Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,066 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 930 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 31) 109.

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

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: An Evening of Erykah Badu @ Holy GrAle, Durham. 7:30pm. £3.00.; £2.50. A Durham University Jazz Society event.
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 05: Hejira - Celebrating Joni Mitchell @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Thu 05: Cut Capers @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors).
Thu 05: Northern Reaches @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations). Pete Tanton, Joe Steels, Laurence Blackadder, John Hirst.
Thu 05: Fergus McCreadie @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 06: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 1/3.
Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Jazz Night: Bridget Metcalfe @ Saltburn House Hotel. From 6:00pm. Tickets: £40.00 (inc. a two-course meal & glass of Prosecco). Tel: 01287 658977.

Sat 07: Mike Durham’s International Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel, West Allotment. 12 noon. Day 2/3.
Sat 07: Ewan Bleach’s Cable Street Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington.
12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Superb band.
Sat 07: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 6:00pm.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

CD Review: Thought Fox – My Guess

Lauren Kinsella – voice; Colm O’Hara – trombone; Tom Gibbs- piano; Mick Coady – double bass; Simon Roth – drums
Diatribe Records DIACDO13. UK Release May 6, 2013
(Review by Debra M.)
Coincidently following on from the recent Jazz Words at the GIJF, a session devoted to poetry and Jazz, is the UK launch of debut CD from Thought Fox , a band which takes its  name and inspiration from a Ted Hughes’ poem.
The 5 piece ensemble, led by London based, Irish vocalist and composer Lauren Kinsella, emerged a few years ago, winning   the Music Network Young Musicwide  Award 2010 - 2013.
A central feature of their music is the close link between Kinsella’s instrumental vocal lines with Colm O’Hara’s trombone, either in harmony or an octave apart, where the warm low toned  horn compliments her light supple voice.  Throughout the album there is extensive improvisation, some of it  free form,  which returns to a melody or groove, often separated by distinct changes in  time or dynamic. This is particularly effective in Malin’s Chai, which begins with the trio in 5 time,  who are  joined by trombone & vocal, and then takes  an abrupt change in mood and tempo, with  dreamy lyrics, sung with  sinuous notes & some gorgeous vocal intervals. The band then reverts to the initial groove, with solos from piano and trombone, changing back for the lyrical interlude.
The first track Nightlight also works particularly well, opening with a funereal bass and piano, which progresses to a spacious ensemble  improvisation, evoking a late night sound scape. In several of the tracks Kinsella scats with peculiar, Scandinavian-like sounds, possibly an influence of her time spent in Sweden.  Her lyrics can be poetic and insightful, for instance in Arrival / Departure - “What are these strange lives,…what is this strange place?”- a song apparently about the bewilderment of a new born  encountering the world.  Colm O’Hara is an ideal foil in this project, and he plays a number of understated, absorbing solos. There are also excellent contributions from Tom Gibbs on piano, Mick Coady on double bass & Simon Roth on drums.
Thought Fox have shown they are worthy award winners with this intriguing debut album. The UK launch is on May 8 at The Vortex in London.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQ8FE5C9BY   Video of Prime of Life by Thought Fox
Debra M.
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