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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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, October 06, 2016

CD Review: Carol Bach-y-Rita: Minha Casa (My House)

Carol Bach-y-Rita (vocals); Larry Koonse (guitar); Bill Cantos (piano); John Leftwich (bass); Mike Shapiro (drums, perc); Dudu Fuentes (perc on 1 track).
(Review by Ann Alex)
A fine polished CD of standards and originals by a talented singer and stellar musicians, some of whose names are familiar to me from other items on BSH, not really sure where or when. The cover information includes a basic description of each track, eg Nature Boy,’voice, drum duet, improvised, which is very helpful. A crafty reviewer, (not allowed on BSH!) could have written a review without listening, but that would have meant missing a treat.
Carol Bach-y-Rita has an international outlook, having lived in several countries, and is heavily influenced by Brazilian rhythms.  Her formative years in Northern California included a European tour whilst living in Paris. Work in radio and TV  also sidelined her musical ambitions hence this, I think, being only her second CD.
Now for a rundown of each track.  Morning Coffee (Bill Cantos):  a lively samba with a fast, snappy piano solo, clever lyrics (you're my morning coffee, English breakfast, etc’) and well-blended scat, which fits the tune and is not merely a clever additive.
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To: with guitar and drums and a slow 6/8 feel
A Night In Tunisia: Scat, percussion and piano, ringing ‘eastern’ guitar and fast words with clever diction.
Tis Autumn: warm guitar, brushed drums, straight-ahead singing.
The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines: (Joni Mitchell/Mingus) done as a samba-reggae
Nature Boy: my favourite track, a fine voice/drum improvisation
Trust: a Bach-y-Rita original, sung to an unusual Maracatu rhythm
Pra Quem Quiser Me Visitar: a pleasant song about heaven in Spanish (or Portuguese?).
Gardening With No Pants: an original by our singer, voice only, and percussion from Fuentes, exciting listening.
Love Look Away: A love song, re-arranged to be a modal version, from major to minor.
While My Lady Sleeps: piano and voice duet, a very romantic ending to a great CD.
Ann Alex.
Now available on, UPC 888295487788 – Samples.
at

1 comment :

Steven T said...

Great cover, or is that alpha-male locker-room banter. Think I'll go and punch a colleague.

Monday, October 10, 2016 2:36:00 pm

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