Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

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

Thursday, August 23, 2012

CD Review: Nina Simone Collector Edition.

(Review by Lance.)
Now  this  is  what  I call a classic! 19 tracks by one of the most versatile (insert your own genre)  performers  both as a singer and a pianist as well as a civil rights activist. My Baby Just Cares For Me - what pianist hasn't tried   to   emulate  Simone's  intro  and  solo?  Big  band  backing  for  a Stomping  at  the  Savoy  that draws comparison with Ella's version and loses  nothing  by  it. You've Been Gone Too Long has some scintillating, unidentified  but  vaguely familiar, trumpet work. The voice digs deep into pain  and  sorrow  on  Gin  House  Blues,  Wild  is  the  Wind, I'll Look Around, and Blue Prelude.

The jaunty I Love To Love, the wistful Where Can I Go Without You? Just Say I Love Him has more angst as well as a delightful piano introduction and some plaintive guitar lines intertwining with the vocal.
Forbidden Fruit a rockin' take on the scenario in the Garden of Eden that is an absolute hoot! Exactly Like You - laid back vocal and piano solo from one of several live performances.
The Other Woman is one of the most evocative songs ever written. Written, not surprisingly, by a woman, Jesse Mae Robinson, Simone injects the feeling the lyricist intended and maybe one or both were singing/writing from experience... Billie's Fine and Mellow is followed by Summertime as an instrumental and then again as a vocal that really does suggest that the living is easy and a piano accompaniment that builds up to a tremendous climax before easing off to let the voice draw it to a gentle close.
When Nina Simone left us in 2003 we said goodbye to one of the great voices.
Nina Simone Collector is released by Warner International on Sept. 10, 2012. - Samples.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive