Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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

October.

Tue 27: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest Julija Jacenaite.
Tue 27: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thursday, February 28, 2013

CD Review: In The Country – Sunrise Sunset

Morten Qvenild (Piano); Roger Arntzen ; (Bass); Pal Hausken (Drums)
(Review by Steve).
 Nordic culture is currently enjoying a high profile through  the mediums of Films TV  and Literature. We should also add Nordic Jazz to this burgeoning  cultural  list Jan Garbarek and  Esbjorn Svensson  are perhaps the most established artists of  this genre but this Norwegian Trio ‘In the Country’ are a welcome addition to this growing artistic smorgasbord.
This album is recognisably  Northern European  minimalist, intense, almost modern classical at times able to evoke the Nordic landscape and all its elements..
The CD starts off in a sombre minimalist mode  with Birch Song  and  Derrick I was worried at first that I might be in one of those Norwegian days comprising of 24 hours of darkness. These early tracks however set one up nicely for the oddly named Stanley Park  which starts softly but then really begins to crank it up with some rousing ensemble work before ending  with  a mellow Jarrettesque  piano solo. The next track Silverspring is back to the  minimalist atmospheric style of the earlier  pieces. This is followed by Steelpants which could quite easily be part of a Star Trek soundtrack  with it’s Sci Fi feel. The Fluke a WhalesTail is a sensitive melodic piece which leads nicely into the title track  and for me highlight of the album Sunrise Sunset. The piece starts off slowly as one imagines the sun setting it then  drives furiously to an exhilarating  climax then once the sun has risen subsides returning to a relaxing coda of peace and tranquillity. The album concludes appropriately with December’s Song a dark moody piece signalling  that winter is well and truly with us.
All of this trio display great technique, subtly and sensitivity throughout and the experience is enhanced with the clever use of electronics to create effects such as wind waves and even the dawn chorus.
This may not be an album to party to (unless all your friends are Goths) but it’s certainly a great album to listen to whilst contemplating the world around us and its challenges awaiting.
In the Country - Sunrise Sunset is released on March 11, 2013. 
Steve.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive