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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

CD Review: Frank Kimbrough - Solstice

Frank Kimbrough (pno) Jay Anderson (bass) Jeff Hirschfield (dms).
(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Frank Kimbrough is a very fine pianist who has had a long and successful career in jazz which has seen him work with Lee Konitz, Scott Robinson, Joe Locke, Paul Bley, Maria Schneider, Dewey Redman and the Gil Evans Project and he has more than twenty critically acclaimed albums to his name.   This CD has him collaborating with long-time musical companions, bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Jeff Hirschfield on music by those who’ve influenced him such as Carla Bley, Paul Motian, Annette Peacock, Andrew Hill, Maria Schneider and Maryanne de Prophetis.

Carla Bley’s Seven immediately sets the tone for the whole set – a simple, languid, out-of-tempo theme with attractive, perceptive work from the bassist. Gershwin’s lovely Here Come The Honey Man has a long intro which leads into development between piano and bass highlighting Anderson’s contribution, also a constantly chattering commentary from the drums anchors the whole piece.
Solstice by Maryanne de Prophetis is a pleasing song with a major/minor feel and a chord sequence reminiscent of Autumn Leaves and Peace Piece.   Flowing solos follow from piano and bass. Paul Motian’s The Sunflower has a short, angular theme of unexpected intervals leading to an accomplished drum solo leading to further “free-ish” contributions from the trio. Annette Peacock wrote Albert’s Love Theme for Albert Ayler which slowly and quietly meanders through a reflective, meditative piece. Frank’s own Question’s The Answer (ie the question IS the answer) has a vague connection to the blues. This cleverly thought-out piece floats in six-eight time through various key changes and still retains a clear “bluesy” feel at medium tempo. Andrew Hill’s From California With Love features an angular theme and much interplay between the trio in a ‘modern and free style’ with some lovely moments from bass and piano. Annette Peacock’s second song El Cordobes has an attractive melody with a strong Spanish influence. An appropriate bass solo leads to more piano/bass exploration with drums adding a note of urgency. Walking By Flashlight - Maria Schneider’s beautiful song - is given a touching performance. Frank really makes the piano ‘sing’ here and it’s an apt homage to the composer herself.
Throughout this album the playing is thoughtful, generally played at slow or languid tempo, venturing ‘outside’ at times with some almost telepathic interplay from all three musicians. To quote the promotional material “ the trio have created a graduated musical atmosphere that envelops the enigmatic and the translucent, the mysterious and the artlessly elegant.”     Yep…..!
Dave Brownlow.
Frank Kimbrough Trio CD  “SOLSTICE” Available on Pirouet Records   PIT 3097.

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