Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

CD Review: Kelley Suttenfield and Tony Romano - Among The Stars

Kelley Suttenfield (vocals); Tony Romano (guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).
This is Kelley Suttenfield’s second CD.  She has performed in the USA and Europe, and her guitarist is a musician and educator with 20 years experience.  On this enjoyable CD they give us 5 jazz standards, plus songs by Neil Young (Harvest Moon); KD Lang (Wash Me Clean); Carol King (One Fine Day); Buffy Sainte-Marie (Until It’s Time For You To Go); and Bob Dylan’s I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.  
This is a very varied, pleasing selection, sung with a sweet and sometimes breathy voice, accompanied by sensitive, responsive guitar. The stated intention on this disc was to present the songs in a stripped-down and intimate format which has been done successfully, but I would have liked some tracks to be a bit punchier with a bit more swing, to provide greater variety. However generally the CD makes for good listening.
The opener is Fly Me To The Moon with a bell-like guitar and a gentle vocals, which makes a change from the usually brisk way this song is performed.  Beautiful Love is livelier with a jazzy guitar solo and just the right amount of improvisation in the vocals.  Wash Me Clean is almost hymn-like, which suits the words, but One Fine Day is a track which would have benefited from a livelier interpretation.  On the other hand Until It’s Time For You To Go is well suited to the intimate style of presentation.  The disc also includes Just Say I Love Him; Try Your Wings and People Will Say We’re In Love, 10 tracks in all, with lots of space for guitar solos from a jazz guitarist who knows his stuff.
Kelley Suttenfield and Tony Romano - Among The Stars is to be released on September 30.  See www.kelleysuttenfield.com
Ann Alex.

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