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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.

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. SOLD OUT!
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. 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?

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, March 31, 2015

CD Review: Harry Allen - For George, Cole and Duke.**

Harry Allen (ten); Ehud Asherie (pno); Nicki Parrett (bs/vcl); Chuck Redd (dms/vbs) + "Little Johnny" Rivero (Latin perc.)
(Review by Lance).
Music is an audio experience but it can also be related to the other senses. Listening to Harry Allen on this disc is, compared to the majority of discs I receive that are full of original  compositions by some kid out of college, like the advent of spring (maybe not this Spring!) That they are by long gone composers, Gershwin, Porter and Ellington, only serves to pose the question - why try to improve upon perfection?

I appreciate this is a rather ambiguous statement and some of the newer kids on the block have indeed made valuable contributions - were this charge to be heard in Newcastle Crown Court I'm sure the defence would cite Paul Edis as Exhibit A. James Birkett and Andy Champion could also be called. However, I think the prosecution case could maybe subpoena a few more!
I digress, this CD is just about as good as it gets for swinging straight down the middle no frills jazz. Allen has assimilated the contributions of the heroes of the past - Lockjaw, Arnett Cobb, Budd Johnson, Ike Quebec - the guys we used to refer to as "The Tough Tenors" - and made them his own. Give him material such as this and it's candy to a baby!
It's been awhile since Allen was in Newcastle. Long overdue I think!
Not that this is a one man show - there's another three men and a woman involved (isn't there always?) The lady in question is Nicky Parrett who not only plays fine bass - dig her solo on They All Laughed - but also (I quote) "croons sweet vocals on "In a Mellow Tone;How Long Has This Been Going On? and Mood Indigo.
Asherie is outstanding on piano and Rivero brings the Latin touch to Love For Sale; Mood Indigo and the rather beautiful Purple Gazelle from Duke's Afro-Bossa album.
Chuck Redd keeps it together on drums but when he takes off on vibes - the rarely heard Gershwin song Who Cares? being a perfect example - he flies!
Always True to You in my Fashion; Happy Reunion; Silk Stockings (Porter); I Love You Samantha; Shall We Dance; By Strauss are the other tracks and every one is Napoleon Brandy, Mahatma Gandhi - Cellophane*
Listen here.
Lance
Available April 7 on Blue Heron Records.
*: From You're the Top by Cole Porter (not on disc).
**: Please make sure the comma is inserted between George and Cole if searching online otherwise you may end up buying a Cortina with a dodgy clutch!***
*** Reference to old TV series Minder featuring George Cole.
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