Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18122 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1086 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Dec. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 07: FILM: Blue Moon @ The Forum Cinema, Hexham. 2:00pm. Dir. Richard Linklater’s biopic of Lorenz Hart.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Friday, March 30, 2018

EP Review: Jinjoo Yoo - I'm Curious.

Jinjoo Yoo (piano); Neil Miner (bass); Jimmy Wormworth (drums).
(Review by Lance)
I groaned and muttered, 'Not another one!' By which I mean piano trios playing original compositions and I was reaching for the bin button when something caught my eye.
Michael Steinman.
I'm Curious to borrow the title of this EP.
Now those of you who have met Michael at Whitley Bay or visited his Jazz Lives site will know he's a man who doesn't suffer fools gladly and if Michael gives the quaintly named (by western standards) Jinjoo Yoo the thumbs up you know a treat will be in store.
I wasn't wrong - one of the most listenable albums I've heard in many a turntable revolution!
Although very bop-influenced in her solos, Jinjoo is able to spread her fingers across many genres, Bud Powell or Mel Powell, she takes them all in her stride, and I use the word advisedly. However, it's not just her playing but also her compositions which are almost singable before she takes off down the improvisational road.
Of course, good as Jinjoo is, her game is lifted to an even higher level, if that were possible, by the presence of Miner and Wormworth who provide the perfect support. Miner also plays some impressive solos.
Jinjoo studied with Barry Harris and it shows.
A late addition to my Album of the Month.
Lance

2 comments :

Russell said...

And we're so very lucky, Jinjoo is coming to Newcastle! She'll be a member of Chris Hodgkins' all-star ten piece band touring the country to celebrate the music of Humphrey Lyttelton (Humph would have turned 100 this year). Saturday 20 November, Newcastle Arts Centre, tickets £18.00. plus booking fee. Call into the Arts Centre on Westgate Road to get your tickets and avoid the booking fee! The line-up includes Alex Clarke, heard only last week working with Mick Shoulder at a sold out Lit & Phil concert, and octogenarian trumpeter Henry Lowther!

Lance said...

I think some members of ARQ who are playing at the Globe on Sunday (Oct. 31) are also on the gig!

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