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Bebop Spoken There

Don Rendell: “The public...complain of a lack of modern jazz in their area and then don't support it when it arrives." - (Melody Maker, May 5th 1962)

Ronnie Scott: "People are just not prepared to sit and listen to jazz during the week." – (Melody Maker, July 21st 1962)

Today Thursday July 20

Afternoon
Vieux Carré Jazzmen - Holystone, Whitley Rd., nr. Newcastle NE27 0DA. 1:oopm. Free.
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Evening.
Sarathy Korwar Quintet - Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre, 59 Westgate Rd., Newcastle NE1 1SG. 8pm. £10. (£8 conc.).JNE gig.
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Tyne Valley Big Band + Tyne Valley Youth Big Band + Tyne Valley Junior Jazz Ensemble -Phoenix Bar, Chisholm Place, Hexham. 6pm (Collection).
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Maine Street Jazzmen - Potter's Wheel, Sunniside NE16 5EE, 8:30pm. Free.
Screamin' Miss Jackson & the Slap Ya Mama Big Band - The Schooner, South Shore Rd., Gateshead. 8:30pm. Free.
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Tees Hot Club w. James Harrison (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor); Ray Dales (alto) - Dormans, Oxford Rd., Middlesbrough TS5 5DT. Free. 9pm.
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Saturday, June 03, 2017

CD Review: Allegra Levy - Cities Between Us

Allegra Levy (vocal/composer); Kirk Knuffke (cornet); Stephen Riley (tenor); Carmen Staaf (piano/arr); Jay Anderson (bass); Billy Drummond (drums).
(Review by Lance).
The second album by the young New York singer is in complete contrast to her first album which was distinctly a display of downhearted yearning. Well done, but one to file alongside Gloomy Sunday.
There's a much more upbeat feel to this one. Mainly originals, except for Yesterdays and a couple of post bop standards with lyrics by Levy.
The voice is compelling. I didn't want to just listen, I wanted to meet her and, if I'd have been 60 years younger, I'd have wanted to date her!
When I was 60 years younger I felt the same way about Peggy Lee and Jeri Southern!

This gives an idea where Allegra Levy is coming from and, it has to be said, she fully deserves to be bracketed with the aforementioned divas.
Allegra met her boyfriend in Hong Kong where she lived for awhile. Now she's in New York and he's still in Hong Kong - maybe even popping into Ned Kelly's for a snifter - which is the inspiration for the title track.
The lyrics are worthy of any contemporary writer I didn't like Dear Friend - loved the words but not the music. Still, have you ever bought an album where you loved every track equally?
Ironically, Dear Friend is Allegra's favourite so I guess I won't get a Christmas card from her!
The band is absolutely cracking. Levy quotes Chet Baker as an inspiration and Knuffke's cornet brings Chet to mind. Did Chet ever record on cornet? That would have been lyricism to die for! Still, Knuffke is one of the most beautiful sounding players I've heard in recent years. Riley's tenor adds to the ambience, Staaf's piano and arrangements are ace whilst Drummond and Anderson are natural swingers.
One of the most enjoyable vocal albums I've heard this year.
Cherry Blossom Song; Lullaby of the Orient (Duke Jordan); I Shouldn't Tell You; Misery Makes the Music; Yesterdays (Jerome Kern); Dear Friend; Sleepwalk with me; Soy Califa (Dexter Gordon); Down Sunday (John McNeil); Leaving Today; Cities Between Us. 
Lance.
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Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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