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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

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.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

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, January 01, 2015

CD Review: Quadraceratops - Quadraceratops

Cath Roberts – alto saxophone, compositions; Tom Ward – tenor saxophone ; Henry Spencer – trumpet;Magnus Dearness – trombone; Dave O’Brien – keyboards; Jason Simpson – bass; Olly Blackman – drums.
(Review by Steve H.)
This is composer and band leader’s Cath Roberts debut album with her septet Quadraceratops named after a fictitious dinosaur who, like the band, has four horns. 
Dinner with Patrick gets the album underway -  a horn dominated rumble which ebbs and flows in almost ‘Mingus’ like fashion. 
Song for the Worker Bee features a hypnotic minimalist Fender Rhodes solo from Dave O’Brien  before the haunting trumpet of Henry Spencer kicks in. The whole track is set against a background of driving drums and bass. Chair-O-Planes has a stirring melody with some solid soloing by Roberts, Dearness than contributes a smashing solo on the trombone before the piece concludes with the same cheery theme by which it had begun. Open Sandwich is carried along by Simpson’s funky double bass another ethereal Rhodes solo from O’Brien cranks up the piece allowing the horns to really  get going. Spiderling is a slower more delicate number with O’Brien on acoustic piano and the horns  providing an erringly  sinister backdrop. Calico is dominated by Spencer’s soaring trumpet with the whole ensemble squawking away together before culminating in a gentle piano led finale. Flying South concludes this album with all soloists getting their chance to shine. Trombonist, Dearness and bass player,  Jason Simpson taking the honours along with drummer Olly Blackman who keeps things going throughout the entire album. 
This a fine piece of modern British jazz with excellent compositions and arrangements from band leader Cath Roberts. I expect the band to get better and better as they play together and imagine they would be a very fine outfit to see live.
Listen/Buy.
Steve H.

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