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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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

Thursday, January 18, 2018

CD Review: Kate McGarry - The Subject Tonight is Love

Kate McGarry (vocals); Gary Versace (piano/keys/organ/accordion); Keith Ganz (guitars) + Obed Calvaire (drums on Whiskey); Ron Miles (trumpet on All You Need is Love).
(Review by Lance).
Until this moment in time, to me, Secret Love meant either Doris Day or Carmen McRae. Our girl Zoe Gilby does a very fine version of incorporating the two but now, Kate McGarry gives us another take and it's a good one!
Seven critically acclaimed albums to her name, a Grammy nomination and 4-star reviews in Downbeat, tell us that this is no new kid on the block. A voice that explores the meanings behind the words, that fiddles with the tune, more Carmen than Doris but tonally not close to either. She composes too.
Climb Down/Whiskey You're the Devil, an exploration of her family tree, includes such lines as;
The roads your horses plowed (sic) we have sowed.
They turned to Christ, they turned to drink, they turned to skin and bones.
It's the church or the pub, choose your cages.
Husband Ganz plays guitar and had a hand in the arrangements as well as providing, along with Versace, solid support.
Versace also has many solos that rubber stamps his credentials. Gone With the Wind sees Kate moving into Ella/Anita territory and maybe, just maybe, takes it to an even higher level.
My  Funny Valentine, like Secret Love, pays no homage to past versions and lifts the Rodgers and Hart classic from the Overdone File to the Exciting New File.
What a Difference a Day Made - a great version with Versace on organ. - challenges the 'Divine One's' version. 
The final blast on All You Need is Love is so good that, at first, you wish you hadn't had so long to wait! However, listening again, you realise that this is what it's all building up to. After all, the album is titled, The Subject Tonight is love* and that is a subject every person on the planet knows about!
It's quite a beautiful record and I'm amazed that her name isn't better known on this side of the Atlantic. But, as I've said before, there does seem to be a jazz singer on every block in every corner of the jazz world. 
McGarry has the edge on most, she could work jazz rooms, folk festivals, I think she could slot into either or maybe, given the parochial attitudes of both, neither.
That would be a great loss for both communities.
Lance
^The subject tonight is love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As of a matter of fact
I know of no better topic,
For us to discuss,
Until we die.
(Persian poet & mystic, Hafiz - 14th century)

1 comment :

Patti said...

This sounds wonderful, Lance - I reckon I'll add it to the order list! And those 14thC Persian poets certainly had a way with romantic words!

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