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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

Saturday, February 10, 2018

CD Review: Dan Pugach Nonet - Plus One

(Review by Dave Brownlow)
Let’s get one thing quite clear from the start – this is an excellent album of modern/contemporary jazz played by a Nonet plus One of first-rate musicians who are not only terrific soloists but fine readers capable of playing and interpreting Dan Pugach’s complex charts. Dan is the bandleader/drummer/arranger/composer/ who’s been working at a high level in the jazz business since completing his Batchelor’s and Master’s degrees at Berklee and The City College of New York. As a composer/arranger, Dan brings such a freshness and imagination to the music rarely found today and as a drummer, he’s full of energy, driving the band, inspiring his soloists and occasionally soloing fiercely himself.
Brooklyn Blues is a rousing opener having a ‘funky’ groove providing opportunities for lively blues solos from trombone, baritone, drums and piano interspersed with tightly played ensemble sections. Coming Here is a medium-tempo original which has some lovely “Gil Evans-ish” harmonies and movement and features Ingrid Jensen’s first solo spot. She is now a quite outstanding trumpeter, playing with a warm burnished tone, swooping, gliding with great dexterity throughout the ranges of the horn with the fluency of (say) Kenny Wheeler or the great Fats Navarro. An expansive tenor solo follows driven by the leader through some fearsome note-reading by the band to a “Mulligan-esque” final chord.
Dolly Parton’s Jolene features Pugach’s wife Nicole Zuratis (described by the drummer as “my secret weapon”) in the first of four vocals of the album - which she also arranged herself. Carmen Staaf has the piano solo with echoes of McCoy Tyner in there. Ingrid again shines before a moving final conclusion
Zelda a gentle original ballad features David Smith on flugelhorn – another formidable talent, who’s clearly inspired by the arrangement. A blues-tinged Belo’s Bellow has a flowing alto solo from Andrew Gould with Staaf on electric piano providing another tone-colour. Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence has Nicole taking the vocal in an “operatic soprano style” which is surprising – but it works! There’s tenor sax, ensemble passages, a bass contribution before a final re-visit to the theme. Quincy Jones’ lovely song Love Dance is Nicole’s next vocal, this time back in ‘jazzy’ mode again. Smith makes two contributions to this track with astonishing virtuosity. Our Blues co-written by the husband and wife team is a down-home 12-bar blues which really gets to the bottom of the matter.  Nicole lays down the law here “I’ve got some news before I kick you out – You’re much more clever when you shut your mouth!” Gorgeous ensemble passages, a low-down piano solo from Staaf and a tenor solo add to the story. The closer Discourse This is a contemporary Pugach composition in several parts. Smith on trumpet has the up-tempo first segment, Gould on alto the slower middle section leading to a drums-led finale. Ambitious writing challenges the band throughout which makes for an exciting, abrupt ending. “The Sound Of Surprise” appears in every track!
Totally recommended, a rare 5 stars from me!
Released on February 16 by Unit Records UTR 4816 or at www.danpugach.com
Dave.
Ingrid Jensen or David Smith (tpt/flugel); Mike Fahie (tmb); Jen Hinkle (bass tmb); Andrew Gould (alto/flute); Jeremy Powell (tnr/clar); Anthony Gutauskas (bari/bass clar); Nicole Zuraitis (voice); Carmen Staaf or Jorn Swart (pno); Tamir Schmerling (bass); Bernardo Aguiar (pandiero); Dan Pugach (dm/composer/arranger/leader).

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