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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.

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?

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.

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

Sunday, June 07, 2015

CD Review: Maria Schneider Orchestra – The Thompson Fields.

(Review by David Brownlow).
The Thompson Fields is Maria Schneider’s eighth production for the  ArtistShare label and she has certainly come a long way in her career since she worked as Gil Evans’ Assistant in the mid 80s. She is an extremely talented composer who is a master of harmony, and a formidable arranger who fully utilises all the tone - colours provided by her nineteen piece Big Band with all the usual Reeds, Brass, and Rhythm sections but without recourse to electronic instruments as Gil himself did in his latter years.
Maria’s inspiration for the eight tracks comes from her love of the natural world of her home environment in Minnesota. The songs reflect the beauty of the “sights, sounds and smells of nature’s bounty.” This is quasi-classical through-composed music played by jazz musicians with jazz solos from outstanding players such as Scott Robinson, Frank Kimbrough and Marshall Gilkes. The charts are all beautifully played with a high standard of musicianship as a “given.”
Walking By Flashlight – inspired by a poem by Ted Koosner - is meditative and wistful with a warm solo from Scott Robinson on alto clarinet. The Monarch and the Milkweed is meandering, reflective piece with an astonishing trombone solo from Marshall Gilkes and a thoughtful flowing one from Greg Gisbert on fluegelhorn. The piece builds throughout the twelve minute performance culminating in a passage where the soloists improvise together. Arbiters of Evolution inspires Maria by the exotic displays and behaviours of the extraordinary Birds of Paradise of New Guinea. Here, a strong framework supports beautiful solos from Donny McCaslin and Scott Robinson. A highlight of the album The Thompson Fields is a meandering piece which features some gorgeous writing for brass, together with piano and guitar solos which complement the composer’s feel for the open prairies. Home opens chorale-like with lovely Evans-esque harmonies. Rich Perry’s tenor solo continues the contemplative mood. This piece is dedicated to George Wein whose Newport Jazz Festival gave Maria many career opportunities. 
Nimbus is a brooding, threatening song in a minor mood with dissonance throughout, especially in Steve Wilson’s alto solo. This bleak, dramatic background is at times reminiscent of Gil Evans’ The Barbara Song and is inspired by the occasion when a tornado headed towards Maria’s home and the resulting reactions of herself and her parents.
A Potter’s Song is a moving tribute to recently deceased trumpeter Laurie Frink – a long-time associate in Maria’s band. This features the accordion of Gary Versace and is the stand-out track for me. The melody and chord sequence take many unexpected turns, but each one resolves harmonically and “right.” The final track Lembranca is Maria’s take on Paulo Moura and his Samba School in Rio de Janeiro. This thirteen and a half minute long piece features a solo from trombonist Ryan Keberle in an energetic opening segment full of dynamic percussion work which segues into a calm contrasting section with a very listenable melodic bass solo from Jay Anderson. This leads to a quiet conclusion to all the excitement.
There has been a huge amount of work required to produce such an album as this and the funding for the project has come from the many participants in the ArtistShare fan base. The CD itself comes in a lavish hard-backed case with outstanding artwork and photographs illustrating the flora and fauna of Maria’s homeland area and is available from ArtistShare.
David B.
Maria Schneider (Conductor, Composer & Arranger) Steve Wilson, Dave Pietro, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin. Scott Robinson (Reeds). Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Augie Haas, Mike Rodriguez, Keith O’Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Marshall Gilkes, George Flynn, (Brass).Gary Versace (Accordion), Lage Lund (Guitar) Frank Kimbrough (Piano) Jay Anderson (Bass), Clarence Penn (Dms) Rogerio Boccato (Percussion)

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