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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, July 27, 2013

CD Review: Shan Kenner - The Behaviour of Vibration

Shan Kenner (gtr); Albert Marques (pno); Ryan Berg (bs); Darrell Green (dms).
Yet another new set of names to me. There must be a million of them in The States and a fair number of them are trying to turn a buck in New York City which is where this quartet hails from. One wonders if there are enough fans around to sustain and support the many emerging artists.
I have my doubts and it would be a shame if this band didn't achieve more than passing recognition. 
Kenner is an impressive guitarist on both acoustic and electric. Unamplified, the Spanish influence is never far away with more than a suggestion of the great Classical and Flamenco players. On Electric we hear everything from Charlie Christian to John McLaughlin and quite a bit in between. Night and Day, one of only two non-originals, (Blue in Green is the other), is a fascinating track not only because of Kenner but.also the wonderful contribution of pianist Marques. Marques excels throughout bringing to mind Hank Jones on the more sedate numbers and a restrained Keith Jarrett on the less restrained numbers if that makes sense!
Berg and Green kick ass and the overall picture is of four guys looking to the future without forgetting the past.
The final track, Blue on Green, is for sitting in a Spanish Garden, perhaps sipping a glass of Jerez with a demure senora peeking provocatively over the top of a fluttering fan that she uses to cool herself whilst at the same time inflaming you. The senora smiles,  invites you to a moment of madness, a moment of sensuous pleasure. You accept and the record ends... but your life has just begun...
A fine album and a worthy successor to Kenner's debut album Brooklyn Sketches.which also contains a version of Blue in Green.
Lance.

4 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance, Great review. The Album is titled
"The Behavior of Vibration"
Your review has the words turned around in the title name.

Thanks

Lance said...

Whoops! Error corrected - eye test on Wednesday!

Anonymous said...

Blue in Green, I think (as opposed to Blue on Green).

Anonymous said...

Yes Blue in Green!
Certainly meditations "on" Blue in Green

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