Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. 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

Friday, June 17, 2016

CD Review: Clare Teal w. The Hallé Orchestra - Twelve O'Clock Tales

(Review by Lance).
Ahead of Teal's Doris Day tribute at York's Theatre Royal (tomorrow, June 18) comes this timely reminder of what a class act Clare Teal is. Few singers on either side of the Atlantic can handle a lyric as effectively as she can. Put Teal in front of the Hallé Orchestra, give her some arrangements by Guy Barker, Grant Windsor and Jason Rebello, have a few jazzmen hovering in the wings and the ingredients are all there for a first class album.
It Might as Well be Spring - arranged by Barker and inspired by an Elaine Delmar/Brian Dee arrangement. What a performance!
Feeling Good - arranged by Windsor, sax solo by Dixon.
Wild is the Wind - arranged by Barker, trumpet solo by Mike Lovatt,
Sans Souci - arranged by Barker. A Peggy Lee/Johnny Burke opus.
I'll Never Stop Loving You - arranged Barker, piano solo by Rebello. Originally recorded by Doris Day in the film Love me or Leave me . Teal gives a delicious sample of what the York audience can expect tomorrow!
La Belle Dame Sans Regret - arranged by Rebello and composed by Sting. Rebello solos and has a duo vocal moment. There's also a flute solo by Katherine Baker.
Lush Life - arranged by Barker, Teal gives the Strayhorn classic new life.
Never Again - arranged Windsor. A piece by Tim Rice and Alan Menkin that   brings Teal's emotive side to the fore.
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most - arranged by Barker. A masterly setting that gives Teal the perfect surrounds for her reflective interpretation. A sympathetic arrangement worthy of Nelson Riddle or Gordon Jenkins.
Always True to You in my Fashion - arranged by Barker. One of the classic versions of this Cole Porter tune was by Peggy Lee and the George Shearing Quintet. Barker has used that version to fashion this arrangement and Teal does Peggy proud.
Whole (It Isn't Like Me) - arranged Windsor. A Teal original in collaboration with Windsor and Amanda Louise Field.
Secret Love - arranged Barker back to Doris for perhaps her most famous hit. An elaborate explorative arrangement that reveals a rarely heard verse.
The Folks Who Live on the Hill - arranged Barker. Forever associated with Peggy Lee, this version is up there too!
Paradisi Carousel - arranged Barker. Another Teal/Field original.
Could well be my vocal record of the year!
Lance.
Clare Teal (vcl) w. Hallé Orchestra cond. Stephen Bell + Mike Lovatt (tpt); Iain Dixon, Rob Buckland; Carl Raven, Jim Muirhead, Valerie Stark (saxes); Gordon Campbell (tmb); Jason Rebello (pno); Mitch Dalton (gtr); Jeremy Brown (bs); Matt Skelton (dms).

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