Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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, September 08, 2017

The London Jazz Players - The News Where You Are (download).

Steve Lodder (piano); Davide Mantovani (bass); Marc Parnell (drums).
(Review by Lance.)
I rarely review singles and downloads and this would have been no exception had it not landed on the doormat in CD form even though it is only available as a download via the usual suspects.
As it only runs to a mere 3.21 mins., and the players are of high standing in the UK jazz scene, I decided to lend an ear. With just over 3 minutes to go, I was lending both ears! This was due to Mantovani's sonorous double bass introduction which struck a chord with me immediately and I sensed that this was going to be 3 minutes and 99p well spent.

Lodder and Parnell joined in. The piano stating the theme before going into a Bach like extemporisation.  Parnell, son of the late Jack, made his presence felt, driving it along inspiring and inspired by Lodder's flow of ideas and the ever constant Mantovani.
I'm not sure if this is the finished product or if it's a taster of things to come in the form of an album.
Much credit must be given to the team of Jason Doll-Steinberg and Ruth Wilson who composed, arranged, and produced The News Where You Are.
Doll-Steinberg is a London based guitarist and songwriter who has just recorded more music with Lodder and trumpet ace Steve Waterman.
Wilson, who originally belonged Glasgow, has studied Jazz Performance, Vocals and Composition and is currently working for John Etheridge transcribing some of his guitar solos.
Lance.

1 comment :

TheLJPS said...

Hi Lance, thanks for the great review, really pleased you lent both ears and enjoyed the piece, as well as Steve, Davide and Marc's wonderful playing. We hope to be working on more material soon.
Best Wishes,
Ruth and Jason

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