Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Friday, November 23, 2012

CD Review: Modern Jazz Quartet - Original Album Series.

John Lewis (pno); Milt Jackson (vbs); Percy Heath (bs); Connie Kay (dms). + Jimmy Giuffre Three,  Beaux Arts String Quartet.
(Review by Lance.)
Another release in Warner Jazz's Original Album Series this time featuring five albums by the MJQ from the early 1960s. I've always viewed the Modern Jazz Quartet with reservations. When they get it right they are on the money and on The Sheriff and Pyramid they do just that. Jackson's vibes are always a delight - a cool mint julep on a sunny day. Lewis, economical, never a note out of place with a very melodic side to his playing - the guiding light. Strangely enough, I think Lewis would also have made a good vibes player. Heath and Kay provide the solid foundation beneath it all.
Lonely Woman is as enigmatic as the title. The four musicians maintain the same high standards but, at times, the tempos drag a little for my own personal taste. Still, I suppose, if you title an album Lonely woman it would be a bit much to expect an up-tempo romp!
The Modern Jazz Quartet & Orchestra  says it all - MJQ with an orchestra. At time pretentious, at other times, quietly swinging, blues tinged jazz with Lewis or Jackson fighting to overcome the orchestration and, to be fair, they usually do. Listening to this one for a second time I have to admit the arrangements - presumably by Lewis (the original LP sleeve has been condensed to CD size meaning it would take a Jodrell Bank telescope to amplify it to readable proportions) don't get too much in the way of the soloists.
However, Third Stream Music/The Modern Jazz Quartet & Guests; The Jimmy Giuffre Three & The Beaux Arts String Quartet is pretension personified. This one didn't cut it for me. Still 4 out 5 isn't a bad deal - you can always use the latter disc as a coaster and the other 4 are well worth the moolah.
Modern Jazz Quartet - Original Album Series is released on December 10, 2012.
Lance.
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