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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.

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.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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

Thursday, September 15, 2016

CD Review: Jimmy O'Connell Sixtet – Arrhythmia

Jimmy O'Connell – trombone; Andrew Gould - alto and soprano sax; Tim Basom – guitar; Tuomo Uusitalo – piano; Peter Slavov – bass; Jimmy MacBride (drums).
(Review by Hugh)
Jimmy O'Connell moved to New York City from his native Detroit in 2009.  Since that time he has become firmly established as an in-demand trombonist on the scene, sharing the stage with the likes of Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Paquito D'Rivera and Randy Brecker.  O'Connell has assembled the “Sixtet” from among those who have made a big impact on him, both as a musician and a person.
Arrhythmia, O’Connell’s debut recording, brings together the many influences experienced during his sojourn in NYC.  The opening track, O'Connell's take on trombonist JJ Johnson's Lament, contains lyrical solos from each of the musicians, gently supported by their colleagues.  This approach is maintained throughout the album, O'Connell allowing sufficient space for each constituent musician to solo, but in the context of the musical development of each track.  

Although a studio recording, it has a distinct “live” feel - as I listened, I heard imaginary audience applause after each solo. 
Gray Matter, the first of O'Connell's own compositions, commences with a bass ostinato, setting a framework for each of the soloists to improvise over.  Cedar Walton's Bolivia follows on, maintaining the pace set by the two previous tracks.
The title track, Arrythmia (apparently so named after O'Connell's lifelong heart condition), starts with a bass solo from Peter Slavov, the other instruments joining in sequentially – the bass line forming the “heartbeat” of the piece.  Arrhythmia is slightly less frenetic than the preceding tracks and a bit more laid back.  The class musicianship of this sextet, particularly evident here, is present throughout the album.  This is the longest track coming in at just over nine and one half minutes.
In the Wee Small Hours (David Mann) is the only other “standard” on the album, all the other items being original O'Connell compositions.  This ballad gives musicians and listener a well-earned rest before the pace hots up again with the playfully swinging Millie (named after O'Connell's dog). 
Crayons (the only writing implement available to O'Connell when he finally had the tune he wanted!) follows next. 
Solidarity was originally composed as a closer for the live set, a groove over which O'Connell would speak to the audience, but he liked playing it so much he stuck it at the end of the album too - no talking on this one – but my review copy gave up half way through this track and all I heard was a set of clicks from then on... (a quick clean sorted that).

When presented with CDs to review by BSH, I find they generally fall into one of three categories:  thoroughly enjoy on first listening; unsure on first listening, but the music grows on you, not over-impressed on first or subsequent listening – Arrythmia resoundingly falls in to the first of these categories.  This album is a cracking debut and a pleasure to listen too.  All the members of the sextet achieve a beautiful tone on their individual instruments (yes even the drums – drum solos are muted, but exquisite!).

Arrythmia is out now, released by Outside in Music as a digital download or limited edition (300) CD. 
http://outsideinmusic.bandcamp.com/album/arrhythmia

Hugh.

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