Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

CD Review: Leigh Pilzer - Strunkin''

Leigh Pilzer (bari); Jen Krupa (tmb); Jackie Warren (pno); Amy Shook (bs); Sherrie Maricle (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Women Make Music has, over the past couple of years, become a movement widely supported in the UK by various organisations such as Jazz North East who've brought several contemporary jazz women to the attention of the Tyneside audience. Long may they continue to do so and, if the name of Leigh Pilzer (or any of her four sidekicks) is offered up to the aforementioned JNE may I suggest they welcome them with open arms!

Pilzer blows the big horn with the technique and panache of  Mulligan, Challoff, Payne, Cuber, Temperley and just about any other baritone saxist you care to  mention and after you've listened to Miss Ally in Allywood, you'll add Harry Carney to the mix.
Despite having all these ghosts surrounding her Pilzer still comes out as very much her own woman.
Baritone sax player, composer too. Six originals plus one each from Jen and Amy. Jen Krupa plays trombone with the fire that her unrelated namesake played drums. Listen to her plunger chorus on Amy's Brag Time. How can someone so young sound like someone so old and long gone? (Tricky Sam) and, believe you me that's a compliment to both Jen and Tricky Sam!
Amy and Sherrie complement each other They gel whilst Jackie's piano makes them the ideal rhythm section.
Leigh originally planned on becoming a cellist but, by the time she'd graduated from high school she'd become bejazzled through listening to the music of Lester Young, Dexter Gordon and Count Basie starting out on alto but finding true love in the bigger Eb horn.
After earning a bachelor's degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging from Berklee she returned to Washington DC where she's an on-call freelancer as well as playing in various bands with the above girls.
This isn't 'pretty damn good for five women' - it would be pretty damn good for any five of any gender you care to name!
I'm not sure what's playing on my car stereo at present but, even if it's whoever it is, they're history! Tomorrow, it's going to be me and five women making beautiful music.
Where to park?
Lance.

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