Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Jamie Brownfield Quartet @ Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival - July 2

Jamie Brownfield; (trumpet); Tom Kincaid (piano); Ken Marley (double bass); Jack Cotterill (drums).
(Review by Annie O’Donnell)
Night Train opens set with a snazzy piano/bass intro.  They mean business / Jamie looks like a slick detective, in fact they all look like detectives...on a film set...
Literally, a Walking Bass Line as Ken walks with it to get comfy... 
he is strong and steady.
slaps out a happy bass melody in his solo
Ken's style reminds me of a Detective Sergeant I worked with. 
Jaggy jumpy piano.
Where Or When is played. It’s from film When Harry Met Sally
Ken plays a slow smooch smooth sexy bass line
Tender slow piano interweaving with Jamie's trumpet.
Ken's Bass is singing like a lover and he is dancing with it
I am reminded of the legend
As he slides his hand up and down the frets so lovingly.
His solo is a song, not a chord progression on a fast tight race 
It is a joy to hear and to see...there are not many bass players
who know how to do this with a double bass
and this is why he reminds me of Ron Mathewson..
Ken Loves His Bass
and his bass loves him back.

Softly As In a Morning Sunrise 
Satchmo comes to mind..
Jamie  has the most wonderful breath control
so smooth ...
an unexpected fan crawls along the grass to get closer
an orange and brown butterfly who suddenly
disappears in the afternoon sunshine...
Jack is a tight sensitive drummer with
an ear to hear when to augment and diminish
his sound...he is not intrusive but 
you know he is there..'

Do Nothing ‘til You Hear From Me is perfect.

Jamie's rendition, Chet Baker style, of My Funny Valentine
Big Bass BAP BAP Heart sound
Tinkling Piano
so beautiful
touched me so much
I wrote a lyric for a new song
I'm collaborating on
so what more praise can I give?*
Annie O' Donnell  
*Jamie and his fellow musicians opened
my heart to pour out my emotion
when the song is finished 
I will send it to Bebop


1 comment :

Patti D (on F/b) said...

A great review - and I'm thrilled that we have Jamie playing for us at the Mike Durham's Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party in October!

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