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Bebop Spoken There

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

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

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

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.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

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: Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows

Joshua Redman (ten/sop); Brad Meldhau (pno); Larry Greanadier (bs); Brian Blade (dms) + orchestra conducted by Dan Coleman.
(Review by Lance).
I suppose it's the jazz musicians equivalent of the comedian who wants to play Hamlet but, eventually, just about all the big names get around to it - recording with strings. Bird, Chet, Clifford Brown, Bobby Hackett, Stan Getz have all had a crack at it and, by and large, the results have been better than the often derogatory reviews by the critics would suggest. At their worst, they are still pleasant and easy to listen to. At their best (e.g. Parker's Just Friends; Getz's Focus album) they add to the artists' pension pot.
Joshua Redman's Walking Shadows falls into the latter category.
A mix of quartet and orchestral settings, Joshua produces the magic that inspired the late Chris Yates to vote for Redman's appearance at the 2009 GIJF as his gig of the year.
A beautiful choice of material ranging from tried and tested standards such as The Folks Who Live on the Hill; Lush Life; Easy Living and Stardust. Contemporary material viz Shorter's Infant Eyes; Beatles' Let it Be; Stop This Train (John Mayer) plus originals by Redman and Meldhau and Adagio by a chap who goes by the name of J.S.Bach.
As well as playing piano - very much in the background - Meldhau produced the album and also did some arranging. The other arrangers were Dan Coleman, Patrick Zimmerli and Redman.
This is such a lovely album, you could use it as a background to seduction although the other person would have to be something special to entice you away from the beautiful sound Redman gets from both tenor and soprano. Best bet is to listen to it without distraction - tell the boy/girl friend to come round tomorrow, or maybe next week or maybe never. That's how good it is!
Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows is released by Nonesuch on May 6, 2013.
Redman can also be heard at Wigmore Hall, London, on May 11 in a duo recital with bassist Christian McBride.
Lance.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

maybe next week or maybe never - that's quite a statement. he'd better have something to offer on his album to justify suggestions like this.
and about that duo recital, are there any chances for tickets to come up? seems like none for sale

Lance said...

I've checked the Wigmore Hall site out and returns are the only hope. Ring 01207 9352141.
And yes, I like the album very much!

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