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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

CD Review: Andy Sheppard Quartet – Surrounded by Sea

Andy Sheppard – tenor and soprano saxophones; Eivind Aarset – guitar, electronics; Michel Benita – double bass; Sebastian Rochford – drums.
(Review by Hugh)
This is Andy Sheppard's third album released on ECM.  The quartet is formed by the addition of Norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset to the personnel comprising Trio Libero - whose output is encapsulated on the previous ECM release by Sheppard, which takes the name of the trio as its title.  The trio started out as an improvising trio, but in the new quartet format Sheppard wanted to “move things in a new direction with the addition of harmony and subtle grooves”.
The current album title “Surrounded by Sea” evokes some of the unique characteristics of those who inhabit an island nation.  According to Sheppard, the sea in this case is mostly calm, but squalls and storms can arise in a moment.
On this album the lyrical saxophone playing of Andy Sheppard floats gently on a raft of sound structurally underpinned by Seb Rochford's subtle drumming mixed with Michel Benita's sensitive bass playing and Eivind Aarset's layered guitar and electronics.
The album has eleven tracks in all.  These are arranged as eight separate tracks interspersed by the three separate parts of Aoidh, Na Dean Cadal Idir.  This piece is named after a Gaelic traditional song and translates as Aoidh, Don't Sleep At All. Sheppard learned the song from Hebridean folk singer Julie Fowlis and the instrumental music was written by all four quartet members to dress her a capella vocal rendition of the song.
The majority of the rest of the material is of Sheppard's composition, sometimes in conjunction with another member of the quartet.  The second track, I Want to Vanish is an Elvis Costello composition and Rochford and Benita have contributed one track each.  It is difficult to single out any particular track for comment as the album has a definite flow from one end to the other.  The overall atmosphere is calm with the minimum of swell now and then.  The squalls and storms remain over the horizon throughout. 
The signature saxophone style of Andy Sheppard is evident across all the tracks and is beautifully blended with the contributions of the other three quartet members.  This is a class act and unhesitatingly recommended by this reviewer!
Hugh.
Surrounded by Sea was released by ECM in the UK on April 13 (catalogue number 471 4273)







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