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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

CD Review: Seth MacFarlane - In Full Swing

Seth MacFarlane (vocal); Joel McNeely (producer/arranger); Norah Jones, Elizabeth Gillies (guest vocals).
(Review by Lance)
Seth MacFarlane is more than just a Family Guy, to quote the title of the TV show he's perhaps best known for - in the eyes of Joe Public. However, in the more discerning eyes and ears of the Bebop Spoken Here readership, MacFarlane is much more.
He's just about the classiest male vocalist around at present. Is he a jazz singer? Was Sinatra, Astaire or Crosby? Are Bublé or Bennett? Who cares? His albums invariably hit the top spots on the jazz charts but what do they know?
What I do know is that he can interpret a lyric as good as any singer past or present. The only thing he lacks is that individual stamp that identifies any of the above names. MacFarlane, nevertheless, has such a great voice that upon hearing him on late night radio you'll end up having a sleepless night trying to put a face and a name to the voice.
The singer also had a hand in the arrangements by Joel McNeely suggesting tempos and subtle changes of mood. The result would have done Nelson Riddle proud.
The material is a mix of the lesser known and the almost forgotten. The blurb sums him up accurately.
MacFarlane is the rare revivalist who knows that the Great American Songbook is more than a 100 pages thick.
Take a look at the list:
1.          The First Time It Happens                 0:03:53  
2.          Almost Like Being In Love               0:02:49           
3.          Isn't This A Lovely Day                     0:03:41           
4.          For You, For Me, For Evermore        0:03:08           
5.          Like Someone In Love                      0:03:26
6.          That Face                                           0:02:36           
7.          If I Had A Talking Picture Of You    0:03:06
             (Featuring Norah Jones)           
8.          I'm Glad There Is You                        0:03:07           
9.          You Couldn't Be Cuter                       0:02:30           
10.        I Like Myself                                      0:03:55
11.        You Can't Love 'Em All                     0:02:25
12.        Have You Met Miss Jones?               0:03:06
13.        A Kiss Or Two                                    0:02:23
14.        But Beautiful                                      0:03:52
15.        Moonlight Becomes You                    0:02:58
16.        Bonus Track: My Buick, My Love and I         0:02:01
             (Featuring Elizabeth Gillies).
After Seth MacFarlane's debut album back in 2012 I was so excited that I got myself on the Press List for his concert at Ronnie's. Alas, such was the demand for tickets from his fans that the Press List was trimmed and me with it.
This has made up for that disappointment.
Amazon.
Listen.
Lance.
at

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