s private press album My Kind of Music (Los Angeles Phonographic Records, 1979), just reissued earlier this month by Jazzman in their Holy Grail series. I’ve chosen The Ark, with tenor saxophonist Charles Owens, guitarist Kevin Johnson, pianist Dwight Dickerson, double bassist Tony Dumas, drummer Billy Higgins and percussionist Ray Armando.
For a humble music student like Kelly to assemble such a strong lineup just shows that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. ‘I was still a beginner. These masters walked in, smiling, and gave me something worth gold’.
Two quite different but equally wonderful piano trios, with the Paris-based Franck Amsallem’s gorgeous Blue Gardenia from The Summer Knows (un été 42) (Continuo Jazz, 2025), with double bassist David Wong and drummer Kush Abadey. And from this side of the English Channel, pianist and Jazz FM Instrumentalist of the Year Joe Webb pays tribute to guitarist Paul Stacey on the jaunty Uncle Paul, a single from Neath Beat (Edition Records, 22nd May), with double bassist Will Sach and drummer Sam Wesson.
Another exciting new release is Black Nile’s Indigo Garden (Mass MoCA/Hen House Studios, 10th April), featuring the Los Angeles-based Shaw brothers, tenor saxophonist and flautist Aaron and double bassist Lawrence. Here’s Day Break with electric pianist Luca Mendoza and drummer Myles Martin.
Aaron has faced profound health challenges since being diagnosed with bone marrow failure in 2023. Both this record and his recent solo album And So It Is (Leaving Records, February) reveal an artist pressing ahead with courage and determination.
Also this week, V.S.O.P. The Quintet’s Eye of the Hurricane from Live Under the Sky ‘79 (Sony Japan, 1979), recorded on the 26th July during a tremendous rainstorm. As you would expect from pianist Herbie Hancock, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, double bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams, the playing is tremendous too.
There’s pianist and vocalist Blossom Dearie’s irrepressible I’m Hip from Blossom Time at Ronnie Scott’s (Fontana, 1966). The song was written by Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg, and features the club’s house rhythm section (or one of them) of double bassist Jeff Clyne and drummer Johnny Butts.
Another play for the Italian tenor saxophonist Emanuele Cisi’s tribute to Pharaoh Sanders with Pharaoh’s Message from his excellent Rushin’ (Right Tempo/Mono Jazz, 2025), featuring pianist Dado Moroni, double bassist Nicolas Thys and drummer Jorge Rossy. He’s raising funds for a new album by releasing remixes of this track by Joe Claussell on Bandcamp as vinyl, numbered test pressings or even numbered direct to lacquer acetates. Pre orders now open here.
There’s tenor saxophonist Binker Golding’s fabulous Fluorescent Black from his first solo album Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers (Gearbox Records, 2019), with pianist Joe Armon-Jones, double bassist Daniel Casimir and drummer Sam Jones. A reminder that he’s playing a trio set with Casimir and drummer Jamie Murray at The Lighthouse in Deal on Thursday 7th May, some tickets still available here.
We’re barely a third of the way into 2026, and the centenary celebrations of Miles Davis and John Coltrane are already impossible to ignore. So I’ll jump on the bandwagon with Miles’ It Never Entered My Mind from Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1960, recorded in 1956), featuring Coltrane playing tenor, pianist Red Garland, double bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. And Coltrane’s own Cousin Mary from Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1960), with pianist Tommy Flanagan, double bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor.
A real wild card this week is the dub reggae of Winston Edwards’ Big Daddy Amin from Natty Locks Dub (Fay Music, 1974). The track was recorded at either Lee Perry’s Black Ark or Joe Gibbs’ studio, with Edwards adding overdubs in the UK. I think the terrific tenor player is Dean Fraser, but if you know better, please let me know.
Two mid ‘50s West Coast classics… baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff’s The Goof and I from Blue Serge (Capitol, 1956), with pianist Sonny Clark, double bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Philly Joe Jones. And alto saxophonist Art Pepper’s Straight Life from Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary, 1957), with pianist Red Garland, double bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones.
And finally… as there are no shows or a newsletter next week, it’s my last chance to remind you about the Jazz Kissa that Middle Street Coffee and Jazz on the Beach are hosting on 30th April from 6pm onwards to celebrate International Jazz Day.
I’ll be playing vinyl on an Audio Note, Audio-Technica and Audiolab system while Lilly and her Middle Streeters serve cocktails, wine, beer and coffee.
To listen to this week’s Jazz on the Beach, click below:
Or listen back on Mixcloud:
Jazz on the Beach #232 22nd April 2026
Ulysses Owens Jr & Generation Y - Little Girl Power
Serge Chaloff - The Goof and I
Black Nile - Day Break
Joe Webb - Uncle Paul
Blossom Dearie - I’m Hip
Binker Golding - Fluorescent Black
Rickey Kelly - The Ark
Patrick Bartley Trio - Mr. Gino
Art Pepper - Straight Life
Franck Amsallem - Blue Gardenia
V.S.O.P. The Quintet - Eye of the Hurricane
Paul Gonsalves - Low Gravy
John Coltrane - Cousin Mary
Emanuele Cisi - Pharaoh’s Message
Winston Edwards - Big Daddy Amin
Lou Donaldson - Pot Belly
Charlie Rouse - Hopscotch
Miles Davis Quintet - It Never Entered My Mind
David Sanborn - Short Visit
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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).
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Read your article Jazz on the Beach., 24/04/26. The track you included by Winston Edwards appealed to my nerdy self, so I looked him up. A producer I’d kind of forgotten about recently. The track you featured is on Spotify, from the Natty Locks Dub. Winston Edwards has only a passing mention in Reggae - The Rough Guide Barrow & Dalton (1999), see photo below.
I get why you chose the Big Daddy Amin tune. The horns definitely have a jazz feel. It’s no coincidence, many Jamaican (and others from the Caribbean) musicians listened and played jazz before they began creating their own music. When reggae music became popular in Jamaica and elsewhere it was often used to make social commentary. I’ll get off my nerd box now. 😅😎