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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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: Remi Harris - In On The 2

Remi Harris (lead/rhythm guitar); Mike Green (bass).
(Intro by Lance).
This remarkable CD came with a free Yardbird Arts ball-pen - who says I can't be bought!
I rarely print press releases in place of a personal review  (with or without a free pen). Often the press releases end up as paper airplanes or are used for less, but often more fitting, salubrious purposes. However, on this occasion, the PR says it all and I can but rubber stamp it along with the approval accorded to this young man from that hotbed of jazz - Worcestershire - by John Etheridge, Martin Taylor, Jamie Cullum and Digby Fairweather.
From the opening bars of Can't Buy Me Love, as Django may have played it, to the earthiness of Need Your Love so  Bad I figured this was something special.
It was and is!
Lance.

(Press Release)
Following a packed 2015 which saw his debut album placed in the "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart" top 30, numerous plays on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 and accolades from Jamie Cullum & Cerys Matthews. He was awarded 2nd place in the Rising Star Category of the 2015 British Jazz Awards and named in The Culture Trip's "10 Young British Jazz Musicians You Should Know” and now Remi is back with a new release on the newly formed label 'Yardbird Arts'.
Whilst he is best known for his playing within the gypsy swing and jazz genres, Remi draws influences from many other forms of music. Be it his roots as a rock and blues guitarist or his interest in hip-hop, electronic and world music, he is keen to allow all of his influences to shine through at every given opportunity. While his debut was very much a 'Gypsy Jazz' album this latest release, though clearly rooted in gypsy swing, features a more eclectic selection of tracks, each morphing into something unique under Remi’s hands.
From the infectious Djangoesque rendition of The Beatles, “Can’t Buy Me Love”, to an intense and rampant arrangement of Ray Noble’s “Cherokee”. This leads to “Cissy Strut”, written by funk band The Meters and featuring Mike Green on the double bass. “Round Midnight” is a smoky jazz ballad, dreamy and soothing. Next up is a unique take on Dhafer Youssef's “Odd Elegy”, an interesting composition written in the time signature 39/16. “Have You Met Miss Jones” stands as a tribute to one of the jazz greats, Joe Pass, and with Buddy Montgomery’s “Bock to Bock”, Remi uses an archtop jazz guitar to channel the sensuous sounds of guitarist Wes Montgomery. Neil Young's Old man is played on a solid body electric guitar and sees Remi utilising a bottleneck slide, while Bill Evans' “Waltz for Debby” is a personal choice for Remi and is dedicated to his Grandad. This is followed by is a driving gypsy style version of “Puttin’ on the Ritz”. The final winding and delicate, bluesy number is “Need Your Love So Bad” which features Remi on his solid body electric guitar.
 All guitars on 'In On The 2' were played by Remi with the lead parts being recorded first to a guide track, and the rhythm parts played to the recorded lead parts. This was done to allow Remi to respond as a jazz rhythm section might to the lead playing to create a more live and improvised sound. Double bass was played by seasoned pro, Mike Green.

For more info please visit Remi’s website - www.remiharris.com

'In On The 2' is exclusively available through - www.yardbirdarts.com

“incredible guitarist... I'm absolutely blown away by his talent" Jamie Cullum

"Remi Harris is one of the most exciting young guitarists in the Gypsy Jazz world” Martin Taylor

"a tremendously gifted young player” John Etheridge

"absolutely brilliant" Cerys Matthews

“astonishing” Digby Fairweather


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