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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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, September 05, 2012

CD Review – Kurt Elling 1619 Broadway, The Brill Building Project.

Kurt Elling (vocal); Probably Laurence Hobgood (Keys/Arranger); ? (Sax); Ulysses Owen Jnr. (Drums); John McLean (Electric Guitar); Clark Sommer (Bass).
(Review by Ann Alex).
This CD, release date 1st October 2012, features (I quote) renditions of classic songs that came out of the Brill Building (Manhattan), from an array of renowned songwriters including Burt Bacharach, Paul Simon, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and Carole King. Indeed, it was in the Brill Building that Bacharach met the lyricist Hal David who passed away last week. A House is Not a Home was one of the many hits the duo wrote and it is sung in Elling’s distinctive style.

Details of the musicians are not given in the Promo CD insert, so I’m taking an educated guess on the above listing, but they do a good job, whoever they are, working on eleven fine songs, such as On Broadway; I Only Have Eyes For You; and Paul Simon’s warts-and-all hymn to America,  American Tune.  The project deliberately avoided including songs by those composers who usually appear on jazz albums, such as Gershwin or Cole Porter.
The opening track, On Broadway, with its theatrical spoken introduction, has effective bass and drums (the drums predominate throughout) with a cool-sounding electric guitar solo.  Other tracks show the keys to good effect, rippling and weaving on You Send Me, or sensitively accompanying the voice on American Tune.  Sax and bass solos do their stuff well and on the last track, Tootie for Cootie, the musicians produce something of a ‘big band feel’, which contrasts nicely with the lonely ‘New York’ feel of earlier tracks.
But I have to confess that I have problems listening to Elling.  Whilst his song interpretations really are innovative, I feel that he has moved somewhat too far away from the original tune.  He didn’t sing the ‘straight’ melody to many of the songs at all.  One can argue that jazz is all about improvisation, but the listener needs to hear what is being improvised upon to some extent, so that there is a reference point.  Others may find that Elling’s style of improvisation is more to their taste, but I found his style vaguely irritating. I much preferred him when he adopted a more straightforward style such as he used for American Tune, or when doing the swingy version of I’m Satisfied.
This is a CD which, whilst it gave me a mixed musical experience, will no doubt be seized upon by his legions of fans and probably gain him a tenth Grammy nomination – so what do I know?.
Ann Alex   
Kurt Elling: 1619 Broadway, The Brill Building Project -  Released Oct. 1.

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