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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. 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

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

CD Review: Larry Corban - Corban Nation.

Larry Corban (guitar); Harvie S (bass/bass guitar); James Weidman (piano/B3); Steve Williams (drums) + Steve Slagle (soprano/alto).
(Review by Lance.)
This one's been on the backburner for a while. Reviewers will be familiar with the scenario - you earmark an album for review and another six come through the mailbox...
Well, all that arrived today was a catalogue from The House of Bath offering bargains galore - why do these catalogue people have to use such shiny paper?
So, tonight it was just me and Larry Corban and the Aperturistic Trio plus, on three tracks, Steve Slagle.
A delightful disc that doesn't seek to push any boundaries and, if the leader's statement that The energy this group generates on this recording is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle may be slightly over the top it cannot be denied that they do blow up a storm.
Corban, whom I presume, composed most of the nine compositions (I Should Care being the token standard and, likewise, Segment - the jazz standard.) can swing or rock as the mood takes and the moods do vary. Example; Harvie S' bowed bass head on Child's Tune leading nicely into Corban's most melodic offering with Weidman maintaining the feeling. This, however, is one of those albums where each track has its own characteristic, each one offering contrasting delights and, as a bonus the three  tracks with Slagle on soprano or alto, the icing on the cake.
There are influences - Metheny, Martino, Scofield, McLaughlin. Which of today's guitarists hasn't absorbed the teachings of those Grandmasters? But there's a difference between influence and cloning. Corban walks the same broad avenue but at his pace taking the occasional alternate route, sometimes looking backward, sometimes looking forward, but getting there just the same.
Not surprisingly, it's self-released (the label's name gives it away - Nabroc Records) and, excellent as it is, in today's market I doubt if it's going to unleash too much lightning from the bottle.
Lance.
HOW WRONG CAN I BE?
Just heard it on the Grape that the album is now number 3 on the RMR Top 50 Jazz Chart.
Number 8 on the CMJ Top 40 Jazz Chart, along with being the 'Biggest Gainer' and 'Most Added' at Jazzweek.
Now, I'm not quite sure what all these accolades add up to - me being an Englishman in Newcastle - but it sounds to be more than a hill of beans. Best check it out here.

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