WESTSIDE BID IS BACK IN BUSINESS! 10 SUN-SOAKED JULY JAZZ DAYS IN BIRMINGHAM FRIDAY 16TH TO SUNDAY 25TH JULY – and it’s all free! LEN SKEAT 1937-2021 ISSUE 165 SUMMER 2021 UK £3.25 Photo by Merlin Daleman CONTENTS LEN SKEAT (1937-2021), master bassist and jazz legend, left us recently. DIGBY FAIRWEATHER sums up his career. (pages 12-13) 4 NEWS 6 I GET A KICK OUT OF… RON GEESIN, pianist/composer/writer, answers the questions 7 IN SEARCH OF LINDA LIPNACK KUEHL RON SIMPSON tracks down Billie Holiday’s tragic biographer 8 JAZZ FESTIVALS LIVE! 10 CHRIS BARBER: A PERSONAL TRIBUTE MIKE POINTON pays tribute to a great of British jazz 14 ON A BALCONY IN COPENHAGEN MIKKEL PLOUG tells RON SIMPSON about his unique CD. 16 JAZZ BRITS IN AMERICA SCOTT YANOW follows the fortunes of British jazzers Stateside 18 KING PLEASURE AND THE Photo by BISCUIT BOYS Merlin Daleman Three and a half decades in a band’s life. FIND US ON FACEBOOK 20 CD REVIEWS The Jazz Rag now has its own Facebook page. For news of upcoming festivals, gigs and releases, 32 HENRY’S BLUESLETTER features from the archives, competitions and who Saydisc’s blues history and Victoria Spivey profile knows what else, be sure to ‘like’ us. To find the page, simply enter ‘The Jazz Rag’ in the search bar 34 THE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC RUSSELL CORBETT reviews a challenging year at the top when logged into Facebook. THE JAZZ RAG PO BOX 944, Birmingham, B16 8UT, England UPFRONT Tel: 0121454 7020 As we were putting this magazine together the news came that Bude Jazz Festival Fax: 0121 454 9996 had been postponed for a second year. This is sad news indeed for one of the best Email: [email protected] loved and most typically British of festivals, but optimism demands that we take Web: www.jazzrag.com note of how many are going ahead. Publisher / editor: Jim Simpson Whether to plan to stage a festival or not in these strange times depends on News / features: Ron Simpson many different factors: the date, of course, but also ease of enforcing Covid- Reviews editors: Nick Hart/Charlie Moore related guidelines, flexibility of organisation and dependence on income from ticket sales (necessarily much reduced). In the circumstances we should rejoice in International editor: Yue Yang the number committed to going ahead (see pages 8-9), albeit, in many cases, with a Commercial Director: Tim Jennings limited programme and last-minute scheduling. Subscriptions & accounts: Nick Hart/Charlie Moore Designed by Nerys James On Divine Providence’s established principle of kicking a man when he’s down, the Printed by Warwick Printing jazz world (in fact, the music world) has now to cope with the problem of barriers www.warwickprinting.co.uk in Europe. No one seems quite sure how well the internationalism of our music (Brits touring the Continent, European groups and musicians playing here) will © 2021 THE JAZZ RAG. All original material including survive the pernicious influence of Brexit – but it will, in one shape or form! advertising artwork remains the sole copyright of the Publisher and may not be reproduced without permission THE JAZZ RAG 3 NEWS NEWS JAZZLEEDS IN ALEX KEEPS BUSY ACTION Saxophonist Alex Clarke is Alex Clarke with DARTINGTON SUMMER SCHOOL RETURNS JazzLeeds is quicker off the mark already looking forward to Digby Fairweather The Dartington Music Summer Advanced jazz instrumentalists Besides further courses in Artistic Director Sara Mohr- post-lockdown than most clubs. a crowded date-sheet as School and Festival resumes this will work with them in Duke experimental music, the jazz Pietsch commented, ‘After the Already there is a full weekly restrictions begin to be lifted. year on July 24 to August 21 at Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, offering continues with Peter last year it feels particularly programme in place at Seven Arts Plenty of guest spots testify Dartington Hall in Devon. This joined by Dartington’s amateur Edwards and member of the special to be bringing this year’s from May 20, with About Time, to her ability to fit in with celebrated event has been an Choir under Carol Pemberton NCU leading courses on jazz Summer School and Festival trumpeter Malcolm Strachan’s musicians in many different annual event since 1953, but of and Celia Wickham-Anderson of improvisation and jazz standards, to life. We need music more sextet. There is limited seating styles. Among her upcoming gigs course 2020 brought an enforced Black Voices. plus specialist sessions for wind than ever and I am excited to for this, as for the next four are appearances with the Ben break. Over four weeks musicians players with Steve Dummer and welcome an incredible line-up of weeks: Ian Shaw with What’s Holder Trio (Draycote Hotel, of all abilities learn in small groups Dartington is also joining forces the Magnard Ensemble and brass artists to teach and perform, all New (27), Liam Noble/Seb Rugby – May 21), Jonathan Taylor Photo by Merlin Daleman from top professionals. Each week with the creative team behind workshops with Brett Baker and of whom bring great integrity and Rochford/Tom Herbert (June 3), (Witney Jazz – June 4), her own London’s innovative Café Jason Rebello celebrating Chick deals with a specific genre: early Paul Archibald. 2021 also sees vitality to their work.’ Josephine Davies’ Satori (10) and quartet featuring T.J. Johnson BLUES AND JAZZ IN OTO. Ryoko Akama will lead Corea (June 2), Ian Shaw with music, baroque and folk, chamber the launch of a daily Open Space Byron Wallen’s Four Corners (Albrighton Jazz Club – June THE GARDENS a new course in site-specific Unfortunately the pandemic is the songs of David Bowie and music and jazz and experimental. session for participants to rest, (17). From June 24, hopefully, 6), with the Alex Voysey Blues Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens and situational performance, still having an effect with social Joni Mitchell (4/5), Joe Stilgoe explore the grounds and try restrictions are removed, with Band (Broadway Arts – June 13), have an excellent record of The fourth week brings a using found objects and natural distancing and reduced numbers, with The Entertainers featuring out new workshops and each Andrew McCormack – solo and with Tad Newton’s Jazzfriends staging music events, including remarkable collection of phenomena to create a sounding making early booking even more Giacomo Smith (8/9), Antonio week features a Future Sounds trio – the first gig to benefit. (Walnut Tree, Blisworth – June a regular appearance in the professionals to the jazz ad space, whilst multi-instrumentalist important than usual. Forcione Trio (12), Binker course aimed at opening up the Meanwhile, a Sunday afternoon 20), with the Jeremy Huggett/ Birmingham, Sandwell and experimental course. Pianist Ashley Paul and Crystabel Golding (16), Ray Gelato and conversation about music. spot for local Leeds bands, Alex Clarke Quintet (Livermeade Westside Jazz Festival. This and composer Peter Edwards Riley offer a course on free www.dartington.org the Giants (19-21) and Jim Jam currently livestream, goes live on Hotel, Torquay – July 11) and year jazz is scheduled for every makes his Dartington debut with improvisation. featuring Jim Mullen and Hamish May 23. two appearances at the Pershore Sunday afternoon in July, not only his Nu Civilisation Orchestra. www.jazzleeds.org.uk Jazz Festival, with Martin Veasey at Festival time. Before that the Stuart (26). (August 13) and with Alan Sunday afternoon programme www.ronniescotts.co.uk Quartet (14), John Maddocks’ EARLY DOORS AT Barnes (15). features blues under the banner JAZZFRIENDS MEET NEWCASTLE JAZZ Jazzmen (21) and Bix, Bunny and WAKEFIELD www.alexclarkejazz.co.uk of Henry’s Botanical Blueshouse. UP Al Fairweather CO-OP GIGS Billy, a tribute to Beiderbecke, Wakefield Jazz Club is resuming The Nitecrawlers feature on May Tad Newton’s Jazzfriends have Newcastle Jazz Co-op at the Berigan and Butterfield by a fine on the first possible date, though NO FIXED ABODE! 23 and Tipitina on May 30, with Sunday lunch-time gigs at the Globe presents the Dean septet headed by Enrico Tomasso with early timings and mandatory Club 90 at Albrighton is one of a June programme of the Catfish Walnut Tree, Blisworth, on June Stockdale Trio (May 23), (28). And additional Thursday advance booking. The first two the great survivors among jazz Kings (6), Big Jim and the Alabama 20 and July 18, in addition to Josephine Davies’ Satori (30), the concert features YolanDa Brown sessions feature local stars Rory clubs, but even so October 25, Boogie Boys (13), the Whiskey evening sessions at Olney Jazz Charlotte Keeffe Quartet (June on July 15. Ingham (May 21) and Nicola 2020, must have seemed even Brothers (20) and the David Club (July 7) and Sidcup (15). In 13); Noel Dennis Trio (27), House www.theconcordeclub.com Farnon (28). gloomier for Albrighton than Moore Blues Band (27). present circumstances four days www.wakefieldjazz.org for most other clubs – and it www.blueshouse.bigbearmusic.com of the Black Gardenia (July 4); at Festjazz in Brittany (July 22-26) Rafe’s Dilemma (11); Alter Ego 7 VIRTUAL JAZZ was pretty gloomy everywhere! CLUB CONTEST must be regarded as provisional. COLCHESTER IN October 25 should have been RONNIE’S BACK IN (18) and Leeds City Stompers www.tadnewtonsjazzfriends.com The sixth edition of the 7 Virtual JUNE a celebration of the 30th ACTION (August 6). Jazz Club’s Contest to find Colchester Jazz Club’s Sunday anniversary of the club and the From May 20 Ronnie Scott’s CLARK TRACEY musicians and raise their profile evening sessions at Marks 5th anniversary of its happy in London moves from CONCORDE ON THE ROAD IN is open for entries until June 15.