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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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. CANCELLED!

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

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, August 20, 2014

CD Review: Andy Milne and Dapp Theory – Forward in All Directions

Andy Milne (piano, prepared piano, Fender Rhodes and synths), Aaron Kruziki (soprano and alto saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and douduk), John Moon (vocal poetics), Christopher Tordini (acoustic and electric bass), Kenny Grohowski (drums and percussion).
(Review by Hugh Cochrane).
This is Andy Milne's first recording for Whirlwind Recordings. It is Dapp Theory's third release and features guest performances from Ben Monder (guitar), and Jean Baylor and Gretchen Parlato (vocals).
Dapp Theory was formed by Milne in 1998 to “tell passionate stories, promote peace and inspire collective responsibility towards uplifting the human spiritual condition”. The music seeks to explore the truths that exist in universal wisdom, while creatively expressing life’s journeys.
Forward in All Directions chronicles the journey Dapp Theory has taken in its 15 years.
There is certainly a good jazz groove running through this album and Milne and his fellow musicians delight in exploring other creative influences including Appalachian folk, traditional Armenian, heavy metal, funk, hip-hop, pop and classical music.
The CD comes in at just over an hour and consists of ten tracks, each individual in their own way. Photographs, Hopscotch Search Party, Katharsis; are overlain with the spoken “vocal poetics” of John Moon. I personally can take or leave this rap-style addition, but the music's good. The scat vocals of Jean Mondor on Katharsis are a delight, however.
In the Mirror, Darkly, Nice to Meet You, The Trust, How and When versus What, Fourteen Fingers and Headache in Residence are, by contrast, purely instrumental tracks amply demonstrating the musicianship of Andy Milne on keys, Aaron Kruziki on reeds (including douduk), Chrisopher Tordini on bass and Kenny Grohowski on drums and percussion. Ben Monder adds atmospheric guitar on Search Party, How and When versus What and Headache in Residence.
On one level I can appreciate the supreme musicianship demonstrated on this recording. The sleeve notes indicate that this album has been at least nine years in gestation. The product is sold as something on an altogether higher plane – which, I regret, completely passes me by! One cannot however doubt the sincerity and dedication of Milne and other contributors to this project, which has been funded, in part, by a Kickstarter campaign .
The final words are Andy Milne's:
It's a milestone, a celebration, and a reflection of the changing times for artists. My life as an artist, entrepreneur and educator requires me to move in all directions at all times and I derive joy in meeting this challenge.”
Forward in All Directions is released by Whirlwind Recordings in the UK on September 8. Catalogue No. WR4660.
Hugh C.

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