Category: Features
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101. Pianist, composer & arranger Paul Harrison has already featured in Scottish Jazz Space’s quarantine series, however judging by the two tracks already available to hear on Bandcamp, his new, home-produced digital album ‘Adventures From Home’ is definitely worthy of separate mention. Due for release on 1st September, this is one not to miss. Here is his very lovely interpretation of Egberto Gismonti’s ‘Loro’.
https://www.facebook.com/paul.harrison.798/videos/10220289802893558/UzpfSTExODMyMDg2ODg6Vks6MTU1Mzc2NTk2MTQ3Mjg4MA/
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100. Scotland being the size it is probably encourages the frequent collaborations between jazz and roots/ trad musicians, with many individual musicians adept across genres. To celebrate our trad musician friends, here is a simply lovely recording by the Edinburgh International Festival as part of this year’s online festival My Light Shines On: A Celebration of the Festival City. Aidan ORourke (fiddle), Rachel Sermanni (vocals), Bashir Saade (ney), Graeme Stephen (guitar) & Brรฌghde Chaimbeul (bagpipes).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpkhvsE6Hnc&utm_source=Main+email+list+%28est+May+2018%29&utm_campaign=1edd2c9c45-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_08_11_02_42&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d97b938454-1edd2c9c45-266535329
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99. Continuing to riff on John Rae, here he is again on the just released Brian Kellock Trio’s Standards album, Think About It. One imagines that Miles would be more than happy with this excellent version of ‘Stella By Starlight’. Brian Kellock (piano), John Rae (drums) & Kenny Ellis (double bass). Great stuff! ๐
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Aj2YHPlnYQ&list=PLXmwgIxBHRyHVN0P5y6fWDPc-08YMQctZ&index=5
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98. Edinburgh-born, Livingston-bred John Rae has had such a long & distinguished drumming career, that this humble drummer has spent much of the last several days checking out his back catalogue. For the last decade he’s lived in Wellington, New Zealand & the featured track today is a recent recording there. This listener had an image of a candyfloss machine, as his confection of drums emerges at 1.42, in The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute. Brilliant.
Image from: en.wikipedia.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNYm5ApavP4&list=OLAK5uy_lDbGlCbY2TfnLcBniFlnnQ5uD3GMEzDkY&index=1
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97. To a greater or lesser degree Covid-19 currently affects us all, world-wide. So today we feature here an ‘old favourite’ re-arranged by East Lothian-based guitarist Simon Thacker, who has featured on these pages previously in both ‘world music’ & jazz groups. For your enjoyment, a trans-global, multi-lingual version of ‘We Shall Overcome’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9EOKKyKy54&fbclid=IwAR0IC04goS5qXtN3AuEmviNNZviE3siBUvpqKBLUWueHTmhNij4-Y7GY0ZI
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96. Glenrothes-based director of Langtoun Jazz Festival, radio presenter & semi pro vocalist Grace Black, to help celebrate a Special Birthday has recorded some songs in aid of the charity Help Musicians Scotland. Recorded in her garden with backing tracks from Peter Angus and Cafezz Duo, listen to ‘On A Clear Day’ & you can hear the birds singing too. ๐ฆ๐ถ
Image from: fifetoday.co.uk https://graceblack1.bandcamp.com/
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95. Jazz funk guitarist, singer & DJ Aki Remally Music evokes Bill Withers for this listener whenever he sings. Here’s to the time when we can again get down to The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh & check out this music live! Here’s his funky take on Jimi Hendrix. With the marvellous: Jamie Graham (drums), Richard Harrold (keys) & Tom Wilkinson (bass). ๐
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ3L1J-hNUc
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94. Edinburgh-based vocalist Liz Dicks’ command of jazz ballads is clear in this audio of her very lovely rendition of ‘Always On My Mind’.
Image from: reverbnation.com https://www.reverbnation.com/lizdicks
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93. Something tasty for all you Scottish Trad Jazz fans: the very excellent Tenement Jazz Band with ‘Root Hog Or Die’. Charles Dearness on Trumpet, Tom Pickles on Soprano Sax, Paddy Darley on Trombone, Mike Kearney on Guitar & Vocals & Simon Toner on Bass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPDnnXoMCg8
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92. In-your-face, improvising doom jazz band AKU, from Glasgow, might be seen by some to channel the current zeitgeist. Scottish Jazz Space looks forward to their set at the 2020 Online Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Fest, this Saturday 25th July. Harry Weir (compositions, saxophones, bass clarinet), Liam Shortall (trombone/effects), Graham Costello (drums). Warning: accompanying video contains stylised Samurai violence + some cheeky topical references.
Image from: en-gb.facebook.com https://www.facebook.com/akutrio/videos/2998602866845297/