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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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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