MUSIC LIST
MIC
In the new, enlarged Music Preview section Alastair Mabbott hops into space to meet the Mekons (overleaf) and takes time out to talk to Danish heavy metal band D.A.D. Plus: Kenny Mathieson on autumn jazz; Glaswegian rockers; the Almighty, the Dunfermline Jazz Festival and what to book now for the forthcoming season.
lISTINGS:ROCK35 JAZZ 41 F0lK42 CLASSICAL43
REVIEW
The Art of Noise
Apart from the 2nd Dunfermline Jazz Festival this weekend (30 Sept-1 Oct, see listings). and a double bill ofCarol Kidd and Martin Taylor at the Gaiety in Ayr (4 Oct). the Scottish jazz scene is keeping a low profile this issue, but there will be no shortage of high-level international activity in the second halfof October, when Assembly Music in Edinburgh and the Aberdeen Alternative Festival both launch ambitious jazz programmes.
Aberdeen are first offthe mark, with the news that the celebrated drummer and bandleader Art Blakey is to headline the re-vamped Alternative Festival (12—21 October), with an expanded all-star version of the Jazz Messengers. including Jackie McLean, Bobby Watson and Curtis Fuller, in celebration of his 70th birthday. Blakey plays his only Scottish date at the Music Hall on 20 Oct, while other headliners include Andy Sheppard, The Fall, and the Battlefield Band.
The Blakey gig coincides with the start of a slightly shorter than usual Assembly Music season at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. when the Bob Berg/Mike Stern Quintet play the concert postponed earlier this year, due to the illness of Stern‘s guitarist wife Leni.
Highlights of the season include one ofonly two
British dates for the Andy Sheppard Big Band (10 Nov), an international unit being assembled to record his next album for Antilles, and the great John McLaughlin Trio (1 Dec) with percussionist Trilok Gurtu, which made such an impression at the Glasgow Jazz Festival last year. The 29th Street Saxophone Quartet ( 17 Nov) and the Chris Barber Band (8 Dec) complete the line-up.
Big band fans are not forgotten, either, with a visit to the Usher Hall in Edinburgh from the great vibraphonist Lionel Hampton on 26 Oct. and a double date for the popular Syd Lawrence Orchestra, at the Glasgow Pavilion on 25 Nov,
and the Usher Hall two nights later (check with box-office for details — see Book Now). The proposed concerts involving Oscar Peterson and the Benny Goodman Orchestra have fallen through. however, as did the proposed Sun Ra date in September.
There is almost as much activity going on behind the scenes at the moment, with a successor to out-going Director Alan Stanbridge being sought by the Glasgow Jazz Festival. and the new Scottish Jazz Network gearing up to a November launch. Board member and prime mover Bill Kyle sees the Network as being complementary to both the major Festivals and Roger Spence’s work with Assembly Music in Edinburgh, initially featuring the best of Scottish talent alongside the occasional guest artist from down south.
The Network will fill the role of the old Platform Jazz Society in restoring touring jazz to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, albeit without a membership system, but with a hoped-for spin-offeffect on the local scene in those centres. The six-man board, comprised of ex-Platform organisers and members of the Glasgow Jazz Festival board, will be looking for a full-time administrator this month, and various artists are under consideration for the opening season. Watch this space.
Assembly Music tickets and programme details available from Queen’s Hall Box Office (031 668 2019); Aberdeen Alternative Festival details from The Festival Office, 10 Belmont Street, Aberdeen A B] [J E. Still in Aberdeen, singer/guitarist Richard Thompson plays a single Scottish date at the Ritzy on 29 Sept.
again this year, buttheir album will be out in time lor Christmas, as will a video ot the Glasgow Green concert. it all goes accordingto plan.
I PAUL COIA spotted again! This time as close as
I RUMOURS ARE REACHING US at the breakup oi Hex-the group tamed by members oi the demised Swamp Trash and Critter Hill Varmints—mere weeks aiterthelriirstglg
together.
I THE RECENT HIGHLAND TOUR featuring The Hummingbirds and Tom Morton had its lair mix at highs and lows. including broken-down vans and best
otall, a member oi the party ialling oil the harbourin Ullapool. Thanktully, no lasting damage was done. I WAS THAT an Indian leers LP seen in the £3.49 rack ot FOPP in Glasgow, only a week alter its
I Amour; me will see their debutalbum cELegnmEs we) "an release out on Phonogram
hanging around the hospitality suite at Wet Wet Wet‘s recent Glasgow Green gig were Ben trom Curiosity Killed The Cat.
in the next tew weeks. 0n the other hand. ills Latest Flame have put backthe release oi their album until January.
possible to the action at ‘Gododdln’ in the Tramway -to start with, at least. The remarkable disappearing act oi the immaculately-dressed TV
release? Surely not.
I THEY DON'T CARE whose tun they spoll, do they? The latest Gloria Estetan press pack to reach our desk even included a set list oithe
actress Emily Lloyd and (gasp) Paul Cola. Bet you wish you were therel Still on the subject at the gig, attendance estimates have varied trom 30,000 to 100.000- so take 60,000 to be about correct. The Wets will not be playing Glasgow
I HUE AND CRY’s ‘ltemote' album is to be repackaged with some new live. acoustic material iorthe Christmas market. while another local band, Slide.
presenter and his blonde companion when the mud and oildrums started ilying still leaves us gasping.
I LATEST NEWS on the Fairground Attraction split is that songwriter Mark Nevin has issued singer Eddi Reader with a list oi demands beiore he will work with heragain. it would appear unlikelythal the riit will be mended. and Nevin has already demoed songs with other singers in the course at the last year.
songs the superstar will play. in the order they'll be played on the night. Think oi the tun you could have with that- like shouting out ior all the right numbers at the right time. thus leaving the surrounding audience members gaping atyour lntluence over the band. Incidentally. the current hit. ‘Oye Ml Canto’ is second from the end, between the cover versions at 'I Wanna Be Your Dog’ and ‘lleroln’.
The List 29 September — 12 October 1989 29