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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Monday, December 21, 2015

CD Review: The Count Basie Orchestra – A Very Swinging Christmas (Concord Jazz CJA-38450-02)

(Review by Peter Bevan)
This CD arrived too late for my regular CD review column in the Northern Echo but I think it’s well worth a plug here.
Normally I’m pretty averse to Christmas albums, jazz or otherwise, and long running tribute bands normally start to fade after a while, but this made me think again.
It’s 80 years since the original Count Basie Orchestra was launched and it’s been 30ish since this revival band was formed.
Scotty Barnhart, a member of the trumpet section for 20 years, was appointed director a year or two ago and judging by this he has revitalised the band.
What also helps is that veteran arranger Sammy Nestico, now 90, was persuaded to come up with two new arrangements, his first for the band in 35 years – Jingle Bells and Good “Swing” Wenceslas, and Big Phat Band leader and Grammy winner Gordon Goodwin arranged It’s the Holiday Season, The Christmas Song and Sleigh Ride with other arrangements by Scotty Barnhart and Frank Foster among others.
Two more veterans, both octogenarians also contribute – pianist Ellis Marsalis plays some suitably sparse but swinging piano, and tenor player Plas Johnson guest solos on I’ll be Home for Christmas.
The three vocals are by Johnny Mathis on It’s the Holiday Season, Ledisi on The Christmas Song and Carmen Bradford – originally hired by Basie himself – brings us Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas but the rest are instrumentals.
The album was produced by former Basie drummer and seven-time Grammy winner Gregg Field who obviously can’t resist sitting in on some tracks.
What makes it worthwhile for me is that it does seem to capture the sound and spirit of the Basie band with great ensemble and solos with that distinctive rhythm section with suitably sparse piano from both Ellis Marsalis and Llew Matthews and notable rhythm guitar from Will Matthews.
Detailed notes identify all the soloists and arrangers.
You can hear samples on Amazon’s website where they’ve also got several rather enthusiastic reviews.
Peter Bevan.
The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart with very special guests Johnny Mathis, Ledisi, Ellis Marsalis, Llew Matthews, Carmen Bradford, Gregg Field and Plas Johnson.
The rhythm section: Ellis Marsalis piano, Marcus McClaurine bass, James Leary bass, Will Matthews guitar, Clayton Cameron drums.
Saxophones: Marshall McDonald alto and flute; Cleave E. Guyton Jr, alto, flute, piccolo; Doug Lawrence tenor, flute; Doug Miller tenor; Jay Brandford baritone.
Trumpets: Mike Williams lead; Bruce Harris. Endre Rice, Kris Johnson.
Trombones: David Keim lead, Clarence banks, Alvin S. Walker, Wendell Kelly

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