Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

From This Moment On

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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