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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 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

Friday, July 03, 2015

CD Review: The Weave - Knowledge Porridge.

(Review by Lance).
A gem! You've probably never heard anything quite like this! Unless, that is, you're familiar with Liverpool's Georgian Quarter - a revamped area of the city with lots of real alers and a few music venues, The Grapes and The Caledonia being a couple where The Weave are not unknown.
This is an almost compelling genre mix drawing on such disparate influences as Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer and Louis Armstrong as well as English pop notably the Canterbury scene of the '60s and '70s.
Now, having led a sheltered life, I was totally unaware that Canterbury had a scene. Googling brought Soft Machine to my attention and I began to get the feel of the music and it is captivating. Modern but with history woven into The Weave.
The Pogo a hypnotic kind of Latin/Rock rhythm beneath the duelling horns - such contrasting styles! Trumpet Ear inspired by an evening spent listening to a friend has a bluesy feel (surprise?) with the trumpet choruses split by some down home piano from Baranec rounded off by Ormesher's guitar chorus. I'm in Your House a qurky riff with some good vibes from Norheim and more guitar.  
Our Day on the Mountain  written by Smith whilst walking in Snowdonia is all about going through hell and highwater in a relationship and coming out in one piece. Judging by Smith's trumpet solo, he not only came out in one piece but a better man for it! Harrison does some good work too. Luciana Mercer contributed Evolve and Expand. A winsome voice with a folksy tiimbre that ties your heartstrings in knots! Para Parrot, a composition by, and featuring, "Harry" also has earthy piano from Stringer and some plaintive wailing from Peers. Our Fathers celebrates the importance of the paternal line. With Peers once again to the fore this time tightly muted with reflective, probing piano from Stringer.
Not on Your Nelly starts off with a traditional Irish lilt to it that continues below whilst on deck the horns are anything but traditional yet still maintaining the feel. Knowledge Porridge is a spoken word piece written and narrated, almost bombastically, by Peers whilst Princess Salami Socks features a cello duet.
An album to play over and over again to catch the subtle nuances that don't always jump out and hit you first time round.
The Weave - Knowledge Porridge is due to be released on Monday July 6 with a launch gig at the good old Spice of Life in Soho on Thursday July 9.
Lance.
Martin Smith, Anthony Peers (tpt); Anthony Ormesher (gtr); Hugo "Harry" Harrison (bs); Tilo Pirnbaum (dms) + Rob Stringer (pno on 6 tracks); Andrzej Baranec (pno on 4 tracks); Vidar Norheim (vbs on 6 tracks); Stuart Hardcastle (perc on 4 tracks); Luciana Mercer (vcl, acc gtr on 1 track); Michael Head (12 string on 1 track); Georgina and Jonathon Aasgaard (celli).

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Great review of a fab new album.

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