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185 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.

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...

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...
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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

Frank Griffith writes of swing

After working with such as John Dankworth and Tina May, the Oregon-born saxophonist now prefers composing and arranging to playing

Anita O’Day: Sings For Oscar

O'Day's 1957 set with Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis and Ray Brown is reissued with Pick Yourself Up With Anita O’Day and a bonus track

Modern Jazz Quartet: Pyramid

The quartet's 1959 album Pyramids is paired with Patterns, containing MJQ readings of John Lewis's score for the film Odds Against Tomorrow
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Ella Fitzgerald: Sings The Cole Porter Songbook

Double-CD reissue of the first of the singer's celebrated song-book albums adds a bonus track, rare photos and updated liner notes

Nat “King” Cole: Cole Español – Greatest Hits

The greatest hits in question are from the bland Latin-pop albums Cole recorded 1959-1962, with little jazz content or musical interest

A Couple Of Swells: Liza Pulman & Joe Stilgoe at Cadogan Hall, London

The piano and vocal duo were as polished as a Brylcreem ad in Picture Post as they gave entertaining readings of classic show tunes

Grace Kelly With Strings: At The Movies

Inspired by Charlie Parker With Strings, the American saxophonist plays music from films as various as High Society and E.T.
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