Top Ten Christmas Songs

1. All I want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey.

2. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (including the best lip-syncing ever videod!)

3. Let It Snow - Frank Sinatra

4. Rockin Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

5. Wham! - Last Christmas (the acting in this video is superb..!)

6. Cliff Richard - Saviours Day

7. Baby It's Cold Outside - sung by the incredible Dionne Warwick and Ray Charles (not Cerys Matthews who sings the words wrong in the studio and says "oops!")

8. Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Jackson 5

9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor

10. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

A Belfast Treat

On 6th/7th November I had the pleasure of spending a weekend in Northern Ireland for a couple of gigs.  A friend who I used to play jazz with when we both lived in the North West of England - Dan Forshaw - moved to Belfast a couple of years ago and has been busy establishing some decent, regular jazz nights.

So the Saturday night was a jazz gig in Bert's Jazz Bar, at the Merchant Hotel.  Bert's does live jazz every night, and it's even got a veranda outside to which music is pumped, day and night.  Here I am the morning after, listening to some very sultry Sarah Vaughn.  (Unfortunately the camera couldn't cope here with the bright sunlight... apparently we had experienced one of the only Autumn weekends with sunshine since Dan had moved there!)

We were lucky enough to be put up in this (very 5*) hotel.  I'd never been in such a place.  Our small bags were carried without question by the charming William - who then proceeded to give us a guided tour of our room.  We couldn't have been looked after better.

The gig was enjoyable - great to play with new musicians - although in a hotel bar, it's unlikely that you'll get much of a listening audience.  However, we had a few requests and a few appreciative comments amongst the irregular applause.  I have to say, it was wonderful to do a gig and then crawl into bed less than 5 minutes later, in a room that is one of the most elegant I have ever been in!

Me and Dan

Sunday started with a 'full Irish' - deliiicious!  The dining room had high ceilings, columns, cherubs adorning the walls and everything else you could imagine of such a place.  We followed breakfast by a trip to the next gig - at SD Bell, a lovely little tea and coffee house in the Knock area of Belfast.  Each Sunday top-quality jazz and atmosphere is served, for no entry fee.

Overall a very enjoyable weekend, and hopefully at some point I'll be back.

Top Ten London Jazz Festival gigs

Each November, London hosts one of the major International jazz festivals.  It started off life in the 1970s as ‘Camden Jazz Week’ as part of the Camden Festival.  After about 20 years the Camden Festival disappeared, but the popular jazz week moved south of the river and grew into the thriving festival we know today.  Given that the festival runs for 10 days, I have picked one gig from each day to be included in this month’s Top Ten.

Top Ten London Jazz Festival gigs (in order of performance schedule)

1. Emma Smith | Friday 12^th November | Barbican Freestage | 6pm

I first met Emma about 4 years ago when she came to NYJO as an aspiring singer.  At that time I had the principal vocalist/vocal coach spot with the band.  In NYJO you are considered ‘youth’ until you are 25 and, although I wasn’t planning on leaving just yet, I knew my days were numbered.  Therefore I was always on the lookout for a replacement singer, and I was thrilled when Emma came along because I knew, even at 16, she would do the job brilliantly.

Emma is performing with her own quartet on the Barbican Freestage.  She’s one of the best singers I’ve ever heard, despite being only in her second year at college!

2. Gareth Lockrane | Saturday 13^th November | The Forge | 9pm

I first heard Gareth playing flute with NYJO (most of the musicians I know in this city have had some experience or other in NYJO) when I was about 17.  I was a flautist myself, but I heard notes from Gareth’s flute that I didn’t even realise were possible on the instrument!  Gareth now plays with a variety of different instruments – piccolo, alto and bass flutes – which bring a delicious flavour to his performances.

3. Gretchen Parlato | Sunday 14^th November | Ronnie Scott’s | 8pm

I have previewed Gretchen’s gig at Ronnie Scott’s for the LondonJazz website – click here to read it.

4. Shez Raja (+ Peter Sarik + Emma Louise) | Monday 15^th November | The Pheasantry | 8pm

Shez Raja is a fantastic bass player and an all round nice guy!  His music is a mixture of funk and jazz, and his latest album – Mystic Radical – has a flavour of experimental jazz too.  The collective is joined by trumpeter Abram Wilson on this occasion.  “Expect exciting music that evokes all of the emotions - a mix of euphoric jazz, thundering funk, lyrical ballads and intoxicating grooves.”

5. Empirical | Tuesday 16^th November | Peter Parker’s Club | 8:30pm

Empirical were recently awarded the MOBO for jazz, beating off competition from Robert Glasper, Brad Mehldau, Phronesis and John McLaughlin.  They are the choice band for Hot Dog Jazz which runs monthly at Peter Parker’s Club.  After the first set, the stage is opened and Empirical will host a jam session.

6. Vocal Summit | Wednesday 17^th November | Spice of Life | 7:30pm

I’ve made in onto my own list again!!  I’m thrilled to have been invited to take part in this year’s vocal summit alongside distinguished vocalists Emilia Martensson and Fini Bearman.  I’ve previewed the gig for LondonJazz – click here to read it.

7. Jon Hendricks | Thursday 18^th November | Ronnie Scott’s | 7pm

I first saw Jon Hendricks perform at the Ronnie Scott’s 50^th birthday party about this time last year.  His voice was just as dextrous as ever and he performed some amazing scat.  This is the first of 3 nights he’s on at Ronnie’s.

8. Peter King and Henry Armburg-Jennings | Friday 19^th November | The Green Man | 7:45pm

The Green Man has opened its downstairs bar to a weekly jazz night, hosted by a collaboration between the Worshipful Company of Musicians and a group of Royal Academy of Music graduates.  Jazz legend King is joined by young trumpet star Armburg-Jennings for the final night of a 4-night performance run at The Green Man.  The other nights are Jim Mullen (Tues), Ronnie Scott remembered (Weds) and Bobby Wellins (Thurs).

9. Tina May | Saturday 20^th November | The Pheasantry | 8:30pm

Tina will be performing tonight with the Frank Harrison trio, to launch a new DVD.  Tina is a wonderful performer as well as singer, and always entertains with tales of jazz and song stories.  She has had a fascinating career thus far from musicals to touring, from French to festivals.  Read about her here: www.tinamay.com/biog

10. Ian Shaw and Lianne Carroll | Sunday 21^st November | The Hideaway  8pm

The Hideaway in Streatham is a great venue, having been running for a little over a year.  As you may guess, it’s hidden away, around the back of some shops off Streatham High Road, but once inside you’ll find it’s one of the best equipped jazz clubs in London – great atmosphere, good bar and food, excellent sound.

Ian and Lianne – both being singer pianists, and both extremely funny people not to mention phenomenal singers – have the ability to take you to musical heaven while making you feel like you’re their best friend.  This should be an amazing end to the London Jazz Festival.