May 21, 2009 (From The Northern Echo)

May 21, 2009

7:45pm Friday 22nd May 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

Chris Barber’s Jazz & Blues Band/Barbican Blues (Lake LACD273)

Chris Barber’s was the first jazz band to appear at London’s newly-opened Barbican Centre in 1982. The concert was recorded and issued on a long deleted double LP so this is a welcome reissue. A well-balanced and versatile band performed a wide-ranging programme with Perdido Street Blues, Ice Cream and longer versions of Good Queen Bess and Rose Room.

Liane Carroll & Brian Kellock/Live at the Lampie (Splash Point Records SPR009CD)

I was lucky enough to catch a Brian Kellock set at last year’s Edinburgh Jazz Festival when his guest was jazz singer Liane Carroll. It was clear there was a tremendous rapport with each musician bringing out the best in the other.

This CD, recorded at Aberdeen’s Blue lamp venue soon after, captures that perfectly, resulting in a gloriously passionate album. A super programme, too, with Love for Sale, I Got It Bad and Witchcraft. They’re at the Sage, Gateshead on May 31.