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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

17641 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 915 of them this year alone and, so far, 60 this month (Dec. 26).

From This Moment On ...

December

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. CANCELLED!
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. CANCELLED!
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.
Tue 31: Jan Spencelayh Quartet @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 5:00-9:00pm. A NYE ‘Dinner-Dance’ event. £42.99. Featuring special guest Mick Donnelly.
Tue 31: Jack Logan @ The Robin Hood Inn, East Wallhouses NE18 0LL. Tel: 01434 672549. 7:00pm. £59.95. ‘New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner’. Rat Pack etc.

January 2025

Wed 01: Revolutionaires @ The Old Barrel (Flatties), Boldon Colliery. 3:30pm. Free. Excellent rhythm & blues.

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

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

Monday, February 16, 2015

CD review: Ant Law – Zero Sum World

Ant Law (guitar), Michael Chillingworth (alto & soprano saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet), Tom Farmer (double bass), James Maddren (drums) & Ivo Neame (piano)
(Review by Russell)
Ant Law studied physics at Edinburgh University. The ‘Zero Sum Game,’ familiar to those with an understanding of mathematics, was the inspiration for the title of Law’s new CD Zero Sum World. Guitarist Law is a published author – 3rd Millennium Guitar: An Introduction to Perfect 4th Tuning. If all this sounds a bit high brow, well, it is, but don’t be deterred, the music is great!
Ant Law sits down to play. So what? Law isn’t a poseur craving front man status. He plays guitar. He plays guitar as well as anyone you’re likely to hear. Zero Sum World features four friends (three of them from Law’s debut CD Entanglement) who possess talent the equal of the bandleader. All are busy on the contemporary jazz scene, touring and recording a variety of projects, and this new album underscores their togetherness.
Law writes for the unit; on occasion guitar and reeds (Michael Chillingworth) appear to be as one, drummer James Maddren’s musicality and invention elevate him beyond any notion of being employed as a timekeeper, similarly bassist Tom Farmer, a creative force in his own right alongside pianist Ivo Neame.
Prelude and companion piece Waltz are right out of the Jim Hall/Joe Pass book of guitar playing. If Law, Hall and Pass sat together with a beer the conversation would have been ‘out there’. Best to leave them to it! Monument (Ant Law’s homage to fellow guitarist Ben Monder) covers a lot of ground; Neame’s pensive probing, Maddren’s lazily, tight drumming, Chillingworth’s brooding clarinet and a burst of collective free playing. The closing Blues is a melodic, contemporary slow blues featuring Tom Farmer’s alternate tuning solo. Neame takes it on, late-night swing, alto and guitar take it home.
Note for guitar heads/musos – each of the eleven tracks features Law’s guitar tuned in perfect fourths.
Ant Law’s Zero Sum World is released today – February 16 – on Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings label (catalogue number WR4663). The album was recorded by Troy Miller at Sand House Studios (as was Law’s debut CD Entanglement).
Zero Sum World has an album launch at London’s Soho Pizza Express Jazz Club on 16th and 17th February. For tour dates visit: www.antlaw.co.uk Tyneside readers may wish to know that Ant Law appears with Tim Garland at Sage Gateshead on Monday 4th May.  
Russell           
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