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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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 13, 2014

CD Review: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra featuring Bobby Wellins - Culloden Moor Suite

Bobby Wellins (ten) w. SNJO led by Tommy Smith.
(Review by Lance).
You've got to hand it to them, they do it every year! The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra never fail to come up with a winner. Last year it was In the Spirit of Duke, this year it's  Bobby Wellins' Culloden Moor Suite featuring the composer himself on tenor sax.
Originally recorded by Wellins' Quartet over 50 years ago this big band version (a specially commissioned orchestration by Florian Ross) captures the drama, the bloodyness of battle, the emotive air of tragedy on the killing fields that was Culloden Moor in 1746. Wellins pours his Scottish soul into this epic musical enactment of that dark historical chapter. Perhaps no one could portray it better than the Glasgow born saxophonist, nor could he find a more supportive army than the first battalion of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
This is one of those suites that rise above genre like Ellington's Such Sweet Thunder; Under Milk Wood  by Stan Tracey -  Wellins' associate at the time of the original composition - or the Gil Evan's/Miles Davis collaborations. 
Wellins, one of the all-time British greats of the tenor saxophone, is as emotive in his playing as his compositions are in his writing, and the beauty of his tone contrasts perfectly with the aura of death that pervades.
The band are superb in support with Cosker's drums conveying a Highlandsian mood without losing the jazz element. Tom MacNiven makes telling contributions whilst pianist Hamilton is the voice of sympathy throughout.
A major work due for release on Sept. 15 (3 days before "that vote") on Spartacus Records.
Lance. 
Ryan Quigley, Jay Cameron, Lorne Cowieson, Tom MacNiven (tpts); Chris Greive, Kieran McLeod, Michael Owers, Lorna McDonald (tmb); Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow, Tommy Smith, Konrad Wiszniewski, Bill Fleming (saxes); Steve Hamilton )pno); Brodie Jarvie (bs); Alyn Cosker (dms); Florian Ross (arr).

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