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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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

Sunday, July 03, 2016

CD Review: Jasper Høiby – Fellow Creatures

Jasper Høiby (double bass), Mark Lockheart (saxophones), Laura Jurd (trumpet & flugelhorn), Will Barry (piano) & Corrie Dick (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Jasper Høiby has been dreaming of forming, and writing for, a larger ensemble. Known for his trio Phronesis with Ivo Neame and Anton Eger, Copenhagen-born Høiby finally presents to the listening public Fellow Creatures. Bassist, composer and arranger Høiby has recruited four familiar faces on the British contemporary jazz scene; reedsman Mark Lockheart, trumpeter Laura Jurd, pianist Will Barry and drummer Corrie Dick. Høiby is keen to explore the option of writing for two melody instruments and in working with an established name (Lockheart) and a rising star (Jurd) this new CD on Edition Records is likely to have wide appeal.

Ten tracks – the titles of which perhaps point to concerns for the state of the planet and a desire for change – running to the best part of one hour, open with Folk Song. Perhaps an ancient Danish melody as inspiration, this and all other tracks are Høiby’s compositions. The eponymous Fellow Creatures builds momentum thanks to the taut but subtle rhythm section work of band leader Høiby, pianist Will Barry and the accomplished Corrie Dick (drums). The horns find a way into the tune, first trumpeter Jurd, a BBC New Generation Artist, then Lockheart.
Little Song for Mankind hears the piano, bass and drums trio develop the theme with Jurd and Lockheart biding their time. Dick’s propulsive drumming invites the horns to make a contribution and in double quick time they are firing on all cylinders. First Tangible, then Collective Spaces present the quintet as a unified whole; Will Barry’s piano playing at the centre of the former, the collective a true collective. Mark Lockheart’s restless tenor is at the heart of Suddenly, Everyone encouraging Høiby to engage fifth gear. Høiby has a fun calypso-like conversation with Lockheart on Before (the penultimate number) and a good deal of laughter can be heard in the recording studio as bandleader Høiby and his Fellow Creatures close the album with Plastic Island.
Russell.

Jasper Høiby’s Fellow Creatures will be released by Edition Records (EDN 1075) on July 15. The album launch will be in Hall One at King’s Place, London on September 10.                             

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