THE BEAUTY OF IT HOT: AFTER HOURS IN THE VICTORY PUB, with JEFF BARNHART, BENT PERSSON, ANDY SCHUMM, TORSTEIN KUBBAN, KRISTOFFER KOMPEN, GRAHAM HUGHES, NORMAN FIELD, MATTHIAS SEUFFERT, FRANS SJOSTROM, LARS FRANK, JACOB ULLBERGER, JOSH DUFFEE — AT THE 2013 WHITLEY BAY CLASSIC JAZZ PARTY (November 1, 2013)

Collectively and joyously, Jeff Barnhart, keyboard / vocals; Bent Persson, Torstein Kubban, Andy Schumm, cornet; Graham Hughes, trombone; Kristoffer Kompen, valve-trombone; Lars Frank, tenor sax; Norman Field, clarinet; Matthias Seuffert, reeds; Jacob Ullberger, banjo; Frans Sjostrom, bass saxophone; Josh Duffee, drums.

Recorded on November 1, 2013, in the Victory Pub at the 2013 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party in Newcastle, England.

THEM THERE EYES:

NOBODY’S SWEETHEART NOW:

LULU’S BACK IN TOWN:

A fellow named Andy Schumm came by . . . and so did Josh Duffee:

MARGIE:

COME ON AND STOMP, STOMP, STOMP:

Because it is difficult to manage a camera, a tripod, a sheet of paper, and a pen, under these circumstances, I could be slightly inexact about who was playing what, when. (No doubt my precise readers will let me know my lapses.) It could have become November 2, 2013, while I was videoing. And if you think, “I can’t see the musicians,” I agree with you.

What matters is the liveliness of the music. These are the moments we remember all our lives — when improvisers, united by common love, memory, and knowledge, give us everything they have spent their lives experiencing — for the pure joy of it.

By the way, there’s more from this and another November 2013 jam session.  But the best way to experience such marvels is by being there. Consider this seriously if you can.

May your happiness increase!

WEDNESDAY’S JUST AS GOOD: KEVIN DORN, MARK SHANE, BRIAN NALEPKA (March 5, 2014)

Three great players who are also deep thinkers and good friends!

Some people couldn’t attend this concert because of the snow; others, like myself, found the commute from California daunting.

But, thanks to Chip Phillips and Toms River Schools TV, the first half of this wonderful trio jazz concert at Ocean County College is here for the viewing.  The participants?  Three kindred spirits who say they’d never played a concert as a trio before: Kevin Dorn, drums; Brian Nalepka, string bass; Mark Shane, piano. It’s all presented by the New Jersey Jazz Society and the Midweek Jazz Facebook page is here.

Our friend Ricky Riccardi as what the British call a “compere” — the George Wein / Norman Granz of the future — who introduces the band and then wisely lets them do what they do so well:

To quote Alex Hill, “Wasn’t that nice?” And a second half to come.

May your happiness increase!