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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

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.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

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.

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

Saturday, April 25, 2015

CD Review: London Afrobeat Collective - Food Chain

Funke Adeleke (vcl); Alex Farrell, Alex Szyjanowicz (gtr); Andy Watts (tpt); Edmund Swinburn (ten); Klibens Michelet (bar); Lee Crisp (cong); Zak Cohen (perc); John Mathews (bs); Farivar Gorjian (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Living the cloistered life that I do, Afrobeat, as a genre, hasn't clicked on my awareness gene, until now - not much call for that sort of stuff down 'wor street'.
Which is more the pity as it's great music to boogie to - I'm sure that if I played this on a summer's evening at full blast and opened the living room windows, the neighbours would be out in force either dancing on the Green or telling me where to go and it wouldn't be to Africa!
London Afrobeat Collective are favourites at festivals as contrasting as Glastonbury and Cheltenham.
Their music slots in easily at either.
I don't understand many of the words which Adeleke sings but it doesn't matter as they are anthemic songs with socially conscious lyrics which may be applicable in the current electoral climate although the album isn't released until May 25.
Adeleke chants almost non-stop (or so it seems) with the horns blowing power riffs over hypnotic ethnic rhythms and occasional wild solos that  hit the ozone layer with such intensity that Climate Change could be laid at their door - not to mention damage to flooring by the foot stamping their music inspires - they probably also have the secret of making rain.
I'm reminded in places of the Grand Union Orchestra but this is even grander!
Music is for everyone came through in one of the more lucid vocals and no one will argue with that - apart from, maybe, the Arts Council of GB!
The good news is they gig around the UK (well some of the UK) in May/June/July.
London; Leeds; Bristol;; Isle of Wight; Glastonbury; Scotland and, although they don't hit Newcastle, they do play Nigeria in October.
London Afrobeat Collective - Food Chain - May 25 is the release date
Lance.

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