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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Thursday, September 26, 2013

CD Review: Blue Touch Paper - Drawing Breath.

Colin Towns (keys); Chris Montague (gtrs); Edward Maclean (bs); Benny Greb (dms); Stephan Maass (perc/electronics); Mark Lockheart (ten/sop).
(Review by Lance).
I'm not certain if this is a giant piss* take or the greatest jazz record of the past 12 months! Upon reflection probably somewhere in between.
All the compositions are by Towns. As the blurb says, "His CV is a staggering list of achievements including the soundtrack for the tv series Doc Martin. The good doctor isn't represented on these tracks - at least for the sake of his patients I hope he isn't!
This is one of those records you can love or hate in equal measures although, I'm pleased to say I go along mainly with the former sentiment. There is the occasional "pet shop moment" but not enough to mar an otherwise compelling disc. In many ways it reminds me of the kick I got when I first heard Westbrook's Release or some of Mingus' more outré outings. It has the same cheeky disrespect for authority whilst maintaining the essential sound of surprise. The genres intermingle in a quirky and yet effective sort of way with the soloists going with the flow and sometimes off on a tangent but always coming back to port although not necessarily the harbour they set off from. 
The soloists are brilliantly infused in this magnificent madness. The charts make Kenton's City of Glass seem like Moonlight Serenade. Fair is Foul, from Macbeth (W. Shakespeare) has an ethereal witches choir sharing the blasted heath with Lockheart's soprano - oh brave heart!
Watch Out begin's with a Cream-like riff booted along by Greb's drums. The title track is a plaintive, compulsive wail that has Gateshead lad Montague taking a rocky road to, seemingly, Armageddon and maybe jumping a few traffic lights on the way before cooling off and going for a pizza - it's what you do in Gateshead.
Could this be my "Road to Damascus?" Well I sure ain't going to Damascus tomorrow but. metaphorically speaking let's say I'm but a slingshot away.
It took two years in the making and more than 60 demo tracks but for this listener it was well worth the hubble, bubble, toil and trouble.
*Giant piss take? After several listenings, definitely not - love it.
The Cd  Blue Touch Paper - Drawing Breath. will be released on Oct. 14 on Provocateur Records
Lance.
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