Jazz Preview: Don’t fret, guitar hero John is back for shows

John Etheridge, a victim of last November’s snowbound misery, returns to Yorkshire next week to complete two engagements which were cancelled five months ago.

John, a multi-faceted guitarist of whom Sting once said, “I never wanted to be a star – I wanted to be a highly respected musician like John Etheridge”, will appear with his Trio North at Scarborough Jazz on Wednesday and The Venue at Leeds College of Music on Thursday.

Trio North, completed by Yorkshire’s Ben Crosland on bass and Dave Tyas on drums, is now something of an institution, having made annual appearances in the region for 12 years.

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“I’m glad to complete the itinerary which was interrupted by the weather last year because it’s always a pleasure to work with Ben and Dave,” said John. His next assignment is a European tour with the Soft Machine reunion band. The flavour of his visits to Scarborough and Leeds, he says, will be “bluesy”.

Marlene VerPlanck brings her vocal elegance to Wakefield Jazz with a programme of classic songs , delivered with the style which is her hallmark. Lyrics are always in tasteful hands with Marlene, who had to cancel her engagement at Wakefield two years ago because of the illness of her husband Billy.

Sadly, Billy subsequently died but his influence survives in the arrangements he penned for his talented wife, who is making a UK tour.

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