Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 14: NW FRQNC @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.00. Selina Albright, Gianni Vancini.
Wed 14: Jacob Egglestone Trio @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Friday, February 01, 2013

CD Review: Lisa Forkish - Bridges.

Lisa Forkish – vocals; Patrick Anseth – guitar; Paul Eastburn – bass; Carrie Jahde – drums; Cava Menzies – piano; Jon Schroder – cello; Aaron Saul – alto sax; Sarah Vela – backing vocals.
(Review by Debra).
Lisa Forkish is a young American vocalist based in Oakland, California. In her second album, Bridges, she has written and arranged 8 of the 12 tracks, largely exploring the theme of love, won and lost. ‘Unravelling’, a slow ballad, is the outstanding song, with a slow, soulful, heartfelt delivery, overlaid with delicate harmonies, and supported by sympathetic backing from guitar, double bass and drums. 
In songs such as ‘Cold Light of Day’ and ‘City of Bridges’ there is a Folk/Country feel, which becomes Rock-ier in the cover of Stephen Still’s ‘For What It’s Worth’. Forkish’s social conscience is evident  in ‘Solidarity’ (runner-up in Berklee’s Songwriting For Social Change contest – how American is that?), a well arranged song with an anthemic quality, which ends with a choral acapella.
The jazziest number is the self-penned ‘Fools in Love’, with slapping brushes and walking double bass, where Forkish relaxes with a bluesy vocal and some stylish scatting. However, in ‘No More Blues’  the seductive Latin lilt of Jobim is sacrificed for an almost marching style staccato rhythm, and the chance to swing is overlooked in ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, although the rhythmic arrangement provides the backdrop for some tasty solos and interchanges from drums, bass guitar and sax. The repertoire in this album certainly bridges a number of musical styles, and showcases Forkish’s voice and her ability to compose and arrange, but I’m not convinced that this sister can swing; her future success probably lies somewhere along the route taken by Karen Carpenter and KD Lang..
Debra.

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