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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

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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