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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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, February 24, 2015

CD Review: Adam Birnbaum Trio - Three of a Mind

 Adam Birnbaum (pno); Doug Weiss (bs); Al Foster (dms).
(Review by Dave Brownlow.)
This is a piano-led trio by up-and-coming pianist Adam Birnbaum, already well known on the scene in the U.S. who has been mentored by no less than Kenny Barron and has studied under Fred Hersch. On drums is the excellent Al Foster – Miles Davis’ regular accompanist during the 1970s and early ‘80s - and, completing the group, bassist Doug Weiss providing non-flashy support with all the necessary credentials – ie: good time, nice tone, well chosen notes and melodic solos. He swings too! 
The Trio’s been together now for six years and this shows in the cohesion of a regular working band. Birnbaum has composed seven and Foster two of the pieces on the CD. An album of “original compositions” usually fills me with trepidation, but generally these nine songs are accessible, with chord sequences you can actually follow…..Binary opens the set strongly with quite dramatic descending chords leading to such a logical piano solo. Dream Waltz follows with melodic, lyrical piano and bass solos and there is integrated trio work a la Evans/La Faro/Motian. Thirty-three is next “Monk-ish” in style. This, dare I say it, sounds jaunty, almost old-fashioned, swings like Thelonious’ trio with Heath and Blakey and is a tribute to the master himself! Rockport Moon is “Bill Evans - like” using a chord sequence with a nod towards to Bill and Miles’ “Blue In Green”. Adam’s solo ebbs and flows in rhapsodic elegance - not copying Bill, but very much in his own way. Track 6 - Stutterstep is an imaginative theme enhanced by some lovely “La Faro” type interplay from Doug Weiss followed by a satisfying swinging 4/4 section and musical fours with Foster. Kizuna is next - an attractive theme which develops into a medium-tempo shuffle with plenty of glittering, cascading right hand piano runs. I detect a touch of Vernel Fournier’s quality in Foster’s cymbal work – just right for this trio! Dream Song #1:Huffy Henry has an altered blues chord sequence following a dissonant intro which leads into several cool choruses. Fosters second composition Ooh, What You Do To Me closes the album. An up tempo piece showcasing Adam’s fleet-fingered approach, also features lively contributions from the composer’s drums. Overall, an attractive record from a talented pianist with a bright, clean touch at the keyboard, having more than sterling support from his bass/drums duo ; currently available from www.adambirnbaum.com on DAEDALUS Records.
Dave B.

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