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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 19, 2013

CD Reviews: Eileen Howard - Blues in the Green Room and Street of Dreams

Blues in the Green Room - Eileen Howard Live at the Garden Theatre: Eileen Howard (vcl); Ed Moed (keys); Randy Mather (sax); David Bennett (gtr); Chris Ciampa (bs); The Governor (dms).
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Street of Dreams: Eileen Howard (vcl); Richard Lopez (pno); Roger Hines (bs); Matt Wagner (dms); Michael Cox (sax/clt).
(Review by Lance)
Two CD's from Eileen Howard, a lady unfamiliar to my ears. Paradoxically, Eileen tells me that ten years ago she was in Corbridge with her husband on a tour of the Roman Wall. Ten years ago I could have been cycling in the Corbridge area! who's to say we weren't having lunch in the same pub? If we had I'm sure it would have been Easy to Remember. - a song sung beautifully on the live recording. Both discs have much to recommend them not least because of the choice of tunes but particularly the way Howard deals with them. My reaction to Fever and Black Coffee was to groan - "Not again!" And then I listened! Nothing will replace Peg's versions but, if you'd heard these tracks first then maybe, just maybe the positions would be reversed.
This girl can sing the blues no doubt - imagine Bessie Smith digitally recorded with the rough edges slightly smoothed and you've got Eileen in the Green Room.  Then there's Ida Cox's Wild Women Don't Have The Blues, a number associated with the elusive Nancy Harrow. Eileen throws her underwear into the ring without the help Harrow got from Buck Clayton's Band and emerges triumphant!
Street of Dreams is a less earthy affair but still allows the taste buds to flow with as  fine a selection of gasbook interpretations this side of Frank and Ella and her take on The Nearness of You would do credit to either of the aforementioned icons.
Both discs have immaculate backing with the two sax players gilding the lily.
It saddens me to think she passed through our area without warbling a note although I suppose work permits and things also stepped in but, in my dreams, I'm sitting in the Bluebell in Corbridge enjoying a pint of  one of Wylam Breweries finest when an American lady stands up, looks at me and sings Will You Dance? Will I?! Then I awake and find I'm smooching the duvet!
Still, I've got the CDs!
 Lance..

1 comment :

Eileen Howard said...

Thanks for the great review! Now, who wants to give me a gig in the UK so I can come drink a pint with Lance?

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