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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 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

Thursday, December 29, 2016

CD Review: Camilla George - Isang

Camilla George (alto); Sarah Tandy (piano); Daniel Casimer (bass); Femi Koleoso (drums); Zara McFarlane (vocal - 1 track).
(Review by Lance).
Ubuntu Music, is a newly formed recorded music label committed to bringing quality, accessible jazz and related music genres to increasingly wider audiences.
So reads the blurb and, if this release is typical they're in with a shot. All they need is the airplay and the media coverage. Well, they've got BSH's thumbs up for starters.
Trinity graduate George, her mentors include Toussaint, Kofi, Siegel and Speake, is one of the most delightful alto players to emerge in recent years. Lyrical, melodic, never a note out of place.
Neither too many, nor too little, the MOBO nominated Nigerian saxophonist sails through the changes. There's a modern-day bop feel to the opener Mami Wata whilst Lunacity, not surprisingly, is based on It's Only a Paper Moon. There's also a quote or two from Rollins' Don't Stop the Carnival.
Sarah Tandy also strikes a blow for Women Make Music, her playing is an absolute delight. Restrained but so effective. Bill Evans and Ellis Larkins spring to mind although, quite possibly, the next time I listen to those two it will be Sarah Tandy that springs to mind. Casimer we know well from appearances at The Globe this past year and, although Zara McFarlane only enhances one track it's enough to remind us of her appearances at Sage Gateshead.
Like George, McFarlane came through the ranks of Tomorrow's Warriors - what a finishing school that must have been!
Drummer Koleoso is also an ex-Warrior and it shows. He lays it all down, solos, lurks in the shadows, his presence felt rather than heard but, when the chips are down - he's heard!
The band's doing a CD launch tour that begins at Pizza Express, Soho, on January 11, takes a breather to (hopefully) have more CDs pressed then heads north in February.
Sheffield; Manchester; Ambleside; Leeds then, just as you think Newcastle is going to be on the itinerary they shoot off down to Kenilworth; Wrexham and Swansea!
So, we're not going to catch this great band live but the CD will go someway towards making up for it.
Lance.
PS: If I get around to making out anymore Best of 2016 lists this one will be riding high even though the release date isn't until January 2017.

1 comment :

Martin Hummel said...

Thanks, Lance. Much appreciated.

Best wishes, Martin Hummel

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