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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: 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: 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.

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

Thursday, September 04, 2014

CD/DVD Review: Annie Ross - To Lady With Love

Annie Ross (vcl); Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli (gtr).
(Obeisance by Lance).
Forget Annie by Candlelight - no don't forget it, the album was and is a vocal classic - as was the ground-breaking vocalese of Twisted and Farmer's Market. The Lambert/Hendricks/Ross discs were also important albums that helped to establish Annie Ross as one of the all-time great jazz singers. Yet, To Lady With Love is something else - even by Annie's back catalogue - this is un disque hors catégorie!
On a purely vocal level there are probably a 1000+ singers from Tyneside to Timbuktu with a better voice than Ross has these days. The range is extremely limited but, when it comes to an emotive interpretation, there isn't one in a million who comes within a country mile of Annie Ross in this tribute to Billie Holiday (I've been reminded that Sheila Jordan could be included in that elite group!).
Inspired by Lady Day's Lady in Satin this is the tribute. Ironically, coming as it did at the end of Billie Holiday's turbulent life, Lady in Satin was panned at the time by critics who failed to see beyond the croaked despatch, unable to see into the tortured soul behind the voice. Now the album's true value is belatedly being acknowledged.
That "Lady" Ross recognised and appreciated it in this recording is self evident. 84 year old, the voice reduced to almost the spoken word, the end result is, nevertheless, the most emotional album I've ever heard since, and possibly including, Lady in Satin.
For All We Know; I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You; I'm a Fool to Want You; Violets for Your Furs; You Don't Know What Love Is; You've Changed; When Your Lover Has Gone; I Get Along Without You Very Well; It's Easy to Remember; Travellin' Light; Music is Forever. Each word, each phrase, uttered with feeling and, inescapably, wound around my heart.
As if this wasn't enough, the Pizzarelli father and son team are on hand to provide the panacea for the pain.
My guitar ear isn't sufficiently developed to say who plays what but both are brilliant whether soloing or supporting Annie or each other.
On the DVD that accompanies the CD all three participants talk in glowing terms about the session which was completed in five hours.
Annie Ross - To Lady With Love will be available on Red Anchor CAP 1047 on October 7.
Lance.
PS: Make sure you have a  box of tissues handy to absorb the tears all but the hardest of Hannah's (and Henry's) will experience listening to the track Nothing is Forever.  Afterwards, dry the tears, pour the bubbly and propose a toast to Annie, Bucky, John and, of course, Billie.
I'll drink to that.

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