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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

CD Review – Stefano Bollani – Joy In Spite of Everything

Stefano Bollani (piano), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Bill Frisell (guitar), Jesper Bodilsen (bass), Morten Lund (drums)
(Review by Hugh)
Stefano Bollani has had previous collaborations with Enrico Rava and Chick Corea and has also improvised solo or led a trio. On this album we find him with a transatlantic quintet powered by a Danish rhythm section and joined by guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Mark Turner. The album, which comprises nine new compositions by Bollani was recorded in New York City's Avatar Studios. The albums performance configurations range from quintet to quartet to trio to duo.
The title of the work, Joy in Spite of Everything, speaks for itself and the CD opens with the jaunty, upbeat calypso number Easy Healing, featuring the mellow tones of Turner's tenor and Frisell's intricate guitar work over the rhythmic background provided by his compadres.
No Pope No Party features Turner and Frisell sequentially with the trio. This is a more straight ahead, but rhythmically intricate piece, the participants playing off against each other. Alobar e Kudra has a slight air of the mystic East and features the trio players Bollani, Bodilsen and Lund. Las Hortensias is a beautiful, pensive ballad with breathy tenor from Turner interspersed by Bodilsen's lyrical bass work, the other two trio members being in a supportive role.
The twelve minute plus centrepiece, Vale, reintroduces the quintet, still in reflective mood, with Bollani's piano featured. Teddy was written with swing era pianist Teddy Wilson in mind and features the piano – guitar duo of Bollani and Frisell. The guitar is also featured with the trio on Ismene, the melody particularly suiting Frisell's way with a tune. The full quintet are back for Tales From the Time Loop which again showcases the individual skills of the musicians, but also their complex melodic interplay. One can almost sense their interactions and this would be a great gig to see in intimate venue. The CD finishes with the title track Joy in Spite of Everything, which ups the tempo again, to finish on a high.
The were apparently no preconceptions regarding this album, the band were brought together just for the session. As Bollani explains “We went into the studio without all meeting each other. I had never met Bill, neither had Jesper and Morten. And Morten had never played with Mark. But that's what I like about jazz music: You just go in and see what happens”.
Well it certainly happened here – this is a cracking album and a pleasure to listen to. I cannot but agree with ECM's assertion that “Joy in Spite of Everything brims with an indefatigable lightness of spirit despite the inevitable shadows of life”.
Hugh.
The CD was released in the UK on August 25 and is available under the ECM catalogue number 378 4459.

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