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Bebop Spoken There

Ben Pollack: "The kind of people who go for the old style New Orleans jazz are the same kind of people who go in for collecting antiques." - (Down Beat May 5, 1950).

Flip Phillips: "I heard this band out in California. I think - Lu Waters, isn't it? They sure can march down the street but I wouldn't want to march with them!" - (Down Beat June 15, 1951).

Number 24

Bebop Spoken Here is currently listed at number 24 (-2) in the WORLD JAZZ BLOG Rankings!

Today Saturday June 24

Afternoon
Tyne Valley Big Band - Haydon Bridge Festival, Low Hall Park, Haydon Bridge NE47 6AE. £10. TVBB on at 5:15pm.
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Northern Monkey Brass Band - Orange Pip Market, Baker St., Middlesbrough. 5:15pm.
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Evening
Alan Law (solo piano) - Cherry Tree, 9 Osborne Rd., Jesmond, Newcastle NE22 2AE. 7:30pm. No cover charge.
Koan 5, Renewal - The Globe, 11 Railway St., Newcastle NE4 7AD. 7:45pm. £5 (£4 conc.).
Miles of Barbed Wire - Billy Bootleggers, 28 Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free.
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Revolutionaires + Jay Burt -Amphitheatre, Sea Rd., South Shields NE33 2LD. 7pm. Free.
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Nick Ross Orchestra - Consett Empire, Front St., Consett. 7:30pm.
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No Time For Jive - The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham NE46 3QD. 8pm. Free.
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

CD Review: Joe Lovano UsFive - Cross Culture.

Joe Lovano (tenor, G mezzo Sop., tarogato, aulochrome + various ethnic instruments); Lionel Louke (gtr); James Weidman (pno); Esperanza Spalding/Peter Slavov (bs); Otis Brown III, Francisco Mela (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
This Blue Note release is a living endorsement of the labels motto The finest in jazz since 1939. This has all the elements of those classic '50s sessions by Mobley, Blakey, Turrentine, Byrd and co. albeit in a more contemporary vein.
Ten originals by Lovano and a sumptuous reading of Strayhorn's Star Crossed Lovers (Romeo and Juliet) - Such Sweet Thunder indeed. 
As well as tenor, Lovano plays G mezzo soprano which I take to be a minor 3rd below the normal Bb sop? Correct me if I'm wrong. It seems to have a mellower sound than the the normal sop., tarogato and aulochrome. This latter instrument is fascinating. It comprises two sopranos joined together with two mouthpieces but a single fingering system which operates both sets of keys - imagine if Roland Kirk had got hold of one of these!
However, it is on Royal Roost, where Joe Lovano blows contemporary bop tenor, that he delivers the killer blow.
It could be said that Lovano, Redman and Rollins are the last of the tenor titans. For me, Lovano's wonderful dry sound edges it.
Not that this is just about the saxman - how could it be with Lionel Loueke on guitar? The West African slots in nicely as part front-line/part rhythm section and super soloist.
Weidman on piano is excellent and the two drummers play as one. Because the liner notes are indecipherable (dull yellow on black) to any one whose vision is less than 20:20, I'm unable to say which bassist plays on which tracks although I did manage to pick up that Spalding plays on four and with Slavov on one.
That apart, a terrific CD that is currently my front runner.
Joe Lovano UsFive - Cross Culture is released by Blue Note on February 25.
Lance.

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1 comment :

  1. Spalding - tracks 1,5,8,10
    Slavov - tracks 2,3,4,8,9,11

    ReplyDelete

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About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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