Jazz notes

By Ron Burnett
12:23pm Thursday 26th September 2013 in Music

Two quality York hotels will present quality jazz tonight, with the Mardi Gras Band at Lady Anne Middleton’s Hotel, Skeldergate at 8pm, 01904 611570 ) and the Karl Mullen Trio at the Churchill Hotel, Bootham at 7pm (01904 644456).

Karl Mullen, York’s busiest pianist, was busking outside Bettys when Jamie Cullum dropped by for a chat and a song.

The award-winning pianist/vocalist was in York making a Radio 4 documentary on Yorkshire piano makers and players. Karl and Ali Lawrence were much impressed by his friendly manner and he has promised to send them a recording of their chat. Check the photograph of Karl with Jamie on the Jazz Yorkshire website.


Apart from Karl’s famous busking, his weekly residencies include Sunday nights at the Coach and Horses, Lawrence Street (01904 637478) and just across the Road at the Rook and Gaskill (01904 652050) on alternate weeks.

Karl’s Encouraging the Loony, with drummer Neil Scott, play everything from Beatles to Bach. Experience the madness at the Victoria Vaults, Nunnery Lane on Tuesday (01904 654307).

Lady Anne’s has also been running great jazz every Friday night for some months and tomorrow’s band is led by star vocalist Kate Peters at 8pm.


Wakefield Jazz is back in the Friday groove and tomorrow night the great pianist Dave Newton will bring his trio to the Sports Club (01977 680542).

Jazz in the Spa offers good times on Saturday, with the Charlestown Jazz Band, from Nijmegen, Holland, reflecting the sounds of Chris Barber and Louis Prima’s R & B (01937 844898).

No such thing as a jazzless Sunday in York, with Kennedy’s Cafe Bar, Little Stonegate, presenting instrumental jazz from John Marley, Paul Smith and friends from 1pm (01904 620222).

Check the two numbers above for which side of Lawrence Street Karl Mullen will appear on Sunday, then walk through Fishergate Bar for jazz at the Phoenix Inn with the Dominic J Marshall Trio from around 8.30pm.

On Monday at the Phoenix, Kate Peters and John Marley will host a night to raise funds for the invaluable jazzinyork.co.uk website an associated leaflet printing and the regular Wednesday jam session will be on Wednesday.

Tuesday night sees the New York Brass Band (NYBB) playing a double-header with a similarly wacky and high-energy band, Tankus The Henge at Fibbers, Stonebow (01904 651250). Check Tankus on youtube and be amazed almost as much as you are by NYBB and break out your dancing shoes!

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