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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: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
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 03, 2018

CD Review: Snowpoet - Thought You Knew

Lauren Kinsella (vocals, backing vocals, lyrics);  Chris Hyson (electric bass, double bass, piano, synths, composer); Nicholas Costley-White (acoustic guitar); Matthew Robinson (guitar); Dave Hamlett (drums); Josh Arcoleo (saxophone); also Alice Zawadski (violin); Francesca Ter-Berg ( cello); Lloyd Haines (drums and percussion, tracks 1,2, 7)
(Review by Ann Alex)
This is Snowpoet’s second album, following their highly acclaimed debut album in 2016. The band is led by Lauren Kinsella (Jazz FM Vocalist of the Year 2016) and multi-instrumentalist Chris Hyson from the creative new London jazz scene. All the words and music are original except for the songs Dear Someone (Gillian Welch) and Snow (Emiliana Torrini) and 2 of the 10 tracks are instrumentals.

The singing is sweet, yet also strong and sensitive, and the musicianship, as stated in the information notes, reaches ‘supreme levels’. So why was I disappointed on listening to the CD? I’m sorry to say that I was somewhat bored by the songs as I found the lyrics confusing and sometimes inconsequential.  I’m uncertain of why the CD is called Thought You Knew, as it has no obvious connection with the songs, unless it’s a general comment about the songs which appear to be mostly love songs. Perhaps I need to listen again, but I doubt it, as most of the lyrics are printed on the CD insert, so I know what they are.  Perhaps I’m just not on the same wavelength as the writer.

Most of the CD is not what I’d call jazz but is closer to contemporary folk. The Therapist opens with a sweet voice over rippling guitar, with a background of synths.  Under The Trees is an instrumental which evokes the countryside with synths and light percussion. Love Again is more successful as a song, because ‘we can love again’ is constantly repeated to various backing instruments, more rhythmical and a bit jazzy. I quite liked Dear Someone, which is sung acappella with vocal harmony. Other song titles were: Water Baby; Snow; Pixel; It’s Already Better Than OK;  Another Step and the other instrumental is Two Of Cups, repeated riffs with some fine playing from the cello.  

The album is available as a CD, LP or digitally, and the release date was February 9. The band is touring from March 1, mostly in Ireland. The nearest place they come to Newcastle is Birmingham!

Ann Alex

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

this is awful writing

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