Half-term holidaying and harmonies.

Half term used to be a time for sitting on a sofa, sleeping in, staying up late and trying to stop thinking about the children in my class.  Now it's a time for jetting around the country, visiting jazz clubs and catching up with family.

The week has started in Newcastle - for my return visit to The Cherry Tree.

Photo by Lance Liddle

I last was here in May, as part of a UK tour supported by Jazz Services.  I had brought my band up from London on that occasion, so this time I was a lone traveller ready to meet the local musicians - Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Adam Sinclair (drums).  They were great - Paul was imaginative, listening and responding beautifully to my musical ideas; Mick was fast-fingered and fun and Adam created a wonderfully different timbre to a couple of ballads with soft sticks.  Ballads were a little bit lost on this audience - there was a large party of girls that staggered down the stairs at the end of the night a little worse for wear - but nevertheless we persisted!

The evening was reviewed by Lance Liddle - read his review here.

So that was Monday.

Tuesday = college reunion and relaxing with sister, niece and nephew.

Wednesday involved chilling out with another sister (there are 3 altogether: one identical twin and two elder), and singing at a new-ish jam session in Manchester at Indigo.  It's run weekly by Ed Kainyek - a terrific saxophonist that I met when I was living in Lancaster.

It is brilliant!  Packed to the rafters, bursting with students and older jazzers alike, and quality musician after quality musician getting up to jam.

On Thursday I made a short train journey to Wigan to sing with the Sounds 2000 big band at Wigan Cricket Club.  Run by Jim Ashcroft and formed in 2000 (hence the name), I've been invited to sing a few numbers as there is no regular singer with the band.

My first professional work was singing with NYJO, so I love the sound and exhilaration of singing with a big band - and I'd forgotten how much I miss it now that I mostly work with a quartet.

I'm announced in Wigan accent as "Sarah Helen Use" (reminiscent of Eliza Doolittle's elocution lessons about 'ertford, 'ereford and 'ampshire where 'urricanes 'ardly hever 'appen).

It's great stuff, but this gig is grossly unsupported considering the quality of music going on here.  Only 4 members of the band have full heads of hair - which includes 2 women (I've never sung with a band like this, having started out with NYJO, and subsequently performing with Military bands and and other big bands half full of the 'youth'), but it occurs to me that these are musicians that were learning their craft while the greats e.g. Sonny Rollins and Freddie Hubbard were doing their thing - so no reason why an older band shouldn't be a better band.

The quality of ensemble and the individual skill is excellent.  The band leader, Jim Ashcroft, is an advocate for little-known and well-arranged tunes, hence him selecting a handful of NYJO charts from my pad for me to sing.  The program is exciting, varied and current.  However, its excellence is not reflected in the disappointing patter that follows each tune from only a small number of hands.

I've unfortunately been involved in too many gigs where the band outnumbers the audience - more likely with a big band but still, so unfair.

An incredibly dynamic (not loud) band, Jim runs a tight ship performing the music he loves for only £2 entry including raffle.  The band rehearse here weekly and perform on the last Thursday each month.  If you're even a stone's throw away from Wigan, it's well worth checking out.

I was given a lift home to Manchester by the legend that is Ernie Garside - trumpeter with the band.  It was a hilarious journey with tales of Johnny Dankworth and playing with Maynard Ferguson, and as much effin' and blindin' as you can fit into 45 minutes.  A great way to end my enjoyable week of jazz.

North West weekend

Good jazz nights are hard to find.  So imagine when I'm on my way to a gig and the organiser tells me that the pub used to host a 'pop' night, then on request changed it to a jazz night so as to generate more revenue from a greater audience, I'm pleasantly surprised.

The pub in question is the Legh Arms - a charming and elegant watering hole on the outskirts of Macclesfield.  

I was there to join the Peter Johnson quartet, and they were wonderful!  Ed Harrison on bass, Steve More on piano and Ken Leigh on drums more than lived up to expectations, and made for an incredibly enjoyable evening of jazz.

Now I'm off to Kendal.

The good thing about travelling by train - as well as the fact that you don’t have to sit in traffic, and can wander around/drink tea/read a book during your journey - is that you get to take the scenic route.  The Manchester-Kendal line is no exception.  After Preston’s concrete blocks have passed, the path to Lancaster is the start of a magnificent journey into Scotland.  If you’re lucky you can see Blackpool Tower (if you really know where to look and it’s a clear day.  I missed the Tower on this particular occasion but I did happen to catch some skydivers doing their thing - although skydivers are quite hard to spot until they open their parachutes so I guess I was watching parachutists!)

The journey through Lancaster generated quite a bit of nostalgia as I used to go to college there.  It’s funny how time erases information that was once well-known - I struggled to remember the names of areas, and was disappointed to realise that I had even forgotten my last address there.  Nevertheless, Lancaster Castle/Prison loomed through the trees and Williamson’s Memorial stood proud overlooking the city.  On arriving in Kendal, I sampled a once-regular evening snack: chips, cheese and gravy.  Only in the North West!

Anyway, on with the jazz.  I was joined by local musicians John Woodhouse and Mike Reynolds, and we formed a piano, voice and saxophone combo.  We were performing at Burgundy’s Wine Bar - a popular and charming bar in the middle of town that specialises in real ale.  Despite there being a real ale called Sarah Hughes, I’m really not an aficionado so I stuck to the house white.  Burgundy’s regular weekly jazz night is usually a Thursday, so I’m grateful to manager Mike Pennington for allowing us to do a Saturday night special.

On Sunday I made the journey to Blackpool (I definitely spotted the Tower on this journey).  I had a lunchtime session with pianist Mike Taylor at Art Deco Cafe - a great little spot (excellent homemade soup) in the middle of Stanley Park.  High ceilings, attentive audience and great acoustics made for an incredibly enjoyable gig.  I’ll definitely be back there.

So, Blackpool against Manchester City was the talk of the afternoon and I decided to make my getaway before angry City/Tangerine fans descended on the station.  

This evening, I’m joining Harold Salisbury at the Mad Ferret in Preston.  It advertises itself as the premier music venue in Preston, and judging by the decor I’m inclined to believe it.   A sizeable stage, and walls adorned with pictures and posters of The Smiths, Nirvana and The Rat Pack, I have high hopes for the quality and popularity of this jam session.

It doesn’t disappoint - although I’m not sure why it’s advertised as a jam session, as it’s only the guys on stage playing.  I sing a couple of numbers - steering away from the fusion-based style of tunes that has made up the set thus far and doing - on Harold’s request - Garote de Ipanema.  It’s brought to a whole new level with effects pedals and various percussion instruments.  

Great fun!  Now for my train back to Manchester and the prospect of crawling into bed (mattress on living room floor) at 1am.  Oh, the life of a jazz singer!

Jersey Weekend

I wasn’t looking forward to a weekend of singing in Jersey - having lost my voice on Thursday evening I still hadn’t found it, and 3 gigs over the weekend wasn’t going to help!  

The first gig was at Roberto’s jazz bar in the Savoy Hotel, St Helier.  I had played there once before on my UK album tour in May this year, and had returned to see the bar fast becoming an official jazz venue - a stage area, plans to buy a piano, and black and white pictures of the jazz greats adorning the walls... and there was me!  A little picture amongst the Monks and the Ellas and the Coltranes. 

The following morning I found my way to the Merton Hotel, where the Jersey Big Band play every Sunday.  I was their special guest for the day which was a great privilege - they were a good band, and fronted by two very competent singers.  Voice not improving, I drank copious amounts of tea and tried not to talk to anybody during the breaks.  Luckily, they had an advantageous set design: sing one song, rest for two etc.  This certainly helped.  (I still had the ‘diva’ comment when someone said “Ooh, you don’t sound well,” and I said “No, I’ve lost my voice.”  How that’s a diva I’ll never know!)

Anna in foreground enjoying
a dance lesson.

Anyway, the songs sounded fine - they must have done because I sold out of the CDs I had taken - but I had lost all ability to sing in my head voice so had to belt out the tunes in my tiring chest voice.  Singing in this loud voice is tiring at the best of times, but coupled with the fact that I was having troubles anyway, I ended up totally exhausted.

The evening’s gig was a struggle.  Luckily I had identical twin sister Anna on hand to sing a few songs to give me a rest.

Overall a lovely weekend - good weather, good food and good company - but much more husky and definitely quieter than usual!

Cardiff Cafe Jazz, and the Hazards of being a Singer

Temperatures soaring, high fever... doesn’t sound much like Cardiff does it?!  No, it’s my body responding to the first three weeks back at school and a gruelling singing/teaching schedule.

I’m in Cardiff for a gig at Cafe Jazz.  I have visited Cardiff once before on jazz business - to sing at Dempsey’s during my UK album tour in May.  And, yes, as my name would suggest I have relatives in South Wales.  My grandparents were from Llanelli and Blaengwynfi.

I am joined on stage by a trio booked by Jazz Productions Wales man Ian Poole - who had in fact booked himself on drums, but had to pull out at the last minute owing to a back injury.  Greg Evans ably stepped into his shoes; Ashley Long demonstrated the fastest fingers I have ever seen (how anyone manages to play sustained triplet quaver passages on a double bass to my rip-roaring tempo of That’s All is beyond me); Dave Cottle in for flu-ridden Dave Jones on piano.  

Unfortunately, I’ve spent the day not feeling well.  I had even taken the afternoon off work which is so unlike me - definitely poorly then!  I arrived in Cardiff feeling a little shivery, but nothing a white wine and excellent chicken dish couldn’t ease.  

The first set went well: it’s a pleasure to play ‘busking’ standards with such competent musicians who bring something new to each tune.

However, by the second tune of the second set things weren’t going so well.  I felt it necessary to announce to the crowd that I was losing my voice.  

At the end of the show, someone came up to me at the bar and offered me a drink.  “No thanks,” I croaked.  “Oh, you’ve really lost your voice!” he said.  “Singer always moan: oh, I’ve got a sore throat...etc.”  

I know the sort: ‘I’ve got a cold... I usually sound better than this... etc. etc. moan, moan, moan.  I’ve made a conscious decision not to moan to anybody when I’m feeling under the weather, as it just invites the response “Oh, you sound fine” when they’re really thinking, “Stop fishing for compliments.”  

It’s frustrating though, as if you’re feeling under the weather even slightly, this can totally affect the way your body - ie. your instrument - works.  When I sing it’s a thrilling experience.  When the adrenaline works in the right way, it makes me feel GREAT!  However, even the slightest niggle can throw all that off balance and make me feel frustratingly crap.  

So when a singer says to you “Oh, that was terrible - I’ve got a cold,” they’re not fishing for compliments - they probably didn’t enjoy it at all.  Take pity on them!

Sector 7

Emma Smith

To start October in style, my new band - Sector 7 - had its first
rehearsal.  As you may guess, Sector 7 is a seven-piece band,
and it features jazz trio with 4 singers.  I’m very excited about
where it may go.

The inspiration to set up this band came from watching a gig 
with Pete Churchill’s London Vocal Project.  For part of the 
set, the choir sang behind the Jessica Berry quartet, and I was so
overwhelmed by the sound of so many voices and the power that

Shakka Phillip

it added to the music that I thought it would be great to start a
similar project.  Setting up a choir, however, is a massive
logistical stress, and Pete's group already does it brilliantly.  
So the idea to create a jazz band with backing singers was born.

I’m joined behind the mic(s) by Emma Smith - London Jazz 

Sarah Ellen Hughes

Vocal Award nominee 2010, Kwabena Adjepong and 
Shakka Phillip.  This band was conceived as being my jazz 
quartet with backing singers, but I soon realised that I was 
working with 3 singers better than me!  They are terrifically 
talented, and the two boys have roots in soul music, so the 
group - while predominantly being a jazz group - is exploring 
repertoire from artists like Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu 
to showcase the diversity in voices that we have as a foursome. 






We will be recording an EP later in the year, and touring the 
group in 2011.  Watch this space!

Kwabena Adjepong