Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

August

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Thursday, October 03, 2013

CD Review: Kaz Simmons - Signs

Kaz Simmons (voice,guitars); Martin Kolarides (electric guitar); Will Bartlett (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3, Mellotron samples); Riaan Vosloo (bass guitar); Tim Giles (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex).
No offence to BSH readers, but on Wednesday when I listened to this CD, I'd much rather have been at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, Soho, to attend the album launch, in order to hear this pure-toned sweet-voiced lady doing her stuff with this versatile, lively band.  And that just about sums up the review!
Lance will demand that I write more.  The CD is made up of original songs except for 1 track (You Belong To Me); not a jazz album, rather light rock, but hard to classify.  This is really a concept CD in praise of London and London life, with love songs, the busyness and the loneliness of city life, and even a song about internet dating, with amusing quotes from someone’s dating profile.  The music seems to move along city streets, buzzing with life, with short instrumental breaks rather than the extended solos that you’d get on a jazz album.  Influences mentioned on the CD insert include Pink Floyd, and I detected hints of the Kate Bush style of singing in Kaz Simmons voice.  I especially liked the energy of the track For The Love Of The Big L and the lyrics of Signs which was all about what to say to start off a relationship.
Kaz Simmons has quite an impressive musical history, including a music degree from Goldsmiths University, work as a session guitarist, performances at various jazz clubs, and work with Jamie Cullum.
The album is released on October 28th 2013 on (I think) All About Promotions. More info and samples.
Ann Alex.
at

2 comments :

Kaz said...

Thank you for the lovely review Ann. I'm really glad you like the album. Best wishes, Kaz x

Thursday, October 03, 2013 2:04:00 pm
Ann said...

Thank you Kaz. I think I should have said that the record label is Fast Awake Records
Ann

Thursday, October 03, 2013 6:40:00 pm

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