Total Pageviews

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

Saturday, December 10, 2016

CD Review: New York Brass Band - Hardcore Horn


(Review by Lance).
A familiar sight on the streets of York and at weddings and corporate functions in and around the ancient streets of that renowned cathedral city - not to mention festivals further afield - the New York Brass Band bring a taste of present-day New Orleans to present-day North Yorkshire.
It's soulful and swinging, pulsating and percussive. I first heard them at the Cumberland Arms back in 2013. Then, I was informed, they were banned by the council from busking on the streets of their hometown because of causing traffic congestion. I don't know if the ban was ever rescinded - I can understand both sides of the argument - but I think it's fair to say that, wherever they play, they're going to draw a crowd.
On this disc, they're bumped up with several guests including Alan Barnes who plays a blistering solo on Better Get Hit in Your Soul which is the same number, with the added
H, as the Charles Mingus tune!
You Got the Love has a vocal by Grace Lancaster - lots of Lancasters in this Yorkshire band - and more super saxing, this time by Adrian Cox.
Al Morrison lays down some earthy guitar blues playing on Chico's Time paving the way for Jack Davis on trumpet.
These are just some of the delights, there are more. Alan Barnes' Crackers, written especially for the band, features the composer on soprano and Charlie Lancaster on trombone. Another is Tim Hurst's vocal on Easy (like Sunday morning). He does Lionel Ritchie proud and Adrian Cox's tenor break does no harm either.
Stuart Macdonald is best man at The Wedding, his poignant alto capturing the flavour of the Abdullah Ibrahim opus before the band segue into township mode for Lancaster, James', African Highlife. Dan Webster blows trumpet and Alan Barnes plays alto.
Grace L takes on the mantle of Amy W for Tears Dry on Their Own - The House of Lancaster is a truly noble dynasty although it is Tim Hurst who takes the trombone ride-out.
Strasbourg St. Denis features Jack Davis blowing lyrically and Al Morrison back on guitar in  a superb arrangement by Jack Lancaster of Roy Hargreaves' well-known composition.
Sweet Dreams are Made of This is perhaps as perfect an example as any as to how songs of more recent vintage are as jazz-friendly as GASbook items.
Title track, Hardcore Horns, has les tout ensemble, sans guests, blowing and soloing with wild abandon. A party showstopper.
Grace brings things to a close with Call me Al - quite an album!
Lance.
James Lancaster (sousaphone); John Settle (drums); Stuart Macdonald (saxes); Charlie Lancaster (trombone); Tim Hurst (trombone/vocal); Jack Davis, Dan Webster (trumpets) + (on various tracks) Al Morrison (guitar); Alan Barnes (saxes); Grace Lancaster (vocals); Andrew Cox (tenor); Simon Dennis (trumpet).

No comments :

Blog Archive