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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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
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: 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.

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, June 25, 2014

CD Review: Dino Saluzzi Group - El Valle de la Infancia

Dino Saluzzi (bandoneon); Jose Maria Saluzzi (classical and requinto guitars); Nicolas “Colacho” Brizuela (classical guitar); Felix “Cuchara” Saluzzi (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Matias Saluzzi (electric bass, double bass); Quintino Cinalli (drums, percussion).
(Review by Hugh Cochrane).
It was during the recent visit of MP Chi Onwurah to the Globe that Lance approached me and asked me if I would like to review some CDs. “Er, well...”, I replied. “What do you like?” asked Lance. “Most things”, I replied - “ECM?” suggested Lance, and handed me a package containing two CDs in the iconic black and white livery of the label.
ECM have made it a trademark to put together artists signed to the label who are from different musical genres. I was already familiar with some of the output by Dino Saluzzi in collaboration with Anja Lechner – a classical cellist. In this work however we find him on home territory with his “family” band – their first such album since Juan Condori in 2006.
Saluzzi derives from North Argentina and this music captures the essence and spirit of this region. The disc exudes atmosphere, indeed Saluzzi is not interested in virtuosity for its own sake but invites the listener to let their imagination travel, with the music, to some different times and places. One does feel drawn into the Argentinian countryside. Saluzzi emphasises that, although the music is composed (predominantly by Dino himself), it is continually evolving and is not necessarily played the same way on each occasion.
There are eight tracks on the album, four of which are divided into two or more parts. The first track Sombras (darkness) sets the scene. The disc then takes us on a tour of the territories, expressed as a series of suites: La Polvadera to Pueblo. At this point we are introduced to the artists father and son (A mi Padre y a mi Hijo). We then progress on to Churqui and Urkupina. The mood remains generally contemplative, evocative of stifling summer heat, where the best plan is to sit around in the shade jamming over a cool beer. Its now time to join the party in La Fiesta Popular, where the mood hots up, just a little, but never too much. The final track, Tiempos Primeros, is in a similar vein and nicely concludes the journey. We feel exhilarated, and a little tired, but not exhausted.
Lovers of tango and Argentinian music in general will love this disc. Is this jazz? – well, probably not, but it certainly carries some of the spirit of the oeuvre. Jazz lovers will, I'm sure, find much to delight the ear.
Hugh C.
ECM. Catalogue No. 7700323 available now.

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