Watford Jazz Junction

In this week's episode, Chris is joined by his lovely siblings Lotti and Jim.

Lotti is a concert soprano & music appreciation tutor; Jim is a rock drummer and online music reviewer.

We all 3 pick a different album to share and contrast as we reflect on musical spiritualism across the contrasting worlds of classical, rock and jazz music. There's also a very exciting hooter!

Our featured albums are:

• Lateralus by Tool (2001) released on Volcano

• The 5th Symphony by Jean Sibelius - recommending Sir John Barbirolli's 1962 recording of Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Halle Orchestra (2008) released on Testament

• Finding Gabriel by Brad Mehldau (2019) released on Nonesuch

Lotti's website: www.charlottenewstead.co.uk

Jim's channel: www.youtube.com/beatsworking2012

Support

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded September 2021.

Visit out website at www.watfordjazzjunction.com where you can also buy tickets to see our shows!

This week the singer and composer Esther Bennett talks with us about her journey through jazz in the UK across the last 30+ years.

She shares stories about her musical evolution in Birmingham and then onto the scene in 1980's London. She talks passionately about her musical relationship with the late Duncan Lamont, and some of the hurdles she's faced as a woman in jazz.

There are lots of funny and poignant moments, a daft quiz, and some wonderful album recommendations, including:

• Swingin' Easy by Sarah Vaughan (1957) released on EmArcy

• Blues and the Abstract Truth by Oliver Nelson (1961) released on Impulse!

• Flirting with Twilight by Kurt Elling (2001) released on Blue Note

Esther's website: www.estherbennettmusic.com

Support

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded August 2021.

This week's guest in pianist, writer and all round music-man, Chris Ingham.

We chat about his writing gigs with MOJO and interviewing Paul Simon, researching the songbooks of Hoagy Carmichael and Gil Evans, and of course, his October 2021 gig in Watford shining a light on the jazz of the brilliant Dudley Moore.

We also find time to explore the influence of Prefab Sprout, the genius of Benny Green and the struggles of being 'musically dyslexic'.

Chris's album recommendations include:

• A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra by Oscar Peterson (1959) released on Verve

• Chet Baker Sings by Chet Baker (1954) released on Pacific Jazz Records

• The Dave Frishberg Songbook Volume 1 by Dave Frishberg (1981) released on Omni Sound Jazz

Support

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded August 2021.

Chris is joined by Mauritian singer and composer Rouhangeze for a fascinating conversation about her musical path from an Indian Ocean island to Europe.

We chat about her creative partnerships with Tomasz Bura and Linley Marthe and her 5-year journey to write, record and produce her new upcoming album 'evasio'.

We explore the spiritual dimensions of her music and still find time to consider Chris Potter's piano skills, Moogs and fish curry!

Rouhangeze's album recommendations include:

• I Took Up The Runes by Jan Garbarek (1990) released on ECM

• Slave to the Rhythm by Grace Jones (1985) released on Manhattan, Island

• Passages by Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass (1990) released on Private Music

Find out more about Rouhangeze at www.rouhangeze.com/

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

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Recorded August 2021.

Series 6 kicks off chatting with the acclaimed and hugely talented pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie.

We chat about the ever-potent influence of the natural world and his musical journeys around creating his 2 highly successful albums.

Plus there's a very special Scottish-themed quiz, and a review of our ever challenging fantasy house-band!

Album recommendations include:

• The Vienna Concert by Keith Jarrett (1991) released on ECM

• 80/81 by Pat Metheny (1980) released on ECM

• The Gloaming (self-titled) (2014) released on Real World Records

Cairn (2021) and Turas (2018) by Fergus McCreadie

Plus a link to the wonderful book The Living Mountain by Nan Shephard

Find out more about Fergus at www.fergusmccreadie.co.uk

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

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Recorded July 2021.

In our series 5 finale, we're joined by composer, producer and uncategorisable musician Shri Sriram.

We chat about the value placed on music by society. We chat about bridging the music of India and the rest of the world. We chat about drum n bass, "jazz", classical music, jamming, not being able to read Western music, the inspiration of the Himalayas and so much more.

He also shares one of the most amazing jazz stories we've ever heard as 19-year old Shri finds himself sitting down with Alice Coltrane and then being 'stuck' on stage with Al Jarreau with just a bass, a mic and an expectant audience!

Album recommendations include:

The Letter by Shri (2020) released on Jazzland

Signs by Badmarsh and Shri (2001) released on Outcaste Records

The Inner Mounting Flame by The Mahavishnu Orchestra (1971) released on Columbia

Who's To Know by L Shankar (1981) released on ECM Records

Machine Head by Deep Purple (1972) released on Purple

Find out more about Shri at www.shri.co.uk

Support

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

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Recorded July 2021.

In this episode, Chris is joined by soprano singer Charlotte Newstead for a ranging discussion around improvisation and performance.

Comparing and contrasting the experiences of the classical world and the jazz world they explore the influence of JS Bach and Charlie Parker, tackle the risks of musical freedom & musical exactness, and generally have a good giggle!

Find out more about Charlotte at www.charlottenewstead.co.uk

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded June 2021.

Georgina Jackson joins us for a very energised chat about jazz life in Watford and on the high seas!

There's chat about flugel horns, making it in a big band, combining trumpeting and singing, leading your own band and ultimately enjoying what you do.

There's another tremendous top ten quiz challenge, fantasy house band review (sorry James Morrison - it was her, not me!) and insights into her career and influences.

Georgina's Top 3 Album recommendations include:

• It Might As Well Be Swing by Frank Sinatra & Count Basie (1964) released on Reprise

• The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve (originally released 1956-58) released on Verve in 1997

• Here's to Life by Shirley Horn (1992) released on Verve

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded June 2021.

Luca Manning is this week's special guest.

A Glaswegian born singer of growing renown we talk about his journey into jazz via soul, singing with NYJO, developing his style with Fergus McCreadie, playing at Ronnie Scott's and finding his feet on the UK jazz scene.

He also fearlessly faces our inaugural Glasgow's Miles Better & Stars of Scottish Jazz Hot Question Frenzy Quiz Special and introduces a writing element to the house band.

Luca's album recommendations include:

• grae by Moses Sumney (2020), released on Jagjaguwar

• Once to Every Heart by Mark Murphy (2005), released on Verve

• Lianne La Havas by Lianne La Havas (2020), released on Warner

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

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Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded June 2021.

In this very entertaining episode, Chris in joined by Steve Rubie, owner of the 606 Club in London.

As a programmer, a promoter, musician and one-time chef, Steve looks back across a 40-year career running Chelsea's most famous club. He talks about mentoring Ronnie Scott gave him in the early days and reflects on loads of wonderful musicians who've played at his club over the years.

He also bravely takes on our culinary-jazz quiz, picking dishes to please the palettes of some of the world's true legends.

Amongst lots of album references, Steve recommends:

• Under Milk Wood by Stan Tracey (1965) released on Columbia

• The entire Charlie Parker back catalogue(!!)

• Flute and Nut by Harold McNair (1970) released on RCA

Support

You can help support the podcast and keep us ad free. Especially useful if you’d like to support the podcast and want to keep it ad free. Plus it makes Chris feel very happy indeed! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChrisNewstead

Show info

Presenter: Chris Newstead

Theme: by SoundWorkLab, licensed through AudioJungle.

Recorded May 2021.