Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18621 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 485 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 14) 37

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

June

Tue 23: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 23: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 24: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 25: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 25: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Forgotten Ones & Any Quintets.
Thu 25: Edgar Ho Trio @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Brilliant alto sax, piano & double bass trio. Unmissable!
Thu 25: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 26: Finn-Keeble Group @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9:00.
Fri 26: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 26: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 26: Clark Tracey @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. £26.00. Day 1/2.

Sat 27: OUTRI @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £13.01. 1:00-1:45pm. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: House of the Black Gardenia + Magpies of Swing @ The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sat 27: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 2:15-3:15pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 3:45-4:45pm. £13.01. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2.
Sat 27: Rory Ingham @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 5:30-6:30pm. £19.51. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Ingham w. Dean Stockdale, Ian Paterson, Dave McKeague.
Sat 27: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 27: Laura Jurd @ Live Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £26.00. Newcastle Jazz Festival. Day 2/2. Sat 27: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

Sun 28: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 28: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: Tim Kliphuis Trio @ St Mary’s Church, Wooler. 3:00pm. £18.00., £6.00. A Wooler Arts Summer Concerts event. Tim Kliphuis (violin); Nigel Clark (guitar); Roy Percy (double bass).
Sun 28: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: An Evening of Jazz @ St James’ Church, Copper Chare, Morpeth. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 from 01670 788869 or 01670 519923. Mid Northumberland Chorus (MD Robin Forbes, Emma Straughan, piano) w. jazz trio featuring Edgar Ho, Oscar Ho & Dave McKeague & special guest Emily Masser. Performance inc. Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass + George Shearing’s Songs & Sonnets.
Sun 28: Led Bib @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.00., £12.00. JNE.

Mon 29: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Madeleine Peyroux

For those whose tastes lean towards the classier vocalists there is a program on Madeleine Peyroux on BBC 4 tonight at 10:30 and repeated later in the evening/morning.
Should be worth switching on the telly for.
Lance.
Later...
(There were actually two programmes)
The first program began really well as Madeleine and her mother described their early days living in Paris - they'd moved to France when Madeleine was 13. Talking of nights spent busking in the Latin Quarter or on the Paris Metro you could almost inhale the smoke from a discarded Gauloise or taste the dregs of a bottle of Absinthe. Great stuff.
Afterwards, the setting changed to the States and it became a bit more show businessy. We didn't get any real insight into her disappearances and unpredictable behaviour. Nevertheless, it is worth watching - it's on BBC iplayer.
The second program is a live concert in L.A. that I'm listening to as I type. I'm beginning to notice how samey everything is. A change of tempo would help but somehow, each tune sounds like the one before.
Having said that, it is still very pleasant and - damn! I've accidentally switched off the iplayer! I'll hear the rest tomorrow - or will I? I think I know what it will be like.
Lance.

6 comments :

Hil said...

Oh! thank you so much for alerting me to this Lance.
I have loved listening to Madeleine since I first heard her on Parky's radio programme. Now have all her albums. Unfortunately the only time I saw her being interviewed she was so reserved and shy the interview was quite embarrassing. That was a few years ago perhaps she has now overcome her shyness?
One of my favourite songs she sings is 'Dance me to the end of love' This was written by Leonard Cohen in 1984.
It is also the title of one of my favourite prints by Jack Vettriano.
Vettriano’s 'Dance Me To The End Of Love' depicts a couple in the foreground of the painting in full evening dress, and in the background another two couples can be seen waltzing. This painting has all the classic Vettriano characteristics - evoking a theme of classy elegance in times gone by. It can be seen (by prior appointment) hanging in my home.

Hilary ...;o)

Lance said...

It can be seen (by you) in my home anytime without appointment.
I have a book of Vettriano paintings that are really brilliant. I know the so-called art experts hate him but I love his work. I saw an exhibition of his in London a few years back and I was knocked out.
Edward Hopper's work has the same effect on me.

Liz said...

Yes I agree Lance..too samey. As much as I love her voice, and particularly the number that Hil mentioned " Dance me to the end of love" I would have prefered more variation
Liz

Hil said...

You know something guys I totally agree with you. I actually gave up on it before the end of the concert, as I was starting to nod off. This is the lady who earlier in the day was a big fan of hers.
There was no light and shade was there? everything sounded the same, slightly boring after awhile Excitement was lacking..safe lovely songs played by good musicians. When I listen to good jazz I like to think to myself, "wow how are they going to get out of this one?" You know when the wheel sounds as if its just about to come off? but it doesn't ..lol...
Still will play her cd's from time to time tho.

Hil.

p.s.
With apologies to all the musicians reading my inarticulate explanations of what jazz means to me, a non musician...;o)

I can almost hear my ex saying to me "you dont know what your talking about"

Lance said...

Mike wouldn't say that to you, would he Hil?
And Liz, nice to have you back on board - hope you are well.

Val D said...

I loved Madeleine's programmes last night Lance, and I love singing 'Dance me to the end of love' and yep I've got the print of Jack's picture I love his work too, I love the fact he is a rough diamond, with a sensual side to his art.
Val.

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