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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
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.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, August 05, 2016

CD Review: Daniela Schächter - Jimmy Van Heusen

Daniela Schächter (pno/vcl); Mike Tucker (ten); Michael O'Brien (bs); Mark Walker (dms).
(Review by Lance).
What's not to like? The songs of Jimmy Van Heusen plus a classy singer who plays fine piano, a Getzian tenor sax and a sympathetic rhythm section.
Van Heusen was a favourite songwriter of both Bing and Frank and, Sicilian-born, New Jersey - based, Schächter does the material proud and she plays piano better than either Bing or Frank!
Think Diane Krall and you're getting close inasmuch as they're in the same ballpark although, over 12 tracks I think it would be declared a draw. However, if I had the deciding vote...
Schächter is yet another diva diving into a not too deep pool that is rapidly becoming so crowded that there is barely room to do the breast stroke - or maybe that's the only stroke possible!
Still, if the pool needs to be drained of Divas then Daniela won't be the first to go - arguably she could be the last! 
With her vocal, piano AND composing talent (track 6 Vanheusenism - a loving tribute to the late Jimmy incorporating so many of the great man's elements) Daniela should be on everybody's list - not least those who also appreciate the kind of tenor playing associated with Stan, Zoot, Kamuca and the other Brothers - over the years there were more than four!
Polka Dots and Moonbeams is given a boppy vocalese treatment making me wonder if she's working on some horn man's solo. Maybe she is because Tucker has a blast of his own that says 'anything you can do I can do better'! Maybe, maybe not - another split decision!
Another masterpiece is, It Could Happen to You - it happened to me from the first few bars!
Call me Irresponsible - voice and bass - I know a couple who could also do justice to this one.
But Beautiful is beautiful but not in the traditional cheesy way - this one swings and, again, tenor man Tucker is in there booting it along.
Then just as you thought it was safe to get back into the water, Daniela hits us with I Thought About You. Vocal, piano and, even without the gutsy tenor, this is the one!
Gershwin, Porter, Kern. Berlin, Rodgers & Hart (maybe Hammerstein) - why isn't Van Heusen on this list (and, of course, Johnny Mercer)?
Tracks: Here's That Rainy Day; Darn that Dream; Come Fly With me; Like Someone in Love/Imagination; The Second Time Around; Vanheusenism; All the Way; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; It Could Happen to You; Call me Irresponsible; But Beautiful; I Thought About You.
Lance.
Release date September 9.

1 comment :

LIz said...

all my faves there!

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