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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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 14, 2016

CD Review: Newport All Stars - Tribute to Duke.

George Wein (piano); Ruby Braff (cornet); Joe Venuti (violin); Red Norvo (vibes); Barney Kessel/Kenny Burrell (guitars); Larry Ridley (bass); Don Lamond (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Recorded live in Basel, Switzerland, a George Wein led group of handpicked mainstreamers pays tribute to Duke Ellington. 
Don Lamond, perhaps best remembered as a big band drummer kickstarts Sweet Georgia Brown with an explosion that would have launched the Third Herd on a trip to Mars let alone Joe Venuti who meets fire with fire with an incendiary solo of his own.
Venuti gets further into his stride on Undecided before handing over to Kessel who plays as tasteful as ever then passes the ball back to Venuti who takes it for a chordal ride-out. Venuti remains centre stage for Sophisticated Lady. He really was an outstanding player and it's good that our local 'Josephine' Venuti - Emma Fisk - keeps his memory alive.

Kessel is featured on Daydream. Totally unaccompanied, Barney displays his artistry with as tasteful a piece of guitar playing as I've heard since the last time I heard him. Was it at the Peoples Theatre, the University Theatre or Gosforth Civic Hall? Thanks to his friendship with Maurice Summerfield the guitar maestro was a frequent, and most welcome, visitor to Newcastle.
Ruby Braff steps up to the plate for I've Got it Bad which serves to remind us of those halcyon days when the greats had an easily identifiable style. With recent Blaydon Jazz Club visitor George Wein on piano and more Kessel chording, this is just about unbeatable.
More solo guitar but, this time, it's KB rather than BK on Just-a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'. Burrell gives an equally impressive performance - a heavier blues-based style that offered contrast to Barney's lighter, more nimble approach. Deed I Do  had solos all-round including Norvo on vibes whilst Braff put his inimitable brand on If I Could be With You. Ridley also solos and the bassist has his own moment of glory on Things Ain't What They Used to be.
The album draws to a close with a spirited rendition by les tout ensemble on Rose Room. Following Wein's intro, Braff is at his most fiery before making way for Kessel, Norvo and Wein to take it out. Not sure where Venuti was on this final number - perhaps he'd left to buy a cuckoo clock.
Highly recommended.
Lance.
Released digitally on December 30 by MPS.

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