Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: 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 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: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

CD Review: Tipping Point – The Earthworm’s Eye View

James Mainwaring (tenor & soprano saxophones, effects), Matthew Bourne (Fender Rhodes), Michael Bardon (double bass) & Joost Hendrickx (drums)
(Review by Russell).
Tipping Point is James Mainwaring’s new project. Roller Trio’s reeds man is joined by fellow Leeds College of Music graduates Mick Bardon and Joost Hendrickx and one of their tutors, pianist Matthew Bourne. The CD is the second to be released on Lamplight Social Records, the label set up by saxophonist Mainwaring.
Ten tracks – five of them improvisations – composed by Mainwaring, The Earthworm’s Eye View is a departure from the riotous abandon of  one-time Mercury Prize contenders Roller Trio. The presence of Bourne playing Fender Rhodes is surely a significant factor in the playful group improvisations. Rat Bucket, an improvised piece constructed upon a three bar riff and twelve bar melody gets to the heart of the music. Quiet, organic improv, Mainwaring’s tenor lines working off  Bourne’s dense, shifting Fender Rhodes.
Bigsaw Jigsaw veers from the improvised to the notated, flitting from one to the other in a split second, back and forth, piecing together the composition at breakneck pace. Mick Bardon’s low-in-the-mix bass playing rumbles assuredly throughout the album and Joost Hendrickx’s drumming is in-the-pocket, variously encouraging and responding to effects thrown into the mix. ‘Effects’ or ‘FX’ can be seen – and heard – as one of Mainwaring’s instruments on The Earthworm’s View. The eponymous track successfully incorporates a tenor/FX sound with Fender Rhodes and the bristling energy of Bardon and Hendrickx.
Russell.
The Earthworm’s View on Lamplight Social Records (LRSCD00 2) is released on October 9.
Russell.         

1 comment :

Russell said...

Tipping Point play a jazz North East gig at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle on Sunday 8th November in a double bill with the Long Lonesome Go.

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