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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

R.I.P CHRIS CONNOR

One of my all-time favourite singers died August 29 aged 81. From first hearing her with Kenton in the 1950s I have been a fan and, although I only heard her live on one occasion - in Holland 1983 - her discs have never been far from the player. The last one I have was recorded at Pizza-on-the-Park in 1990 and the voice and the delivery are still there.
Chris personified the dry, laconic, cool vocalist but, unlike June Christy with whom Chris was often compared, she also had a warmth to her voice that June sometimes lacked. This isn't a criticism of Christy - I liked them both but, for me, Chris had the edge. Her influence is evident today in the current crop of singers.
"All About Ronnie", "I Hear Music", "Lush Life", "Blame It On My Youth" - even "And The Bull Walked Around Olay" (with Kenton) - are class with a capital C.
There's a wonderful collection of Gershwin songs on Spotify - 'Chris Connor Sings the Gershwin Almanac of Songs' that stands comparision with any other singer's songbooks.
I'm so sad. Rest in peace Chris.
Visit http://www.chrisconnorjazz.com/ photos, audio samples, discog. etc.
Above photo taken in 1983 at North Sea Jazz Festival, Den Haag, Holland.
Lance.
at

2 comments :

shepherdlass said...

I'm in total agreement about Chris Connor's wonderful singing style, and my favourite album of hers was an Atlantic called "A Jazz Date With Chris Connor", with British pianist Ralph Sharon (before he joined Tony Bennett) and Oscar Pettiford on bass. In fact Oscar gets a name-check on "Everything I've Got (Belongs To You") when Chris sings, "Ive got the only disc where Oscar flubs a note . . .". Great stuff, total class. Dave The Rave (Take It To The Bridge)

Tuesday, September 01, 2009 2:22:00 pm
Jason said...

I have been a Chris Connor fan for 9 years. I collect her music and memorabilia and have some live performances not available commercially. Am seeking any photos of Chris with the Jerry Wald and Claude THornhill bands. I especially enjoy Chris on Pennies From Heaven w/Jerry Wald and Jeepers Creepers w/Stan Kenton. Am saddened by her passing, but she will ALWAYS live on in our hearts with her music.

Friday, September 04, 2009 10:11:00 pm

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