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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

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

CD Review: Pierrick Pédron – Kubic’s Cure

Pierrick Pédron (Alto); Thomas Bramerie (Bass); Franck Agulhon (Drums). + Mederic Collignon (trumpet); Thomas De Pourquery (vocals);  Ghamri Boubaker (Algerian Flute).
(Review by Steve Horowitz).
Many jazz artists have paid homage to popular music Herbie Hancock’s River - The Joni Letters (Joni Mitchell)  and Bill Frisell ‘s All We Are Saying a John Lennon  tribute are just two that spring to mind. To this growing cannon of work a most unlikely contender can be added. Pierrick Pédron’s previous album Kubic’s Monk  was a tribute to the great Thelonious, his latest album Kubic’s Cure  is a  tribute to 80’s goth rock icons The Cure. I must confess  to being  a big fan of Robert Smith’s legendary band so it is not without prejudice that I come to this album .
This album is driven by Bramerie’s thumping  bass and Agulhon’s  pounding drums whilst Pédron plays his alto over the top of the rhythm section. Most of the The  Cure’s most famous tracks are covered  starting with The Forest and  then moving onto In Your House which has some great backing vocals from guest Pourquery. The Caterpillar follows and then my own personal favourite Cure track  In Between Days which is interpreted very differently here. The best song on the album for me  A Reflection has a truly eastern feel  augmented  by the Algerian instrumentation  of Boubaker. The Eastern theme is continued with what on face value appears to be a rather dodgy title Killing An Arab but in fact this song is referring to a passage in the  Albert Camus novel ‘The Stranger’ .  Just Like Heaven / Close to me and a great version of Lullaby bring us to the final track on the album. Sadly, it is not Love Cats or Let’s Go To Bed but given these omissions what could be more appropriate than Boys Don’t Cry.      
I would be interested on hearing what people new to The Cure would make of this album. Personally, with a few notable exceptions, it fails to capture the melancholic, hypnotic, haunting feel of the original band but nevertheless it is an interesting and enjoyable take on one of Britain’s finest.
Steve H.

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