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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

CD Review: Manu Katché - Touchstone for Manu

(Review by Lance)
This is an absolutely enthralling compilation. Contemporary? Yes! Melodic? Most certainly!! Touchstone For Manu is one of those very rare occasions when it DOES mean a thing if it ain't got that swing! Then again, maybe it does have that swing, Upon reflection, that swing is there in all good jazz, even if we don't always recognise it! We can be fooled as sometimes it's disguised in different forms, time signatures, even when there is no discernible  time signature, key or changes. But, if it's got it, it's got it.
As Lieber and Stoller, Peggy Lee and Zoe Gilby have said - Some Cats Know.
These cats know!
Released August 18 on ECM.
Lance..
Notes: A specially-priced limited edition compilation of the best of Manu Katché on ECM. 
Here the French drummer - his strongly propulsive yet relaxed groove is unlike any other drummer's - is joined in performances of his tunes by an outstanding cast of soloists including Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko, Nils Petter Molvaer, Trygve Seim, Mathias Eick, Marcin Wasilewski, Tore Brunborg, and Jacob Young. 
Recorded between 2004-2012 in Oslo, New York and Pernes-les-Fontaines, and drawn from his widely acclaimed albums Neighbourhood, Playground, Third Round, and the eponymously-titled Manu Katché.
Collective Personnel: Manu Katché (drums), Mathias Eick, Tomasz Stanko (trumpet), Nils Petter Molvær (trumpet, loops), Jan Garbarek, Trygve Seim (tenor saxophone), Tore Brunborg (saxophones), Jacob Young (guitars), Marcin Wasilewski, Jason Rebello (piano), Jim Watson (piano, Hammond B3 organ), Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double bass), Pino Palladino (bass)

No comments :

Blog Archive