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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 14: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners @ Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Woodhorn Museum, Ashington. 10:00am-5:00pm. Free. At intervals during the day.
Sat 14: Spanish City Rollers @ The Brae, Cullercoats. 11:00am & 1:00pm. Free. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Front Porch Three + Hoodoo Blues swing dance workshop @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 3:30pm. A Cullercoats Festival event.
Sat 14: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival, Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. 4:15-5:30pm.
Sat 14: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 14: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 14: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 14: Eva Fox & Steve Chambers @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free..
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00..
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’..
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. .
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

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

Saturday, November 12, 2016

CD Review: Brandi Disterheft - Blue Canvas


Brandi Disterheft (bs/cello/vcl); Harold Mabern (pno); Joe Farnsworth (dms).
(Review by Lance).
To my shame, I was unaware of Ms. Disterheft even though this is her fourth album  on Justin Time Records [get it?]. The vocalist/bassist/cellist has  been referred to as "handling her bass violin with as much visceral audacity as Mingus once did", whilst Oscar Peterson said of her, "She is what we call serious".
So, no lightweight.
However, the heavyweight here is Harold Mabern - the pianist has, probably, been on more gigs and albums than the other two combined - three times over.
Now 80 year old, he is still [quote] Tinkling the ivories with soulful panache. Tinkling them? He's making them so much a part of him he's likely to grow a trunk and become prey to a bounty hunter. We pray not. I don't know how many legendary jazz pianists are still around but, on this performance, they're all fighting for second place.
This is not to take anything away from Brandi, the jury may still be out re Mingus but she's a damn fine bassist and certainly sings better than Mingus.
In the liner notes, Brandi explores the Divine Madness, as philosophized by Plato, depicting how Gods and Goddesses would lead the artist into a state of ecstasy.
By this time, I'd made a paper airplane out of the notes, closed my eyes and enjoyed a superb trio album without any divine madness.
Dis Here (Hendricks/Timmons): The trio set their stall out and it's quality merchandise. Where has Mabern been hiding?
Prelude to the Crippling Thrill (Disterheft): Unaccompanied double bass - maybe Brandi does have some of Mingus' visceral audacity!
Crippling Thrill (Disterheft); The lady can sing!
Beehive (Mabern): Mabern's tune, previously recorded with Lee Morgan 46 years ago. provides  a workout for Farnsworth. The pair have gigged together for the past 25 years so, needless to say, they've got it right. 
Daahoud (C.Brown); Mabern treats the Clifford Brown classic as a ballad with touches of Teddy Wilson and Errol Garner thrown into the mix and Brandi plays a bass solo that didn't do any harm at all.
Blue Canvas (Disterheft): The second vocal. This lady could make it with, or without the bass, as a singer, composer and lyricist although I hope she sticks with all her options!
George's Dilemma (C.Brown): Another Brown classic and Farnsworth's let loose.
When the Mood is Right (Disterheft): A further string to her bow - in this case a cello string. I guess it will be viola next.
Our Delight (Dameron); Back to bass, weaving expertly around Dameron's great lines. As Oscar said, "Serious". Mabern also gets back into the game with a fine solo and some salty exchanges with Farnsworth.
Willow Weep For me (Ronell): Brandi gave the Ronnell (Gershwin?) tune a workout before Mabern trumped her (that phrase is now passé) with a fantastic solo that led into a fade-out ending.
Lance

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