Advertisement
Advertisement
192 articles

Leon Nock

Born and raised in Manchester, Leon Nock was exposed from the cradle to a thriving jazz scene both domestic and foreign: Count Basie, JATP, the MJQ and Dave Brubeck appeared annually supplemented by one-offs in a full spectrum of styles from Preservation Hall to Eddie Condon, George Lewis, Kid Ory, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan etc. Took a degree (B.A. Hons) in American Studies entailing an academic year in US within easy reach of Blues Alley. He moved to London in the late 60s with the specific aim of finding employment in the film industry. He was successful and became a member (Writers Section) of A.C.C.T. (now BECTU following merge with N.A.T.K.E). He began writing songs (lyrics) and shows (bok/lyrics) with Billy VerPlanck (music) in the late 1990s, joining ASCAP in 2000. Nine of his songs with Billy were recorded by Marlene VerPlanck on Audiophile. He has also written short stories, novels, plays and journalism since early 1970s. His hobbies are literature, theatre and cinema (especially French). He tries to get to Paris at least three times annually to gorge on French movies.

Reviewed: Phil Haynes’ Day Dream – Duke & Strays Live

Phil Haynes' Day Dream: Duke & Strays Live (Corner Store Jazz) The relationship, partnership and friendship of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn has been well...

La La Land

My parents were addicted to cinema. They did their courting in the one-and-nines, and even after I came along they continued apace. From the...

Reviewed: Bob Anderson | Jack Wood & Nichaud Fitzgibbon | Doug Ferony | Julia Danielle

Bob Anderson: Live! (Jazz Hang Records JHR910BA) It’s a toss-up whether I should subtitle this piece "I Really Should Get Out More", or "Let’s Hear...

Elaine Delmar – An Afternoon At Duke’s Place

They were frisking punters at Crazy Coqs on Saturday, on the off-chance they were secreting about their persons a crowbar, or at the very...
- Advertisement -

Lauren Bush: from interior design to the stage

Despite reviewing all three albums which singer Lauren Bush has released so far, I knew next to nothing about her, and so in early...

Symphonies in Black: Duke Ellington shorts at the Barbican, London

Back in the day, when you and I were young, Maggie, and your local Essoldo offered not one, but two feature films, a newsreel,...

Reviewed: Bill Charlap | Ann Kittredge

Bill Charlap Trio: Then And Again (Blue Note) For me this album represents an atoll of tranquillity in a sea of chaos. For though it...

Mike Paul-Smith: ‘We all loved those swing bands of the 40s’

There's a rumour going around that the life of a music reviewer is only a tad less rewarding than that of Tom Cruise, Andrew...
- Advertisement -

Down For The Count at Cadogan Hall

I first saw DFTC at the London Jazz Festival in 2018 and the band consisted of a mere nine members. I’ve seen them several...

Reviewed: Elaine Delmar | Karen Mack

Elaine Delmar: Speak Low (Ubuntu Music UBU0165) Until she died, in January 2018, I had no problem thinking of Marlene VerPlanck as the finest female...

Daryl Sherman & Jay Leonhart at The Pheasantry

All of you who retain fond memories of Weber & Fields, Wheeler & Woolsey, two-a-day for Keith and such could have done worse than...

Frank Sinatra: Four Classic Albums Plus

Only an amoeba with learning difficulties might claim Three Coins In The Fountain and Old MacDonald as classics, but still, it's Sinatra
- Advertisement -