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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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.

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

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).
---- 
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..
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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?

Saturday, October 19, 2013 10:41:00 pm

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