Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Friday, June 03, 2011

CD Review: Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody - Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola (gtrs, perc, keys); Fausto Bercallossi (acc); Kevin Seddiki (2nd gtr); Gumbi Ortiz (perc); Peter Kaszas (perc, kit); Victor Miranda (upright acc baby bass.)
Guests: Charlie Haden (bs); Peter Erskine (dms);Gonzalo Rubalcaba (pno); Barry Miles (string arrangements, keys); Mino Cinelu (perc).
Sturcz String Quartet.
A glimpse at the title and I groaned - more pretentious crap!
How wrong can you be?
The World Sinfonia Band, as the name implies, is a divers mix of many elements. Flamenco, tango, cajun, folk, rock, gypsy yet the jazz feeling is never far away underwriting the many modes with a rhythmic intensity and demonstrated by guitarist Di Meola's virtuosic improvisations. From the opening bars of Siberiana on to that track's turbulant finale I was hooked. The many mood swings of the album kept my attention throughout. Apart from Di Meola who shines through on both acoustic and electric guitars there is some fine 'left bank' accordion playing from Bercallossi. Most of the pieces are Di Meola originals. Full Frontal Contrapuntal has some chops-busting unisons and intricate exchanges between Di Meola's MIDI-tinged acoustic and Bercallossi's accordion. Bona, with the Sturcz String Quartet is sumptuous, relaxed and lyrical The two non-originals, Strawberry Fields and Over The Rainbow, bring in the 'liberated' Charlie Haden. Despite the former being an unlikely jazz vehicle and the latter one of those 'do I really need another version?' tunes they both work - each with a lovely, melodic, late night feel to Di Meola's interpretation. Truly compelling stuff. I'd say catch them where you can but, as the only UK date of their European tour - sandwiched between gigs in Beirut and Vienna - is at Union Chapel, London it might involve a little travelling! Lance. Al Di Meola World Sinfonia Band PURSUIT of RADICAL RHAPSODY - a Telarc recording.
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1 comment :

Jazz Album said...

I know that this album is a true beauty. The combination of different genres of music on this album will have many happy listeners. Plus you have the guitar improvisations. Brilliant.

Saturday, June 04, 2011 3:02:00 am

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