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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.

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

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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.

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

Sunday, November 13, 2016

CD Review: Rallidae – Turned, And Was

Angela Morris (tenor sax, vocals, composer, lyrics); Alex Samaras (lead vocals); Dustin Carlson (guitar, vocals); Scott Colberg  (bass, vocals); Nico Dann (drums, vocals). 
(Review by Ann Alex).
Following on from their EP Paper Birds, I’m pleased to review Rallidae’s full-length CD, entitled Turned And Was. I loved this recording too, which the band describes as ‘kaleidoscopic’, with ‘effects in turn sweet and unsettling’. Listen out for improvisational jazz, hints of ambiance, African keyboard riffs, wispy noises, New Orleans funeral music, plain chant, musical box sounds, and even singing which reminded me of the wonderful dissonance in many of the songs from The Incredible String Band (remember them from the hippy 1960’s?).

The music will appeal to lovers of improvisational jazz especially, and to all listeners with a wide accepting taste in music. For example, I loved the track Awake, which portrays a state of mind when you cannot sleep but are only half awake.  Tiny bell-like sounds accompany the repeated words ‘the things I wish you’d say are keeping me awake’ with snatches of the words from other voices, and the bass played slowly, ending in a final long tone, when perhaps he did fall asleep at last.
Now I Walk In Beauty has the voices singing a canon with an early music madrigal-like feel, concluding with bell- like music and a drone. The tracks don’t feature the usual jazz solos that we’re used to but there is fine playing from everyone. The other tracks, which I’d describe as a life enhancing style of music, include Drumheller (African piano sound); Take My hand Off The Wheel ( the most jazzy track, with a definite swing, to start with, anyway); Bird (including skilled tenor sax); Compass (new Orleans funeral music with a few quirks); Long Picture (good guitar solo); Sea Ice (clever depiction of coldness with high pitched tones); Still Breathing (builds to a climax, then quietly rounds off the CD well).
Angela Morris wrote all the music and lyrics, and the whole band was involved in the improvisations. Her music has been described as being between avant-jazz and pop. Ms Morris studied composition and is involved in other projects, including co-leading a 17 piece big band.  A lady of very varied talents.
The recording is available as a CD from November 18 and also as a digital download from NYC based Gold Bolus Recordings.

Ann Alex

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