Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

CD Review: Billy Cobham - Warner's Original Album Series.

(Review by Steve Horowitz.)
In 1973 after working with Miles Davis and being a founding member of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra Cobham formed his own Jazz Rock Funk Fusion band. This budget box series covers the five albums recorded between 1973 and 1975 and is a real treat for anyone who is either an aficionado of this genre or a drumoholic like myself.

Spectrum (1973) is Cobham’s debut album as band leader and features future Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Brolin and  Jan Hammer on keyboards. Not surprisingly this is the most rock orientated album in the collection.
The second album Crosswinds (1974) sees Cobham joined by guitarist John Abercrombie, the Brecker Brothers and George Duke on keyboards. The track The Pleasant Pheasant is Jazz Funk at its best with a great Michael Brecker tenor solo. The following track, Heather, featuring George Duke and Michael Brecker  is a beautiful ambient mellow piece.
Total Eclipse(1974) has George Duke replaced by Milcho Leviev on keyboards (first known to me as the piano player on the great Art Pepper album Blues for the Fishermen) Alex Blake is  on bass and there's some great trombone work by Glen Ferris and lots of raunchy guitar from Abercrombie plus the Breckers excel as usual. The final track Last Frontier encompasses a memorable drum solo by the great man.
Shabazz (1974) - recorded live - is full of mighty pumping fusion and great solo’s from the personnel featured in Total Eclipse.
The collection concludes with A Funky Thide of Sings (1975) and features John Scofield on guitar. This, as the title suggests, is the most funk orientated album but just as enjoyable as the others, there is even a Keith Jarrett composition, Sorcery to enjoy and a memorable extended drum solo on A Funky Kind of Thing. The album closes with a Leviev tune Moody Modes.  More jazzy and less funky with some great bass work by Alex Blake.
All in all a great collection with my own personal favourite being Crosswinds and of course a special mention must be made of Billy Cobham’s fabulous drumming throughout - a true master.
Billy Cobham - Warner's Original Album Series. Is released on Monday January 21, 2013.
Steve.
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