Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

From This Moment On

May

Thu 14: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Philip Larkin’s Jazz Experiment.
Thu 14: Jerron Paxton @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb country blues.
Thu 14: Solcade @ the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle. 7:00pm. EP launch. Rivkala & co..
Thu 14: Jacob Egglestone @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass); Jack Littlewood (drums) & guests.
Thu 14: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 14: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

CD Review: Eddie Toal - Always in my Heart.


Eddie Toal (vcl); Bruce Adams (tpt/flug); Brian Dee (pno); Jim Mullen (gtr); Simon Thorpe (bs); Bobby Worth (dms).
(Review by Lance).
After reading the album notes I realised it would be impossible to listen to this dispassionately and I doubt if you could either. Has my judgement been clouded? I'd like to think not but I know I'd have to be pretty hard hearted for it not to have been.
Eddie Toal is a fine singer well known on the Glasgow jazz scene. Dedicated to his late wife Irene the voice brings to mind artists such as Tony Bennett, Johnny Hartman even Bobby Darin and, if occasionally he approaches the limits of his range, that only adds to the emotional content.  
16 songs, 15 of them classics and one that should be! An original by Toal You're The One For Me. Play it to your "knowledgeable" friends and ask them to guess the composer/lyricist. Berlin/Porter/ Rodgers and Hart will probably be their opening gambits until they hit on lines such as "You don't have to be in Mensa with the extra wise; Own a dozen dresses that were Princess Di's; Buy a saxophone and learn to harmonise to be the one for me"!
To add to the emotional pressure, in the notes the singer adds his own comments about the songs and how they related to Irene and himself.
Needless to say the band ensure the accompaniment is as first class as the vocal is with Adams excelling both muted and on open horn, Jim Mullen soloing brilliantly, Brian Dee as sympathetic in support as any pianist around with Thorpe and Worth keeping the ship steady.
So, misty eyed or not, what can I say but to buy it. You'll not only be helping a good cause you will also be getting a rather special album.
One to file alongside In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning - after playing it 100 times!.
Lance.

3 comments :

Liz said...

well Lance as you know this is my favourite number. Eddie sings it so beautifully to his late wife, who was obviously a very special lady, the love just shines through in his voice. Thank you for sharing

Patti D. said...

I've just watched this beautiful tribute from Eddie to his wife, Irene - it's wonderful. Thank you Mr Bebop Spoken Here - I'll def. see the guy is singing anywhere in Glasgow while I'm there.

Liz said...

me too!

Blog Archive