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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Monday, August 07, 2017

CD Review: Introducing Gabriel Latchin Trio

Gabriel Latchin (piano); Tom Farmer (bass); Josh Morrison (drums).
(Review by Lance).
They knew what they [Alys Jazz] were doing when they sent me this magic circle. From the opening measure, I was spellbound. A first call sideman, Latchin decided, in his own words, that it was time for him to step out of the shadows. After this debut, 120mm diameter piece of artistry, it's surely goodbye shadows.
A ravishing mix of originals and standards shows the Guildhall graduate to be as dexterous as any of today's piano-men and quite a few of yesterday's too. But it's not just the spectacular dashes around the 88s that slay me, it's also the choice of chords. Big fat juicy ones like we used to associate with Shearing, Peterson, Nat Cole, Garner, and Bud Powell. Latchin's harmonic scope is on a par with those worthys and no doubt many others who have influenced him along the way. Cedar Walton was one of those and Latchin pays tribute saying he should have retitled If I Only Had a Brain to If I Only Had Cedar's Brain! He's doing pretty damn good with the brain he's got thank you very much!
Apart from Brain, the other standards are: It Had to be You; Lover Man; Lush Life; Stompin' at the Savoy; Easy to Love and Can't we be Friends. All impeccably played and please don't read impeccably as an alternative to clinically which is what they certainly ain't!
On top of the standards are the originals. Carlora is dedicated to his parents and is a combination of places where they have lived - Carlisle, and Dora in Baghdad - Phineas Newborn provided the inspiration. Off the Latch, a bebop blast on Slow Boat to China changes. 
Trane Hopping came out of a Guildhall assignment to write a blues. 
Blues For Billy is a 3/4 tribute to Billy Higgins and Morrison handles this pressure-laden role well.
Holding it all together, as well as producing some beautifully round-toned solos, is Farmer; an in-demand bass player and, on the evidence here, justifiably so.
Released next month [Alys Jazz AJ1501] with a launch event at Pizza on Sept. 18. The trio also play gigs in Hove (14); Luton (16); Maidenhead (17) and Bristol (21).
Sadly neither Newcastle (or Clitheroe) make the short list.
Lance.

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