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Bebop Spoken There

Danny Gatton: "I was tired of playing in beer joints. I wanted to do something tangible like building cars. But once you do music it gets into your blood. You can get away from it for awhile but sooner or later it comes back to you." - (Down Beat April 1991).

Tal Farlow: "There were times when I would stop [playing guitar] and do sign painting." - (Downbeat December 5, 1963)

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Today Wednesday August 23

Afternoon
Vieux Carre Jazzmen - Crescent Club, 1 Hudleston, Cullercoats NE30 3OS. 1pm. Free.
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Evening.
New Orleans Jazz at the Village Hall - Springwell Village Community Venue, Fell Rd., Gateshead NE9 7RP. 8:15pm. £3.
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Take it to the Bridge - The Globe, 11 Railway St., Newcastle NE4 7AD. £1. 8pm.
Billy's Acoustic Blues - Billy Bootleggers, 28 Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free (weekly).
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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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