Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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

Sunday, February 17, 2013

CD Review: Vo-Duo - Nou La

Monvelyno Alexis – Guitar/Vocals; Markus Schwartz – Percussion
(Review by Steve)
Nou La is the first album by Vo-Duo and draws on the traditional Haitian Voodoo tradition for it’s content both lyrically and musically. All songs are sung in local language Kreyol although helpfully the liner notes translate all the lyrics into English. The practice of Voodoo in Haiti originates from the time of West African enslavement  and in the past this album may have been labelled patronisingly as World music but this is Afro-Haitian Jazz.
  Monvelyno Alexis was born in Haiti and is a student of folk arts besides being a poet and mult talented musician.  Schwartz born in Denmark has practiced the art of Haitian drumming for over 20 years. The pair came together after meeting in New York’s Jazz scene and recorded this album in Brooklyn last year.
The album begins with an a cappella track Bonjou welcoming us all to Vo-Duo. The second track Alegba Gran Chemin has a real jazz feel to it and is a call to the spirits for help for the struggling country Haiti. The next song Pale Mal (Bad Talk) is a sweet rhythmic rolling tune with great backing harmonies from Schwartz. This is followed by Kouzen a sad song with moving vocals and great jazzy guitar from Alexis. Track 5 Wongol is  a soft melodic number lamenting that ‘the spirit’ has left and Haiti is now damaged.  This is followed by Frelele (The Struggle)  again focusing on the hardships befallen Haiti and features some almost scat like vocals towards the end of the track. Simbi Makaya is more up tempo with a recognisable Jazz guitar feel and deals with the magical spirit as it enters the cemetery. The penultimate song Zilibo is a lively song with a great beat. The final number Gede Man Lajan  a song about the spirits helping to rebuild the country and has some really mellow vocals from Alexis accompanied by sympathetic percussion from Schwartz.
This is a passionate and moving album focusing on a country that has been ravaged by many disasters but  although the content is heavy the music is bright, rhythmic and full of hope for the future.
Steve.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Very good review Steve! Thanks.

Blog Archive