Wakefield Jazz presents singer Elaine Delmar, who has worked in cabaret, cruise ships, television and jazz festivals on October 17.
She has also featured in stage musicals Bubbling Brown Sugar and Finian's Rainbow at the National Theatre. Tonight Elaine brings to Wakefield Jazz a trio of Brian Dee, Alec Dankworth and Clark Tracey. Details from 01924 782339.
Also on October 17, Jazz at the Cairn, Harrogate, presents the groovy Hammond organ trio of Jon Ellis, who is often featured with the Snake Davis Band. Details from 01423 504005.
Blues fans will welcome the return of The Groundhogs, who will appear on October 17 at the Band Room, Farndale. Call 0207 272 4406 for more details.
There is Trad at the Crown, Boston Spa, on October 18 with Chris Watford's Chicago Feetwarmers (call 01937 842544). A rare opportunity to dance to the big band sound also comes tomorrow, when the Modernaires Orchestra appears at the Folk Hall, New Earswick. Peter Mouncey will provide more details on 01904 410507.
Singer Joan Whitehead continues her season of Sunday afternoon sessions at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane, starting at around 1.30pm.
There is a choice of two tenors on Wednesday (22nd). First, the legendary Don Weller will be at the Leeds College of Music at 7.30pm with the Mark Donlon Trio. Weller has played with everyone from Count Basie to Gil Evans, but is best enjoyed in this small group setting. Tickets: 0113 222 3434.
The second gentle giant of the tenor saxophone is Rod Mason, who brings his quartet to Hull Jazz. Rod's band includes Ben Crosland (bass) and guitarist Mike Outram, who made such a wonderful contribution to Jacqui Dankworth's new album As The Sun Shines Down On Me (Candid Records). Call Hulljazz on 01482 492868.
Good news for Sky TV subscribers is that the Performance Channel, previously only available on cable, is now on Sky 259. Recent shows have featured John McLaughlin, Dexter Gordon and Diana Krall.
Still on the subject of TV, this month's Jazzwise magazine has a free cover-mounted DVD, a selection featuring mainly drummers. There are gems and curiosities, from historic snippets of Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to more recent concert performances by the Peter Erskine Trio and guitarist John Abercrombie.
Two recent re-issues of classic recordings are In The Mood, The Definitive Glenn Miller Collection (BMG Bluebird) and The Diva Series, Anita O'Day (Verve).
The Miller 2CD collection qualifies includes most of the band's hits over 40 tracks. Despite the disappearance of Miller himself over the English Channel in December 1944, his music spawned numerous tribute bands all over the world. So all-pervasive did they become that ex-Miller drummer Jake Hanna is alleged to have said that: "Glenn should have lived, the music should have died."
However, I wore out my Miller records when I discovered them as a teenager and all the favourites are here - Tuxedo Junction, Little Brown Jug, In The Mood and so forth.
The key musicians are here too, with Bobby Hackett's Bixian trumpet solo on String Of Pearls, and ground-breaking arrangements by Billy May, Bill Finegan and Jerry Gray. Although the vocals may be stuck in the aspic of time, the music is as fresh as it ever was.
By contrast, vocalist Anita O'Day was a jazz legend by the 1950s who survived into the new millennium. She made her reputation with the bands of Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton in the 1940s. In the big band era, female singers were often window dressing, but Anita insisted she was a genuine musician. Check her appearance in the still-popular 1958 film, Jazz On A Summer's Day for her staggering vocal dexterity at speed on Tea For Two, heard here in similar vein on her album recorded live at Mr Kelly's Restaurant, Chicago, the same year.
This CD offers relentless swing, some scat and Anita's rare ability to improvise along with her musicians on standards and specials such as Whisper Not and Senor Blues. A terrific selection and knock-out cover art.
Updated: 09:13 Friday, October 17, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article