JOHN MARLEY, one of the finest bass players in Christendom, has added to his unimpeachable reputation by starting up what will become an invaluable website, jazzinyork.com, which may have taken over from Paul Baxter’s yorkjazz website. (Paul is also one of Christendom’s finest bass players and studying at London’s Trinity College).

John lists all the jazz happenings in York. Don’t forget to catch John and Kate Peters Quartet at the Phoenix, George Street, on Monday (01904 656401). John and drummer Paul Smith also have a Sunday residency at Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, starting at 1pm (01904 620222).

Thursday night jazz at the Old White Swan, Goodramgate, is in its 20th year and tonight’s session will be with the Mardi Gras Band (01904 540911). Also tonight the Karl Mullen Trio will be at Churchill’s Hotel at 7pm.

More dates for your diary:

Friday: Tomasso Stace Quartet, featuring Damon Brown,Wakefield Jazz (01977 680542)

Sunday: Ian Chalk Quartet, Phoenix Inn, 8.30pm (01904 656401); Jen Lowe and Karl Mullen, Waggon and Horses, Lawrence Street.

Wednesday: Jazz jam at the Phoenix Inn; Tim Thornton Quartet, featuring Dave O’Higgins, Scarborough Jazz at the Cask (01723 500570)

Last week Jazz Notes reviewed the soundtrack CD of the new drama series by Stephen Poliakoff, Dancing On The Edge (BBC2) based around a black jazz group in 1930s London. Matthew Bell (Independent on Sunday) found the first couple of episodes a plod. “Why does Stan Mitchell, Matthew Goode’s hack-in-a-mac pin all his hopes on the Louis Lester Band, when he hasn’t even heard them play? And why are we supposed to root for the band’s manager, Wesley, when he’s so obnoxious?” Well, some people in jazz are obnoxious and anyway we have so little jazz on TV it seems churlish to complain.

Review

John Turville and Brigitte Beraha, Red Skies (e17 Jazz Records/Splashpoint Digital/Cadiz Physical Distribution)

THIS new release comes with a glowing endorsement of vocalist Brigitte Beraha from Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth, while pianist John Turville has been rated as “one of the brightest young stars in the UK jazz firmament”. The music ranges from standards to Latin American favourites, plus Brigitte’s original Elephants on Wheels and is a compelling venture for piano and voice, with the addition of the soulful Bobby Wellins’ saxophone on Dindi and A Time For Love.

Brigitte revisits Jacques Prevert’s original French lyrics for Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves), a refreshing change from the usual English version and with the seldom-heard verse. Most tunes are taken at a slow tempo, particularly effective on Paul Simon’s Night Games and Alec Wilder’s Moon And Sand.

Desafinado begins out of tempo, before the piano moves into a driving Latin rhythm to make this a welcome new take on a well-worn tune.

The addition of Bobby Wellins on the opening and closing tunes is inspired, the Brit legend turning in soulful seasoning. Brigitte ventures into the land of scat now and then, an area fraught with danger, but emerges with credit. The album launch will be at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, London, on Sunday and the duo will doubtless add to their growing reputations.