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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Monday, November 12, 2012

CD Review: Masha Campagne Like Water, Like Air


Masha Campagne (vocals); Guinga (acoustic guitar, spoken word); Hendrik Meurkens (vibes, harmonica); Weber Iago (piano, fender rhodes); Harvey Wainapel (bass clarinet, alto sax); Jeff Buenz (electric guitar, nylon string guitar); Dan Robbins acoustic and electric bass); Jason Lewis (drums); Michael Spiro (percussion); Guello (percussion).
(Review by Ann Alex).
I have a confession.  I was tempted to review this CD without listening to it!  I could maybe have got away with such a trick, because there are copious notes enclosed, including all the song lyrics, descriptions of how each song is performed in jazz-like language, and seven photos of the singer, one of poster size.  The only item missing was a photo of the instrumentalists, which I’d have liked.
I'm so glad I did listen to it, as it’s a happy, flowing collection of Latin-influenced jazz, sung well, with every word crystal clear, both in English and Spanish/Portuguese songs.  Not bad for a singer who was born in Moscow!  The lady is also a trained musician who studied piano and cello, and she has sung at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
So readers will understand if I quote from the notes.  It Could Happen To You starts us off with ‘infectiously groovy’ piano hooks and the singer’s tasteful phrasing and vocalise which is never overdone. Jobim’s Outra Vez gives us the bossa nova and solos from guitar and harmonica (yes, I did say harmonica), a small instrument with a big contribution to make.  There are four original numbers, including Campagne’s Broke But Rich, and this woman is no mean lyricist, for example:
Bake your bread, make your tea
Without a crave, without care
Be broke but rich at heart and free
Se E Tarde Me Perdoa has ‘lively syncopations from percussionist Michael Spiro matching Campagne’s effortless sense of timing’ and ‘solid altoism’ from the sax.  I was intrigued by the song Mystery Unwrapped as it could be about a one night stand, or a visit from a guardian angel.  Meukens ‘swaps comb for mallets’, which adds a fluid touch to the vibes.  My Heart Was Lost And Found For You is sung ‘with a smile in her voice’.
It seems to me that Latin jazz has a different quality from the more usual standards, which shows on this CD.  It’s jazz in the sunshine, even when it’s a sad song, and it is more likely to refer to birds, nature, and the sea.  Enjoy!
The CD was released recently on the Impetus Records Inc label.
Ann Alex      

1 comment :

Masha Campagne said...

Dear Ann, thank you for your amazing review! I'm happy you ventured into listening to my CD and made deep observations about lyrics and overall wistfully but happy quality of it! That was, indeed, my intention as an artist! All the best!

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