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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

A Brace of Albums from Satoko Fujii - Time Stands Still & Spring Storm.

(Review by Steve H)
Satoko Fujii is a Japanese classically trained avant garde pianist, multi bandleader and composer and that information is probably enough for you to decide whether you will enjoy these CD’s or not. However if you are willing to give  ‘Free Jazz’ a go then I'm sure you will get a lot out of these fascinating and intricate discs.
MA-DO – Time Stands Still
Satoko Fujii (Piano); Natuski Tamura (Trumpet); Norikatsu Koreyasu(Bass); Akira Horikoshi (Drums)
Due to the untimely death at the age of 56 of bass player Norikatsu Koreyasu this is the quartet’s third and final album. Many of the titles bear a relationship to time making the album even more of a poignant memorial to the late bassist. 
Setting off with Fortitude this has a scratching bass intro before other instruments join in, shrill trumpet from Tamura (Fujii’s husband) and then wild discordant piano playing from Fujii gets the whole thing going. North  Wind and the Sun starts atmospherically before a very lively trumpet solo takes it out. It then moves into a surprisingly melodic and tuneful section before  Fujii  erupts with another wild solo and concludes with some ferocious ensemble playing.
Time Flies is a showcase for the drumming of Horikoshi. Rolling Around is a slow short gentle minimalist number with a wolf like feel to it. Set The Clock Back is trumpet led with some very wistful bass from the late Koreyasu. Broken Time is a slow burner which proceeds into an exhilarating thrash followed by a quiet gentle passage before  ending on a booming high. Time stands Still is a very sad haunting and touching conclusion to not only this album but also to the recording career of this fine quartet.

Satoko Fujii New Trio  - Spring Storm
Satoko Fujii ( Piano);Todd Nicholson(Bass);Takshi Itani (Drums)
Spring Storm is the trio’s debut album.
This album kicks off the title song Spring Storm a  slow, quiet, mellow, classical piano solo before bass and drums join in as the tempo and the volume increases. It seems to change tack just about halfway through with a more gentle almost melodic section before progressing to some high tempo rousing activity by the ensemble. Convection  has a plucked bass intro leading into some  rumbling up tempo piano before progressing into a 100 mph gallop.
 Fuki sees Fujii playing wildly and exhilaratingly whilst her partners interject with subtle additions climaxing with a raging drum solo. Next up is the oddly named Whirlwind  as this is the  least ‘stormy’ track on the album! Maebure the longest piece features Nicholson on a long, mournful, bowed bass introduction before  Fujii and Itani burst in giving us a driving tour de force. The mood than changes once again and the song subsides to a melancholy close. The album concludes with Tremble.  An andante piano  piece accompanied by some very complimentary cymbal work by Itani.
If you’re looking for Summertime this album ain’t going to do it for you but Spring Storm is an interesting, enjoyable and worthwhile listen.
Steve H.


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