Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

CD Review: Colorado Conservatory For the Jazz Artist - Hang Time

Group Giz:  Kyle Bollacker (bs); Stephen Chen (alt0; Garrett Bodley (ten); Michael Lenssen, Christopher Navarrete (tpt); Robert Delgardo (dms); Zack Demos (tmb); Carlos Snaider (gtr).
Group Gunn: Molly Sauer (tpt); Daryl Gott (alt); Danny Meyer (ten0; Mark Clifford (vbs); Jake Alvarez (gtr); Patrick McDevitt (bs); Alejandro Castano (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Two groups based at the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts offer a taste of the Jazz Future and, it has to be said, based on this CD the future looks good.
Or does it?
Musicians of similar calibre are rolling off production lines all over the world and this is but one state in the USA and there are another 49 of them! Add the number of great musicians rolling out of Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Doncaster, London and many other of our major cities and the question marks arise. Think Europe, Asia and Australia then the numbers become astronomical. Yet the gigs and venues aren't increasing in proportion. My hope is that those guys who don't quite make it become promoters, agents, open jazz clubs, concert halls or places where jazz can be heard!
Having said that, the musicians on this disc are superb. 
The two ensembles are mentored by Greg Gisbert, a widely admired trumpet player associated with many albums, and Eric Gunnison, a pianist who's worked with Carmen McRae and the Dizzy Gillespie all-Star Big Band.
Both groups cover a multi genre program - swing, bop, post bop, funk, Latin and one or two more.
It's a disc to listen to over and over again to catch all the nuances of these young players.
The foot note to the release says "Yet more hard evidence that jazz is still issuing a siren' call to young players, and that the music remains brimming with promise."
I agree with most of that. Young musicians are drawn to the challenges and ultimate satisfaction of playing jazz. Sadly, the non playing youngsters are less enthusiastic. That's the challenge - to encourage young people who don't play to listen to those that do play.
The CD: Colorado Conservatory For the Jazz Artist - Hang Time ia available now on Capri Records.
Lance.


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