Review: An Evening With Fran Landesman

An Evening With Fran Landesman
(Leicester Square Theatre, April 19th 2011, part of the Art of Sonf Festival. Review by Kai Hoffman)

I can count myself as lucky to have seen iconic Beat-generation poet Allen Ginsburg perform, shortly before he died back in the 1990s. That energy, enthusiasm, dry humour, stabbing wit, poignancy and boundless zest for life – I’ll never forget the power of that performance.

Tonight, I was equally privileged to see the amazing Fran Landesman, American poet, lyricist and one of the last living links to the Beat Generation. What a woman. What chutzpah. Her energy, enthusiasm, dry humour and terrifically pointed one-liners, along with her incredible catalogue-like memory of her poetry – at age 84 – are astounding. Her lyrics describe the things one often only wishes could be expressed in words (or said out loud in polite company) – from the poignant ‘Scars’ and ‘Tomorrow Never Came’ to the sassy ‘I Want to be Good’ – there are boundless brilliant lines.

Last night’s show, celebrating Fran’s vast career of more than 50 years, was a moving, funny, and evocative evening of songs, words and laughter, performed immaculately by celebrated jazz vocalists including Ian Shaw, Gwyneth Herbert, Sarah Moule and Nicki Leighton-Thomas.

The performance featured a trio of double bassist extraordinaire Dave Green, with Fran’s guitarist son, Miles Davis Landesman, plus her expert composition partner of nearly twenty years, pianist Simon Wallace. He had co-written all but three of last night’s tunes. It started out with award-winning vocalist Gwyneth Herbert and ‘The Ballad of the Sad Young Men.’ Gwyneth’s clean, eloquent phrasing complemented the text perfectly – and set the mood for a fantastic evening of Fran Landesman’s varied and witty lyrics. The synergy between Landesman’s words and Wallace’s scores is evocative, sometimes melancholy, sometimes frisky, and always right-on-the-money. Amazing!

Host Joe Paice guided Fran expertly through various key moments of her illustrious career, including anecdotes involving Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Susannah McCorkle, Dudley Moore, Annie Ross, Marty Feldman, Bette Midler and countless other famous names from the 20th century. One of her songs in particular, ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,’ boasts recordings by Ella Fitzgerald & Barbara Streisand among countless other famous names – and Fran’s favourite rendition, by BBC Jazz Vocalist of the Year two-time winner Ian Shaw – who once again delivered the song immaculately at Leicester Square Theatre last night.

Fran’s own singing and recitations of her poetry were sensational – I particularly loved ‘Crown of Thorns,’ ‘It’s Not Your Night’ and her tear-provoking ‘Scars.’ Other highlights of the evening included Nicki Leighton-Thomas’ dynamic version of ‘Damned if I Do’ (also available on her wonderful CD dedicated to the songs of Wallace & Landesman), guest singer Pete Atkin’s moving version of ‘Snows of Yesteryear,’ and Sarah Moule’s versatile rendition of ‘Nothing Like You’ (a song which was recorded by Miles Davis in 1967 on his album ‘Sorcerer’).

Having been nicknamed the ‘Patron Saint of Lovers & Losers,’ Fran Landesman’s remarkable lifetime catalogue of songs were celebrated in a worthy manner last evening – may there be many more such nights!

franlandesman.com

Photos: Newton/Aspland and Mason/Shaw

Here, caught by Roger Thomas's lens, are - left to right - Dave Newton and Robin Aspland (above) and Ian Shaw and Janette Mason (below) from the 2011 Steinway Two Piano Festival at Pizza Express Dean Street.

April 25th, 606 Club- Queensland Relief Fund Charity Concert

PREVIEW: CHARITY CONCERT IN AID OF THE QUEENSLAND RELIEF FUND Trudy Kerr writes about a special event at the 606 Club on Monday April 25th

When Sophie Garner contacted me to tell me that she was organising a fundraising event for the victims of the Queensland Floods, I was touched.

I am a Queenslander, born and bred, but have lived in London for the past 20 years. It is hard to imagine the size of the area destroyed by flood in Queensland but indeed entire towns have been wiped out. (not to diminish the recent devastation in Japan where so many lives were lost) In Toowoomba they received 150 mm of rain in 40 minutes, creating an inland tsunami with 7 metre high waves. The water could not be contained by the dam that protects Brisbane, so the equivalent of two Sydney Harbours of water had to be released daily and this caused Brisbane to flood.

Although my immediate family were not affected, some of my relatives and friends have suffered from flooded homes and lost jobs. Also the beautiful Brisbane Jazz Club (above), the hub of live jazz in Queensland on the banks of the Brisbane River, was completely submerged by the flood and needs donations for a complete rebuild.

In true British style, with a heartfelt conscience for those less fortunate, many of the great UK singers and musicians have united to offer their services free of charge for the event at the 606 club in Chelsea. Steve Rubie at the club has also been extremely generous, offering his club for this special night too.

So, people of London, come to the 606 on Monday 25th April and please give generously to the Queensland Flood Appeal.

You will be entertained by this star-studded line up: -

Sophie Garner
Ian Shaw
Liane Carroll
Gill Manly
Natalie Williams
Georgia Mancio
Emma Blake
Kaz Simmons
Kerry Hodgkin
Polly Gibbons
Nia Lynn
Pete Churchill
Mark Fletcher
Janette Mason
Simon Little
Simon Wallace

There'll a song from me too, and with this kind of event, you just never know who might show up on the night. So come along and support!

More details on the 606 Club website. Admission £18

Review: Ian Shaw/Peter Ind - Abbey Road Sessions CD Launch

Ian Shaw
(Pizza Express Dean Street, March 10th, second night of two)

The British jazz community has a curious bible, or, more accurately a Concordance. Dave Newton's "Alternative Professions" contains playful references to other occupations which the country’s established jazz musicians might have, as (normally) suggested by their outward appearance.

Four of the seven musicians on the stand for Ian Shaw's second night launching his "Abbey Road Sessions" CD - have entries in it. Whilst the entries for Shaw himself, for top-flight drummer Gene Calderazzo, for masterly saxophonist Peter King are either obscure jibes or in-jokes, there is one alternative profession which is readily understandable - and particularly apt. It reads:

"Peter Ind................GOD"

The veteran bassist with his resplendent white mane and beard does indeed look these days as if he could have descended either from the roof of the Sistine Chapel, or even directly from a cloud. And the words with which Ian Shaw welcomed him to the stand bore witness to the reverence in which the singer holds him: "You are the reason for this project."

Ian Shaw and subtle guitarist David Preston have jointly arranged a series of songs, which were recorded at Abbey Road studios. The permutations of seven musicians gave ample scope for the acoustic possibilitites of the band to shift in interesting directions.

The opener, a dark and atmospheric version of "Get Out of Town" - with solos for young trumpeter Miguel Gorodi and pianist Phil Ware - used all the colours of the full band. The closer "Today I sing the Blues" gave the same full compliment the chance to stretch out and craft solos, an opportunity which alto saxophonist Peter King and David Preston seized in style. And in between there were outings for different trios and quartets. But what stays in the mind is Ian Shaw's capacity as performer and as musician to hold the interest in a line through vocal swoops, yodels and leaps, through fascinating verbal tangents and clever asides. And above all, a less-is-more moment shared by Ian Shaw and Peter Ind in the hushed preamble to Michael Jackson's Human Nature. That one came from from the heart


"Abbey Road Sessions" is on Splashpoint Records

Ian Shaw and Liane Carroll - previewed HERE - will perform in The Base series at Kings Place on March 26th.

Ian Shaw will be performing a fundraiing concert, "Songs for Survivors UK" with Lesley Garrett, Marc Almond, the London Gay Mens Chorus, and other guests at Cadogan Hall on May 22nd.

Preview: Georgia Mancio

Georgia Mancio with Nigel Price (25th) and Ian Shaw (26th) at The Pheasantry, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th February. Preview by Fran Hardcastle.

This weekend sees the return of accomplished singer, Georgia Mancio to The Pheasantry. A figure on the vocal jazz scene for 10 years now, Mancio is recognised by her peers for her elegant vocal style. Her graceful voice nimbly displays a virtuosic predilection for harmony, underpinned by impeccable intonation. Technical strengths added to a gentle, charming persona make for a bewitching combination.

On Friday she performs a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass with former JTQ guitarist Nigel Price, often likened by critics to his guitar hero Wes Montgomery. Much lauded for his own work with the Nigel Price Organ Trio, for which he one a Parliamentary Jazz Award in 2010, Price can really thrill, drifting between languid blues and intricate hard-bop. He navigates the fretboard with exceptional dexterity. I recently saw the pair perform at Club 10 and have rarely heard a more perfectly matched instinctive duo, who exude class. Expect an intimate and highly musical evening.

The inimitable Ian Shaw joins Mancio on Saturday night for what will most certainly be a performance soaked in humour and style.

For bookings go to www.pizzaexpresslive.co.uk

Liane writes about Ian..Ian writes about Liane

(Ian Shaw and Liane carroll. Photo credit: Corrie Scott, at the Holders Season, Barbados)

Ian Shaw and Liane Carroll will be performing in the Saturday night Base series at Kings Place on March 26th. They've written for us about the joys of performing as a duo together:

Ian on Liane . . .

Liane Carroll and I met on a train bound for some festival gigs. The year was 1492. We locked horns over many many things. Large gin and tonics in sunny French festival hotels were the ordre de jour. Our first musical collision was in a motel in Le Mans. There was a piano, we were keeping the bar open in a most unFrench way..and that was it. She wailed an Ellington and a Laura Nyro and my eyes filled with tears at the brittle beauty of her musical and emotional honesty.

Twenty odd years later we are often together, crashing each other's band sets, doing two Steinway, four handed shows, singing with big bands, guesting on each other's albums. These times with Liane are so brimmed with "moment" they keep me as sharp as a Sabbatier. To accompany her, in a pianist role, is fulfilling beyond measure. We hear the same stuff, the same harmonic nuances...and it is always, for me, a rare and beautiful thing. It never goes wrong, and in its often shabby-round-the gills form, it gives me energy and reminds me why I do my job.

Liane on Ian . . .

When I was a child, certain music would make me "fizz", Usually, it was sweeping orchestral scores, raging big bands and wonderful singers that you KNEW were singing from the bowels of their joy, pain, love, despair etc. I used to fantasize that when I was older, I would be lucky enough to sing and play with such orchestras, big bands and singers, and practiced every day, pissing my piano teacher off because I was more interested in jazz than classical, which she would equate with having to have me exorcised, or something equally as blinkered and patronising, but I never swayed.

Then 20 years ago I had a brief encounter on a train to Le Mans with a man whom, to this day, I believe is the very best of ALL that made me fizz. Ian Shaw is not only one of my dearest friends, but a revolutionary who breaks down all musical barriers, and just happens to make the most wonderful noise I've ever heard. I am honoured and privileged every single time we play together, and I don't ever want it to stop.


Boooking for the Base at Kings Place

Ian Shaw will also be performing songs from his new Abbey Road Sessions CD (Splashpoint) at the Pizza Express Dean Street on March 9th and 10th - pizzaexpresslive.co.uk

Jamie Cullum Interview

In advance of this Friday's benefit for the Vortex in Margate, we interviewed Jamie Cullum(Photo BBC)

Are you looking forward to this Friday’s Vortex Benefit in Margate?

Truthfully it's my first time in Margate! It was David Mossman who called me up and asked if I would be interested in helping the festival and the Vortex. David is a tireless and important figure for British Jazz and I would never be able to turn him down. I love the Vortex and without it the British Jazz scene would be much poorer. It is a fearless music venue and hub for the best we have here.


Have you worked with Ian (Shaw) and Liane (Carroll) before?

I know and love both Ian and Liane very well. I would also call them influences on me. Both musicians are singers who go way beyond singing the song, though if called upon they can "torch" it up with the best of them. Ian, Liane and Claire Martin showed me early on that choosing a repertoire as a singer was of the utmost importance. Turning up with the same tired arrangements of the usual standards is no way to make your mark. Through them I learned the importance of crate digging for great songs and then putting your big muddy footprint all over them. They are incredible world class singers. I've shared the stage with them many times and its always an education for me. Come Saturday after the gig I shall be scuttling back to the woodshed.............spanked and inspired!


What’s coming up in your Tuesday BBC Radio 2 show?

The radio show has really become a part of my life. It is an honour to have a such a big platform to play jazz. Credit to BBC Radio 2 for not messing with the playlists. They are totally open and supportive. We have Kurt Elling in session in a couple of weeks which is so exciting for me. Also we are trying to get other shows to start injecting a little jazz into their playlists - The Bad Plus, Gregory Porter and Sara Mitra could end up getting air time elsewhere on R2.

At the Cheltenham Jazz Festival I’ve heard you’re doing a solo performance ? Is that true? What are the challenges?

I always like to do some solo shows when I'm between albums. It really helps me think differently about what I'm doing. At the moment I'm effectively staring in front of a blank sheet that needs new songs on it for album no.6. Playing solo is a huge challenge for me and that can only be a good thing!

Thanks, and enjoy Margate on Friday.

BOOKINGS FOR FRIDAY's SHOW

Vortex Fundraiser - Jamie Cullum in Margate - New Date Feb 4 2011

SEE OUR INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE CULLUM PREVIEWING THE MARGATE GIG

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS POST: "Due to unforeseen circumstances the Vortex Fundraiser at The Winter Gardens in Margate has been postponed until 4th February 2011. Jamie Cullum is extremely sorry about this and promises to make the show extra special in the new year.

All original tickets for the show, now called ‘Jamie Cullum and friends’ will remain valid for the new date but if you wish to receive a refund on a ticket you have already purchased you must contact the box office by 10th December on 01843 296111.

Tickets £27.50, £25.00. Call: 01843 292795 or 296111.

(I'm wondering if they'll do the song Kurt Weill wrote about Margate....)

Note: The Vortex , which Jamie is supporting through this gig, is a dedicated arts venue in Dalston staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It puts on adventurous programming every night of the week, has a maximum capacity of only 100. Despite its international renown, it has only ever got on to Arts Council England's radar once: ACE paid for half the cost of the club's piano.