Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: 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 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

CD Review: Filipe Monteiro - In Bad Company.

Filipe Monteiro (gtr); Roberto Manzin (ten/sax/clt); Sam Leak (pno); Fergus Ireland (bs); Callum Armstrong (bagpipes); Lewis Wright (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
Let me make this clear - this disc has nothing to do with the rock band Bad Company! It's far too good for that. However, I could see the name being a deterrent to the right customer and an attraction to the wrong one!
The CD is Monteiro's first album and it is an impressive début. Drawing on his memories of living in a small village nestled in the Italian Alps, moving around Europe and Canada, settling in London in 2005 and, of course, his affinity with Brazil. The all but one self-penned compositions create an aura of beauty that reflects in the music. The inclusion of bagpipes may cause a few quizzical eyebrows to be raised but the pipes are not intrusive and contribute greatly to the one track where they are featured.
As well as his compositional skills, Monteiro is no mean guitar player, displaying a wealth of ideas in solos that abound in lyricism. 
Reed-player Manzin has a prodigious technique that he utilises effectively on tenor, soprano and clarinet. On the non-original - Mingus' Duke Ellington Sound - the tenor is full and round with an almost Websterian sensuousness and guitar and tenor combine well in the ensembles. And how about that clarinet on Missing Home? About time we had some new liquorice and this is very tasty liquorice indeed! Some nice piano from Sam Leak on the Mingus piece
Leak, in fact, is a tower of strength throughout and bass and drums gel helping to make this an album to delve into time and time again.
Filipe Monteiro: In Bad Company was released earlier this year. To obtain a copy check here.
Lance.

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