Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Simon Spillett: A lovely review from the dean of jazz bloggers, Lance Liddle...

Josh Weir: I love the writing on bebop spoken here... I think the work you are doing is amazing.

Postage

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Mon 23: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 4:00pm. Free.
Mon 23: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Mon 23: Milne-Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

CD Review: Claudio Scolari – Synthesis (CSMD05)


(Review by Wes.)
I can’t say that I’m particularly familiar with the Jazz scene in Rome and what’s happening there but if the new album “Synthesis” by Claudio Scolari, his son Simone and Daniele Cavalca is anything to go by then it sounds like it’s pretty healthy right now. This is certainly one of the more interesting CD’s that I have been given recently for review.

The album features 7 tracks in total and manages to very effectively fuse the instruments we would traditionally associate with Jazz such as Trumpet, Piano, Bass and Drums along with Electronics and the lovely organic sound of the Melodica, there’s even some Vibraphone and Flute in there for good measure. I’ve always been a big fan of the Melodica and to hear it within a swinging modern Jazz context is really refreshing and helps to elevate this album, to bring it into it’s own and give the music it’s own sense of identity.
Like the best Jazz albums “Synthesis” seems to balance very accordingly part composition and part improvisation to maintain both stability whilst retaining the playful and magical edge that comes with true reactionary improvised music. Similarly the artwork for the album whilst being by no means original does suit the recordings very well featuring a gathering of birds, some of which remain static and solid perched on a tree or telegraph wire whilst others fly free in the air, there is something very simple or should I say refined about this incredibly accomplished music and it’s presentation.
Stylistically there isn’t really a way to pin point what’s happening here which is part of the beauty, it’s modern and it’s most definitely Jazz!… and somewhere in their you’ll find slices of Be-Bop, Freeform, Classical and a distinctive Italian edge, there’s a warmth.
Track 5 “Fragments Of Autumn” for me stands out in particular, it has a great hook and flows so lovely with a great mesh of sounds to prick up your ears. The albums conclusion “Hymn of the Inventions” is also well worthy of a mention, a long ethereal trip built around the Melodica.
This album is released by Principal Records and you can find out more at www.claudioscolari.com
Wesley Stephenson

No comments :

Blog Archive