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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

CD Reviews:The Lalama Brothers - Erie Ave.

Ralph Lalama (ten); Dave Lalama (pno/vcl); Peter Washington (bs); Kenny Washington (dms).  + Joe Lovano (G mezzo sop sax on 2 tracks).
(Review by Lance).
Erie Avenue is the street in West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania that the Lalana brothers were born and raised on. It has fond memories for them of a loving extended family and friends in a neighbourhood that (quote) "Gave us an abundance of freedom, discipline and unconditional love. This recording is our homage to that very special place that has forever shaped our lives and, of course, our music". So spoke Dr. Dave Lalama, currently Professor of Music at Hofstra University.
On the strength of this recording, every budding jazz musician should live on Erie Ave. and pick up the magic that must surely be in the air.
Ralph Lalama served his apprenticeship with the bands of Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Mel Lewis going on to pick up 3 Grammy nominations. An associate of Joe Lovano it was only natural to invite Joe to guest on the album which he does on two tracks. Interesting is Lovano's use of the rarely heard G mezzo soprano sax. Pitched tonally between the Eb alto and the conventional Bb soprano the G mezzo is an instrument which, to my ears, is more pleasing than the Bb horn. Less screechy, more mellow I'd like to hear more of it. Perhaps Joe Lovano will bring it with him to Sage Gateshead for the International Jazz Festival on April 5 - are you listening Joe?
The material is a mix of originals by Dave Lalama, 1 by Ralph Lalama, 1 x Cedar Walton and the standards Portrait of Jenny and Everything Happens to Me. This latter track is a vocal feature for Dave which he humbly and totally unnecessarily dedicates to every professional singer he ever had to accompany! No need to apologise Dave - you did good!
There being two sets of brothers on the disc it was, I suppose, logical to include Mulligan's Five Brothers and Giuffre's Four Brothers. I'm pleased that they did - such a relaxed swing Woody would have loved it!
Whoops! I've just discovered that the two Washington's are unrelated so please consider this as poetic licence or, as the saying goes, close enough for jazz!
Lance.

1 comment :

Ernie Jackson (on F/b) said...

Tony Faulkner and me saw them in The Kitano in NYC 3 years ago.Then we saw Ralph play again with The Vanguard big band.Great player and a very nice man.

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