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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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

Sunday, September 22, 2013

CD Review: Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict - It's All About The Groove

Jeff Benedict (alt); Dave Askren (gtr); John Belzaguy (bs); Ramon Banda (dms).
(Review by Lance)
Cool but not in a sanitised way, rather more of a groove which is what this albums all about. It's All About The Groove is a delicious mix of standards and originals by two great players supported by another two top notchers. Benedict's alto has a bright post Parker fluency that gets the enigmatic Nature Boy - even without words it's an enigmatic tune! - up and running, the enigma solved! Askren, is a lyrical guitarist. The pair combine to make Old Folks work over a Kansas City shuffle beat - now that's a groover's groove if ever there was one!
Monk's Mood is an artwork in balladry. Benedict soulful and sonorous, Askren expanding Monk's harmonic concept, making each chord, each solo flight another pastel to an already rich tapestry. Like Friends, based on Just friends, not surprisingly brings Bird to mind and the alto soars above the guitar like an eagle whilst the rhythm boys lay down a, quote: " funky half time swing groove" if you say so. Speak Low - swingin' up tempo - perfect for these guys who trade '8's with Banda before taking it out with such a relaxed swing it's impossible to credit how they can be so laid back and still play more notes than a racecourse bookie has in his satchel.
McCannism is dedicated to jazz soul master Les McCann. Captures the idiom perfectly. You Stepped Out of a Dream is straightforward swing that has everyone soloing whilst While We're Young is a delightful jazz waltz with the alto reminding us what a great tune this is - but then again, most of Alec Wilder's are!
Finally, the curiously titled, The Weather is Here, Wish you were Beautiful, a boppy up-tempo original by Benedict who lays down some post Charlie Christian lines before Banda boots it on its way.
A disc that should be everyone's playlist.
Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict - It's All About The Groove is available on the DaWay Music label.
Sound Samples.
Lance. 

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