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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Friday, January 06, 2017

CD Review: Ron Boustead - Unlikely Valentine

Ron Boustead (vocals); Bill Cunliffe (keys/B3); Mitchel Forman (keys/B3Accordion); John Leftwich (bass); Jake Reed (drums/perc.); Pat Kelley (guitars); Bob Sheppard (saxes/flute); Bob McChesney (trombone); Ron Stout (flugel); Fabiana Passoni (vocal on Til Now).
(Review by Lance).
Unlikely Valentine is an apt title as I don’t get many Valentine cards these days – I think the last one was in 1982 and then it was meant for the house next door – at least that’s what I told my wife which was when she told me that she'd sent it!.
There was an occasion at Blaydon Jazz Club on one VD when Zoe Gilby, upon discovering that I hadn’t received any cards, dedicated the most famous Valentine song of them all to me. Lots of sympathetic purring all round but the sympathy didn’t develop further!
Zoe and Alan Law, incidentally, are on at the Jazz Caff tonight – 9pm and free!
Back to the CD.
Boustead has covered the genres over his 34 year career much of which is reflected in the album.
The title track, based on the chords of the Rodgers and Hart classic has a lyric by Boustead but, close your eyes and it could be Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy or even, at a stretch, Mel Tormé. Cunliffe solos, arranges and Sheppard blows bop tenor. Think Marty Paich and you’ve got the idea.
Love Potion Number 9! Loved The Coasters recording – the lyric is out of this world – but never thought I’d hear it in a jazz context. A 6/8 jazz waltz with a touch of soul. B3 in there goosing it along.
Can you still buy bottles of the potion?
Let’s go out for Coffee is one of those contemporary lyrics that somehow catch the feel of today more than some of the better known GASbook items do. It's laidback and romantic with nice piano.
A must for every chanter/chanteuse.
I Won’t Scat has a Blossom Dearie feel to it but with B3 in there and it does have a few bars of some great scat!
Til Now (sic) a fluffy bossa with Passoni adding her vocal touches to Boustead’s.  If the album has a weak track this is it but, take it from me, it’s not that weak!
Autumn Leaves has Boustead vocalese - ing on a Chet Baker solo (he won’t scat but he will vocalese!) Tenor madness from Sheppard.
There's more much more. If this had been released in December it would be my vocal record of the year but, it's a long long time from January to December...
Lance.
Available - wait for it - on February 14. These marketing guys know their stuff.

1 comment :

Ron Boustead said...

Thank you for taking the time to listen to and write about my new CD, "Unlikely Valentine". We tend to create this music in our own little jazz vacuum, and it's always interesting and enlightening to hear reviews by objective, knowledgeable writers like yourself.
When you mention me in the same breath at Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy and Mel Torme, you honor me more than you could know. All three are idols of mine, especially Murphy who I studied and emulated early in my career, and who took an interest in me and became, to some degree, my mentor.
I do love my new song "Coffee", so it's especially gratifying for you to single it out in the context of the Great American Songbook. I hope many other singer will take a crack at it.
And finally, I will remind you later in the year about your saying, "If this had been released in December it would be my vocal record of the year..."
Ron.

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