Jazz notes

“Talks like a coffee grinder, sounds like a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and a Broadway Diva” was The Guardian’s verdict on DeLaria’s last British visit, so expect an entertaining night.

Jazz In The Spa goes from strength to strength tomorrow night with star trombonist Roy Williams guesting with Scotland’s Nova Scotia Jazz Band with some Chicago-style jazz (01937 842636). “Don’t bother bringing musicians up from London, when this quality is at hand,” Spa fans were heard to say.

Also on Saturday, York’s National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) presents Songs from Smyrna, The Blues Of The Aegean. Not jazz, strictly speaking, but a fascinating musical experience of vocalist Cigdem Aslan, with guitar, bouzouki and violin (01904 658338).

Sunday in York boasts three terrific sessions. Jazz from the top drawer is with the Zezo Olimpio Trio at Kennedy’s Café Bar (01904 620222) from 1pm and Ian Chalk’s Quartet at the Phoenix Inn, George Street (01904 656401), from 8.30pm. Chalkie’s Quartet CD First Days is worth chasing up.

On your way across town to the Phoenix, don’t miss the fabulous Blueflies at the Victoria Vaults around teatime on Sunday (01904 654307).

The jazz Jam Session is the big draw at the Phoenix every Wednesday at 8.30pm, led by James Lancaster (trumpet) and Chris Moore (piano). Budding musicians and singers are invited to test their skills in front of a live audience during the second set.

The Dean Court Hotel, Duncombe Place, was the first of York’s classy hotels to venture into food with jazz in The Court Bistro. The First Tuesday Jazz Suppers continue to sell out, thanks to the ebullient Andy Hillier Trio. Andy returns on Tuesday with pianist Zezo Olimpio and bass player Eddie Jackson (01904 625082).

The Old White Swan, Gooodramgate, has been running jazz every Thursday for 16 years, with Bejazzled alternating with the Mardi Gras Band. Next Thursday, it will be Mardi Gras Band night (01904 540911), with Martin Boyd (saxophone) and Greg Wadman (trumpet).

The rival attraction across town will be Jules And The Gang at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane (01904 654307). Led by Jules at the drums, with Frank Brooker (saxophone) and Greg Wadman (trumpet), vocals come from Rosie and musical director is pianist Bob Smeaton.

Scarborough Jazz runs on Wednesday nights at the Cask, Cambridge Terrace, and next week’s guest band will be We Free Kings, a talented sextet led by saxophonist Toby Greenwood (01723 500570). Familiar faces in the band include Kevin Holbrough (trombone) and Jamil Sheriff (piano).

REVIEW

Tommy Smith Quartet, Karma (Spartacus Records)

This exciting new release from Tommy Smith is his first small group recording since 2003 and it is a belter. The emphatic opener, Cause And Effect, declares the territory from the first beat, in this case a full-throated tenor saxophone, funky drums and bass. And what a bass, a six-string monster with which Kevin Glasgow ventures into the treble clef for some guitar-like runs, while ever-ready with punchy forward motion back in the bass line.

Drummer Alyn Cosker moves from powerful jazz rock to sensitive backing on a folk-inspired ballad, Land Of Heroes, a very Scottish-sounding melody on soprano saxophone in the highly vocalised, cool Nordic tone we have come to know from Jan Garbarek. More Scottish influence comes with Body Or Soul, its subdued opening leading into a terrific drum solo from Cosker and a spirited, musical conversation between saxophone and synthesiser.

Good Deed tips its hat to Weather Report in its up-beat funky bass, heard again to great effect on the title track. The crucial contributions by pianist/synthesiser player Steve Hamilton are evidence of his key membership of Bill Bruford’s Earthworks a few years ago and he has toured with Freddie Hubbard and Eddie Henderson.

Smith’s virtuosity is a marvel, fleet-fingered runs alternating with soulful and emotional interpretation and the his compositions are evidence of far-ranging influences from Irish, Scottish, Japanese and Arabic music. A five-star album.