Monday, 23 February 2026

A Tribute to some Great Jazz Pianists - Maggie Balshaw

Intro tracks: Herbie Hancock Takin’ Off 1962

Track List

  1. Count Basie   Midnight Blue 1957
  2. Bill Evans   Milestones  1961
  3. Steve Lodder   Seeing Round Corners  2019
  4. Fats Waller   Honeysuckle Rose  1929
  5. Horace Silver   Sister Sadie  1959
  6. Art Tatum   St Louis Blues  1940
  7. McCoy Tyner   Four by Five  1967
  8. Joe Zawinul   In a Silent Way  1971
  9. Abdullah Ibrahim   Mannenberg  1989
  10. Earl Hines   Piano Man  1939
  11. Herbie Hancock   Maiden Voyage  1965
  12. Michel Petrucciani   Caravan  1997

Monday, 16 February 2026

 Down By The Riverside - John Cooter-Baker

This 20 minute film was made by the U3AC Moviemakers group during 2025. It tells the story of the Cambridge Riverside Jazz Band, formed in 1957 at the height of the British trad jazz boom and still going strong, as told by current band members and some of their fans, between shots of the band playing live at their regular gig in Fulbourn. The musicians and their loyal followers recall the vibrant live jazz scene of sixty years ago, but now the band faces an uncertain future as the audience for their style of music dwindles.

Also featuring recordings from Cambridge-based trad bands of the era and the story of "The Dorothy" in Sidney Street, a famous venue in that scene.

Link to film: https://youtu.be/GSLt5WhHwDA

Track List (Alan Bird)

THE RIVERSIDE JAZZ BAND

From the 1982 LP “In at the Deep End”
1 St. Louis Blues (the singer by this time was Helen Gould)
2 Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

THE CAMBRIDGE CITY JASSBAND

From the 1978 LP “The Bud Freeman Tapes”
3 Wolverine Blues 
From the 1979 LP “Cambridge Blues”
4 The Mooche (Duke Ellington)
5 Yardbird Suite (Charlie Parker)

THE SAVOY JAZZMEN (later BARRY PALSER’S SAVOY JAZZMEN)

From the 1979 LP “You’ve got the right key”
6 Petite Fleur
From the 1997 CD “You Can’t Escape From….”
7 Wolverine Blues
From the St Ives Jazz and Blues Festival double CD of 2025 a tribute track:
8 Bei Mis Du Schoen


Monday, 09 February 2026

Live Set: Vij Prakash and Phil Stevenson

Vij and Phil featured the music of Bob Brookmeyer and Jim Hall, plus their own compositions and arrangements for duo.

 

Vij Prakash (Trombone)

Phil Stevenson (Guitar)

 
Vij Prakash, Phil Stevenson

(photos by Alan Bird)

Vij Prakash - Trombone, Valve Trombone
Phil Stevenson - Guitar

Set List

More Than You Know (Youmans/Rose/Eliscu) 
Walk Off (Vij Prakash) 
Skating in Central Park (Bill Evans/Jim Hall) 
Abide With Me... It Ain't My Fault (trad./Smoky Johnson) 
Elvin (Phil Stevenson) 

Newark News  (Sonny Rollins)
October (Phil Stevenson) 
My Funny Valentine (Rodgers/Hart) 
Egg Radio (Bill Frisell) 
Lullaby (Phil Stevenson) 

instagram.com/philastevenson/

Monday, 02 February 2026

65 years of Music -  Ron Plascow


Intro tracks:  Grant Green  - Let the Music Take Your Mind and Sookie Sookie -  CD “Alive!". 1970

Track List

  1. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Isn’t This a Lovely Day - CD “ Ella & Louis ”. 1956.
  2. Shelly Manne - Blue Daniel- CD “ Shelly Manne & His Men Complete Live at the Black Hawk ”. 1959.
  3. Sonny Stitt- I Can’t Give You Anything But Love - CD “ Sonny Stitt sits in with the Oscar Peterson Trio”. 1959.
  4. Ben Webster/Johnny Hodges - Ben’s Web - CD “ Ben Webster/Johnny Hodges Sextet ” 1960.
  5. Duke Pearson - Chilli Peppers - CD “The Right Touch”. 1968. 
  6. Dexter Gordon - Willow Weep For Me - CD “ Our Man in Paris ”. 1963.
  7. Les McCann/Eddie Harris - Cold Duck Time - CD “ Swiss Movement”. 1969. 
  8. Kathy Stobart /Joe Temperley- Softly As In The Morning Sunrise - CD “ Saxploitation ”. 1976.
  9. Threeway- Crystal Morning - CD “ Songs of The Year ”. 2008. 
  10. Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra - The Village - CD “Last Live In Blue Note Tokyo ”. 2003. 
  11. Chick Corea - Ask Me Now - CD “ Trilogy 3”. 2025.