Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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, October 05, 2013

CD Review: John Escreet - Sabotage and Celebration

John Escreet - Piano, Fender Rhodes; David Binney - Alto/Sop Saxophones; Chris Potter –  Tenor Saxophone; Matt Brewer –Bass; Jim Black – Drums. With Adam Rogers- Guitar(tracks 5&7); Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi, Nina Geiger  Vocals (track 7)
(Review by Steve H.)
This album release could be more poignant with the US in budget and debt crisis dominating world economic affairs. Doncaster born John Escreet  resident New Yorker since 2006  composed the bulk of the music during Hurricane Sandy shortly before the last US presidential election.

The album begins with a dreamy string introduction Axis of Hope which rolls seamlessly into He Who Dares a cracking contemporary ensemble piece. The title track begins slowly with a sparse introduction from Escreet the strings than join in softly before the piece explodes with an exhilarating cacophony of noise from the all of the players this represents the perceived ‘Sabotage’ of Obamas’s campaign.by various degrees of subterfuge preventing voters casting their ballet The ‘Celebration’ then begins representing Obama’s victory the rhythm section  takes over  with an invigorating mid section before the horns bring us to a triumphant finale. The Decapitator is a more tranquil piece played just by the trio. Laura Angela features Escreet on Fender Rhodes and is a relatively funky number. Animal Style is a robust number with truly wonderful solo’s by both saxophonists. The album concludes with Beyond Your Wildest Dreams featuring some fascinating vocals  as the title alludes the listener is taken on a glorious magical musical uplifting journey full of hope and promise.
This is a really enjoyable album and has certainly inspired me to get hold of Escreet’s previous work. Sadly we are once again in a period of ‘Sabotage’ as far as Obama is concerned and this reviewer is looking forward to the time when the US gets it’s act together so we can begin to ‘Celebrate’ once more.
Available October 15.
Steve H.


1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Hi Steve thanks for the review. Do you recommend any other particular work of Escreet's?

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