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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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

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

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Night Lights

Those of us who are 'of a certain age' will probably remember listening to AFN - the American Forces Network in Europe - also The Voice of America Jazz Hour. This latter program was introduced by Willis Conover who was as cool and laid back as the AFN DJs were brash and hip.
The VOA programmes were announced as being "in special English" in other words spoken slowly with not too many long or unusual words. This was because of it being, in effect, an American propaganda program aimed at those countries who hadn't taken Uncle Sam into their hearts the way we in England have/had.
Political argument aside, Conover did play some wonderful music. I recall hearing Basie's "Li'l Darlin'", Art Pepper's "Jazz Me Blues", Ellington's Newport version of "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue", lot's of Brubeck and many more for the first time. Wonderful music and wonderful memories.
Which brings me to the point. An online program coming out of Indiana entitled "Night Lights" and hosted by David Brent Johnson has that same cool, laid back style about it. I've just listened to an hour of Sonny Clark reinforcing my belief that he should have been ranked amongst the forefront of modern pianists.
Check ithe station out for yourself http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/
Lance.
PS: Further to David B. Johnson's comment here is the link referred to for archived Conover program.

1 comment :

David B.Johnson said...

Lance,
Many, many thanks for the mention of Night Lights on your Bebop Spoken Here blog. Born too late (and too stateside) to have ever heard Conover in his prime, I'm nevertheless a huge fan and devoted a whole Night Lights program to him a couple of years ago; it includes excerpts from some broadcasts, an interview with his biographer, and some music associated with him (thanks to the jazz critic Doug Ramsey, who's been a tireless champion of Willis, I was even able to track down a copy of the 45 that he recorded with guitarist Charlie Byrd!). The program is archived for online listening here:

http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/conovers-comin-over-willis-conover-and-jazz-at-the-voice-of-america/

Much appreciation,

David

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