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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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

Sunday, April 29, 2018

CD Review: Jungsu Choi Tiny Orkester - Tschuss Jazz Era

Jungsu Choi (vocals (2) composer/arranger); Eunmi Kim (flute); MinkYu Cha (alto); Sungil Bae (tenor); Yejung Kim (trumpet); Junyeon Lee (trombone); Sehwa Kang (cello); Sungyun Hong (guitar); Jungmin Lee (piano); Joseph Han (bass); Hyunsu Lee (drums) + Jinho Pyo, Sehyun Baik (vocals)
(Review by Lance)
Jungsu Choi: “In whatever direction jazz might develop, I am ready to welcome the new jazz, bye-bye jazz era! My music is meant to free jazz from jazz, without any labels
Michael Gibbs: “Wow! This is top-class, modern big band jazz, with solidly and very well made, unique arrangements – energetic, orchestral, demanding, skilfully written…Jungsu Choi’s music introduces us to his fascinating feel and his talent. ”

Choi’s remarks may sound like posturing but, taken in conjunction with Michael Gibbs’ observations that thought is soon dismissed and, upon listening to the album, it becomes readily apparent that this is something special!
Leader Choi spent three years composing two and arranging all of the five tracks. He never actually had the chance to hear them during that period, they only existed, he says, in the shape of ink on hundreds of pages of paper.
Maybe, but when listening to the Tiny Orkester, one can but marvel at the skills of these 12 or so Korean musicians interpreting those ‘ink shapes’ so brilliantly.
You may think you’ve heard Anthropology, A Train and Spain one time too many but, take it from me, you’ve never heard them quite like this! 
A Train is, in fact, retitled as What if Duke Ellington Didn’t Take the A Train? Junyeon Lee’s trombone solo brings some sanity into this attempt to derail the most famous train in jazz history.
Spain has a long intro and many changes of tempo before the tune emerges. Some scintillating flute work is almost submerged by the ensemble, complete with wordless vocal.
Anthropology has cool alto, fiery trumpet and more outstanding fluting including a flute/tenor counterpoint section that defies the use of the word incredible – it’s not strong enough!
Stolen Yellow has the composer vocalising as part of the ensemble, guitar solo by Hong, bullfight trumpet over steady trombone riff. Wild alto blast, fantastic writing takes it out.
The other original, Nach Wien 224, sees Choi and Pyo adding their voices to the ensemble with cello emerging briefly. Pyo can also be heard solo. This is as close to a ballad as it gets which isn’t very close although maybe it is by Korean standards.
King Gil Evans is dead. Long Live King Choi!
A late arrival in the CD of the Month Stakes.
Lance.

Available on Challenge Records or via Amazon-ITunes.

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