Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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, March 28, 2016

CD Review: Eileen Howard - Big City Love

Eileen Howard (vcl); Michael Raye (keys); Nat Janoff (gtr); Eddy Khairnovich (bs); Darrell Smith (dms); Daniel Bennett (saxes); Matthew Owens (tpt).
(Review by Lance).
The love in the album title is New York, the songs are a mix of Howard originals, songs related to the most famous city in the world (sorry London, Paris, Newcastle) and other numbers where the connection may be tenuous but the Broadway/42nd St./downtown/uptown feeling is always there.
Howard, is a gal working in an overpopulated field but, with Ella, Billie, Anita, Peggy and so many others out of the race, her discs are going to show.
A voice that is bluesy, occasionally theatrical (in the nicest sense of the term) and always totally immersed in the lyric. 
Manhattan is simply fantastic. One minute it's in English, well no, it's  actually American (girl/goil) then it's in French - brilliant! 
This lady is a singer, composer, arranger and one who makes you believe the words she is singing.
Behind her are some of New Yorks finest all contributing to this rather special bite of the Big Apple.
The final track sums it up - But Beautiful!
Eileen's version of Sunday in New York should be adopted by the city's tourist board!
Big City Love is released on March 31 and the launch party is at West End Avenue (West End & West 107th at Broadway).
Details.
Lance.

2 comments :

Mlyn said...

Your rendition of Sunday In New York. representing NYC. Well! Can't wait to hear the rest of your love songs to the Big City . . .

Unknown said...

Thanks so much, Lance! Thanks for spreading the gospel of Jazz and I hope to meet you in person one day.

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