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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.

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

Saturday, December 05, 2015

CD Review: Jazz at the Movies - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Bang

Joanna Eden (vcl); Mark Crooks (clt/ten); Chris Ingham (pno); Rev. Andrew J. Brown (bs); George Double (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Just as I'm struggling to find my CD's of the Year I thought that, at least, I'd got the Vocal CD Gong nailed down - Rebecca Kilgore's Just Imagine was leading by a country furlong - all bets were off - then, from out of left field, this one arrived! Talk about a dead heat!
Well, I guess, Becky gets the nod but, only because Joanna and her Kiss Kiss Bang Bang gang's disc isn't officially launched until January - what a benchmark for 2016 warblers!
An interpretation of some of the movies greatest songs (thankfully, The Sound of Music doesn't figure!). Apart from being a singer that I want to hear more and more of, Joanna is also teacher and mentor of the latest Bond singer - Sam Smith. On the Bond theme, the title of the album Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was in fact rejected by the Thunderball team - this recording exonerates John Barry & Leslie Bricusse! 
All the songs are magnificent. Put the Blame on Mame - Rita Hayworth miming it to Anita Ellis' vocal in Gilda. Joanna recreates the moment perfectly.
I didn't see Dick Tracy but Sondheim's Sooner or Later created such a mood I thought I had (admittedly I did read the comics!) great lyric.
Close Enough For Love - the greatest story never told - with Crooks' Getzian tenor adding the piquancy to the vocal and the lyric and Chris Ingham pitching in with some nice piano.
So much more, in fact More Than You Know including verse.
I'd Rather Have the Blues by Frank De Vol was sung behind the titles by Nat King Cole as Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me Deadly unfolded. Frank De Vol, Nat King Cole, Mickey Spillane brought together by this band!
Great songs, great films, great band, great singer.
Chris Ingham last appeared in these pages via a rave review of his acclaimed Hoagy album (with Russ Morgan on drums) and the raves continue. Crooks' claim to fame may be with the John Wilson Orchestra but he is equally at home in a small group and his tenor/clarinet playing, along with Ingham's piano, Rev. Brown's bass and Doubles's drums provide the perfect setting for one of the finest vocal albums I've heard for quite awhile!
Lance.
Jazz at the Movies - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Bang is to be launched at the Bull's Head Barnes on January 23, 2016

1 comment :

Liz said...

This is a wonderful Cd for ( in my humble) late night listening, Joanna Eden delights us with such a diverse selection of numbers. So good to see Leslie Bricusse/Tony Newley being recognised and remembered for their fine contributions, especially "Pure Imagination" A great blend of backing musicians but for me, again a personal opinion, the sax is always King. As a Sondheim fan I adore that line from "Sooner or later" " The more you resist Babe, the more it excites me" and who couldn't be reminded of Michelle Pfeiffer draping herself across the piano in "The fabulous Baker Boys" singing " More than you know" Every time I play this CD, it brings something new to the table, and now sits amongst my favourites.

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