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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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

Thursday, March 27, 2014

CD Review: Sara Serpa & Andre Matos - Primavera

Sara Serpa (voice, Fender Rhodes, piano); Andre Matos (guitar, electric bass, cymbal). Also Greg Osby (soprano sax); Leo Genovese (melodica, kosikas, bombo legiiero, piano, toy guitar; Pete Rende (prophet keyboard)
(Review by Ann Alex).
Pin back your ears for something delightful when you listen to this CD. Ethereal, flowing, interweaving harmonies and rhythms that suggest jazz as JS Bach may have written it, with hints of the sound of free jazz on some tracks.  Sara Serpa sings sweet-voiced vocalese on most tracks, and all the music except Vanguard and Se Me Va La Voz is written by either Serpa or Matos.  Lyrics for another 2 tracks (in Spanish or Portuguese, not sure) are by a poet Alberto Caeiro, and the final track ‘Earth’ has music by Serpa, set to a poem by e.e. cummings.
For instance the first track, Primavera, is a wordless celebration of Spring, with ‘La Da’ type vocals cut across by the guitar, then the voice is double-tracked, the sound made me smile, and I guess this would be fun to do. Tempo follows, and this has Serpa singing slow, smooth, harmony with herself, and a church music feel from the keyboards.  Rios has rich Spanish guitar; then comes call and response involving sax and melodica, and deeper-voiced singing and free jazz elements on Choro. Kubana features staccato guitar with the whole band and the free feel returns with Nuvem and percussive keys and percussion. 14 tracks in all, every one worth listening to.
 I’d be glad if anyone out there could tell me what kosikas and bombo legiiero, mentioned among the instruments above, are.  The names sound like percussion. Whatever, the whole CD is a gem, especially for those with adventurous tastes who like something a bit different. The CD was planned originally as a straightforward acoustic duo but as Serpa and Matos became more involved in experimenting with the music, this CD was the result.
Primavera is released on April 25 via Inner Circle Music.
Ann Alex. 

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