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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Friday, May 13, 2016

CD Review: Per Oddvar Johansen – Let's Dance

Per Oddvar Johansen (drums, violins, vibraphone, guitars, wood percussion and electronics); Helge Lien (piano); Torben Snekkestad (saxophones, reed trumpet).
(Review by Hugh C.)
Per Oddvar Johansen has played a prominent role in Norwegian music over many years but   Let's Dance is the first album under his own name.  He is joined in the trio by long-standing collaborators Helge Lien on piano and saxophonist Torben Stekkestad on this album of his own compositions.  
There are nine tracks on the album.  The atmosphere throughout is one of contemplation and meditation.  Let's Dance features Snekkestad's haunting soprano saxophone over slowly progressive piano and drums.  As might be expected, the whole has the air of a slow dance.  No. 7 a slightly more jaunty number (pun intended!)  Forest Flower begins with breathy saxophonics from Snekkestad.  Sounds created by Lien inside the piano begin to emerge, creating a feeling of expectancy – perhaps by the end the flower is open.  Flying has a similar abstract start, now incorporating violin and piano, the sound enhanced by electronics.  This, at 8:24, is the longest track on the album.  There is a very slow sonic build up, somewhat reminiscent of the Pink Floyd albums I used to listen to in my youth - the expected guitar, however, does not appear.  Panorama features the Lien's delicate piano and subtle brushwork from Johansen, over which Snekkestad lays a haunting melody.  The guitar does appear in Uluru (for Annette), along with birdsong and a fast flowing stream.  Impromptro features again Snekkestad's avant-garde saxophonic wizardry.  This segues straight into Families
where we are back in more familiar melodic territory (on the whole).  The final track, Song M, rounds off the disc with melodic saxophone and piano over Johansen's expressive drumwork.
Lovers of the “nordic sound” will warm to this album, though of course this may put others off.  The album as a whole is well crafted and packaged in suitably minimalist style to suit the music, with a black and white picture of mist clad pine trees.  Released by Edition Records (Cat No. EDN1068), Let's Dance is available now.
Samples.
Hugh.

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