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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Saturday, March 24, 2018

CD Review: (Jon Shenoy's) Draw By Four - Framework.

Jon Shenoy (tenor/clarinet/bass clarinet/flute/alto flute); Sam Dunn (electric & acoustic guitars); Will Bartlett (Hammond B3); Chris Draper (drums/perc.)
(Review by Lance).
As to be expected, lots of groovin' going on. What else when there's a B3 in the middle of it all? Well, in this case, a whole lot more. Sure, the groove is in (Nite Trip) but so is the lyricism (Hand in Hand).
Shenoy displays a melodic sensibility that bears comparision with any of the great saxophone balladeers of yore. He also composed 7 of the 10 tracks as well as drawing out the emotional content of the Brian Wilson/Tony Asher pop tune, Don't Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder). Sam Dunn also does some musical loving on this one.
The groove is back in for Tomorrow's Worriers. Lots of repetitive riffs that, at times, made me think the 'virtual' needle was sticking then, just as I was about to give the Dansette a kick, Shenoy or Dunn would burst forth in glorious stereophonic sound.
My Horizon brings us back down. Reflective, languorous, a contemplation of the horizon, maybe a sunset, or maybe a more personal horizon. Quite beautiful.
Shenoy found inspiration for the 3-part Framework Suite in 3 paintings: J.M.W. Turner's Breakers on a Flat Beach; Colonsay Harbour by Gill Holloway and Winifred Knight's The Deluge. Justice is done to the paintings through Shenoy's musical vision and the portraits painted of the paintings by the soloists - they bring them to life.
The album is rounded off with a couple of strange choices: Marriage is For Old Folks, written by Leon Carr and Earl Shuman and recorded by Nina Simone. Shenoy and Dean don't do it any harm both kicking in with lusty solos whilst Bartlett and Draper keep the groove afloat. 
Finally, a further, much further, step back in time - in theory anyhow - with Arthur Schwartz' You and the Night and the Music. Bartlett puts the boot in, Shenoy runs with the ball and touches down. Arthur Schwartz turns over but only so he can hear it better. 
An album that promised much and delivered more. April 8 the band shoot up the M1 to play Seven Arts in Leeds then turn around and head back home stopping off at Kenilworth Jazz Club on April 9. There's also a couple of late-nighters at Ronnie's on April 20/21.
Lance.
Framework is released on March 30 on Jellymould Jazz JM-JJ029.

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