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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s 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, February 14, 2018

CD Review: James Hall - Lattice

James Hall (trombone); Jamie Baum (flute/alto flute); Deanna Witkowski (piano/Rhodes); Tom DiCarlo (bass); Allan Mednard (drums) + Sharel Cassidy (alto on 2 tracks).
(Review by Lance).
Trombone and flute are not your usual frontline, in fact, apart from Herbie Hancock's Speak Like a Child, I can't think of another.
It doesn't matter. Even if trom/flute duos were as common as trumpet/tenor pairings this one would still stand out from the crowd. 
The two horns gel. Hall's round sound - dry but not brittle - contrasting nicely with Baum's virtuosic flights. They interweave seamlessly it's a musical marriage. And so it should be. The title track Lattice was written by Hall and is dedicated to his now wife Kristen, portraying the development of their romance.
Sharel Cassidy adds some distinctive alto to a couple of tracks providing an extra, boppier, dimension. Witkowski is another star. Whether 'comping or soloing on piano or Rhodes Witkowski is a voice to be heard. Listening to her solo on Traveler it's no surrprise to learn that she's worked with Donny McCaslin, accompanied Lizz Wright, released six albums of her own, as well as holding down the piano chair with the Jim McNeeley led BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra to mention but a few of her past achievements
DiCarlo and Mednard hold it all together with the latter also breaking out on Traveler (their spelling). All but two of the compositions are by Hall revealing a lyricism in his writing that echoes his playing.
The two non-Hall pieces are Joe Henderson's Black Narcissus and Kenny Wheeler's Kind Folk. Wheeler was artist-in-residence during Hall's time at Lawrence University in Wiisconsin.
The final track, Terrace, has Hall blowing some bluesy muted bone, Witkowski rich chords and flowing right hand, Mednard going for the jugular, the whole shebang ending abruptly and this listener shouting WOW!
As a matter of interest, Hall and Mednard met up when they were touring with Postmodern Jukebox.
If this is the calibre of guys in PJ then this Sunday's concert at Sage Gateshead is going to be something else!
Lance.

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