Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Tue 08: Seijiro Murayama & Jean-Luc Guionnet @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Warwick St., Newcastle, NE2 1BB. 7.00pm. £10.00 (advance); £12.00 (on door); £.15.00 (solidarity).
Tue 08: SH#RP Collective @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 08: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

CD Review: Brent Laidler - No Matter Where Noir.

(Review by Lance)
----- 
Intro and dialogue.
(Telephone rings)
"Miami - 1959"
"Hello?"
"Oh Good, You're still there!"
Her voice was well modulated but somewhat breathless with an accent I couldn't place.
"So what can I do for you?"
"Your ad in the phone book says you specialize in missing persons, are you any good at it?"
"I'd like to think so. So who's missing and how long have they been gone?"
"Me. I mean... I don't know."
Most 'Persons' cases start out pretty simple. This didn't seem to be one of them.
You don't have to wear a trenchcoat or a fedora pulled down over your eyes, or walk down mean streets or drink shots of Bourbon like as though they were soda pops, to enjoy this atmospheric album but I'll bet you're imagining you are as you get deeper and deeper into the music.
Although set in Miami, this is the world of Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane set to music. Music composed by Brent Laidler that captures the era of pulp magazines - the gumshoes, slinky dames, hoods wearing black shirts with white ties, the two-bit rooming houses, the bars, the night clubs and the other archetypal people and places that populated those mean streets.
The musicians capture the mood to perfection - 1950's Blue Note. 
Buselli brings Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan to mind. Shiner is Milt Jackson with a warmer sound. Saxman Boyd is a swinger who wails emotively when the scenario demands it. Listen to his baritone on Heavy Memphis Jones. The inspiration may have come from Have You Met Miss Jones? but the portrait is that of a badass dude hitman. 
Throughout, Newman's piano slots in so easily as does Pazera's bass whilst the two drummers who split the tracks are also on the case.
Titles: Downtown by Nine; Jamie's Joynt; Sixth Sense; No Matter Where Noir; Southern Gate; Heavy Memphis Jones; Law of Attraction; Not Just Another Waltz; Meet me at the Havana Hilton; Keep me in Mind.
Rarely has a concept album got it so so right but Laidler with his compositions and his playing is on the money. 
Lance.
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