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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

CD Review: Barney Kessel - Live At the Jazz Mill 1954

Barney Kessel (guitar); Pete Jolly (piano); Gene Stoffali (bass); Art Kile (drums).
(Review by Maurice J. Summerfield).
In 1954 Barney Kessel was only 31 years old yet he had already had been, in the late 1940’s, the featured guitarist in the Artie Shaw, Charlie Barnet and Benny Goodman bands.  In 1947 he was a member of Charlie Parker’s All Stars and, in 1952 -1953, toured the world with Norman Granz’s JATP package both as a soloist and as an integral part of the Oscar Peterson Trio.  
Kessel also featured as sideman/soloist on dozens of jazz recordings produced by Norman Granz including groups as disparate as those led by Lester Young, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Kid Ory, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Ben Webster, Harry Edison, Buddy De Franco, Buddy Rich and many other jazz greats.
Leonard Feather wrote in Downbeat, that Barney Kessel is as lyrical a guitarist as we have in jazz today, and is also a rhythmic natural who can outswing any man in the house.
This 62 years old, newly discovered, recording confirms that Feather was 100% correct. Taped by a, then 21-year old, jazz fan Jack Miller, the tracks have been selected from those recorded by Miller during Kessel’s ten-night residency at the ‘Jazz Mill’ club in Phoenix, Arizona backed by the Pete Jolly Trio.
The quality of the recording is surprisingly good.   Released 12 years after the great jazz musician’s death, this CD (also available on vinyl) shows Kessel at his swinging best and as such is a must for jazz guitar lovers.  Songs featured on the recording are Strike up the Band, How About You, Get Happy, Stardust, Seven come Eleven, Rose Room, Somebody Loves Me and Embraceable You.  Pete Jolly fans will also be delighted at the discovery of this early recording. 
Kessel is at the height of his powers here and one which I heartily recommend. My only small complaint is the CD, at 42.03 minutes, is a bit short by today’s norm although  vinyl fans might not complain!.
Maurice J. Summerfield.

1 comment :

Russell said...

A new release, great! Off to JG Windows to see if they've got a vinyl copy!

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