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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

CD Review: Home Away From Home – The Colours Jazz Orchestra Plays the Music of Ayn Inserto

(Review by Dave Brownlow)
This is a startling album from the outstanding Composer/Arranger Ayn Inserto and the Colours Jazz Orchestra. Since 1999 Ayn has been steadily making a name for herself in the U.S. receiving countless awards but is, currently, perhaps less well-known in the U.K.
A musician writing avant-garde charts in sound, taking risks and creating some of the most complex, sophisticated, and clever music I’ve ever heard.
 Smooth-jazz this is not!
Ayn, an Associate Professor of Jazz Composition at Berklee College originally from Singapore,  and a pupil of Bob Brookmeyer in his latter years – he appeared as a soloist on her second album. Brookmeyer's influence can be felt throughout these seven pieces.
The Colours Jazz Orchestra, an Italian group led by Massimo Morganti, face the fierce challenge of playing this difficult music with aplomb.
You’re Leaving? But I Just Got Here is an “animated conversation” between orchestra and drums where sinuous lines of melody weave in and out. La Maida, Giardini and the orchestra add to the discussion and it all ends amicably.
Joe Henderson’s Recorda Me starts with dissonance throughout the intro before flowing into a tasteful reading of the theme. An elegant tenor solo from Sebastianelli complete with moments from ‘outside’ lead to a nicely resolved, quieter, ending.
Hang Around - a funky, swinging groove with accents in unexpected places – how far out can a blues go? This is further out than George Russell’s Blues In Orbit or Sun Ra’s Saturn! Soloists include Morganti, La Maida and Manzi.
La Danza Infinita, a stately dance in ¾ time begins with a melancholy woodwind ensemble leading into a multi-layered section of melody, counter-melody and more trombone from Morganti. Finally, the brass ‘Choir’ restates the theme in ‘Chorale’ style.
Down A Rabbit Hole, an up-tempo, technical ‘tour de force’ - the theme a headlong dash of clashing, interwoven lines full of unexpected twists and surprises – challenging for players and listener alike! Sebastianelli has the tenor solo.
Wintry Mix, a flowing blend of themes in a reflective mode. Brass, woodwinds, saxes, guitar and Marinelli's piano constantly intersect and interact.
Finally, Daniel Rosenthal's Subo, a festive, fiesta calypso and, perhaps. the most ‘conventional’ track on the album with solos from guitar, trombone, baritone and alto saxes.
Two quotes about Ayn Inserto are worth repeating here; “She’s Maria Schneider on steroids”! (Harvey Siders –Jazz Times Sept 2007).
Fred Hersch says “Ayn Inserto is in the forefront of a new generation of jazz composers who are accomplished, ambitious and truly personal.”
“Bravo Ayn” I say………
Dave B
CD available on NEUKLANG NCD 4097
Simone La Maida, Maurizio Moscatelli, Filippo Sebastianelli, Antonangelo Giudice, Marco Postacchini, (Saxes & Woodwinds); Giorgio Caselli, Luca Giardini, Giacomo Uncini, Samuele Garofoli, Jeff Claassen, (Trumpets); Massimo Morganti – Leader – Carlo Piermartire, Luca Pernici, Pierluigi Bastioli, (Trombones); Emilio Marinelli, (piano); Luca Pecchia, (Guitar); Gabriele Pesaresi;, (Bass); Massimo Manzi, (Drums). 

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