Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

CD Review: Karen Lane - Passarim

Karen Lane (vocals); Andrea Trillo (drums, vocals tracks 7,10); Rob Luft (guitar); Steve Watts (bass); Graham Harvey (piano, Rhodes); Gareth Lockrane (flutes); also Aneselmo Netto (perc tracks 2,6,7); Ricardo Dos Santos (bass tracks 5,12); Saskia Horton (violin track 5); Simon McCorry (cello track 5)
(Review by Ann Alex)
By happy coincidence, I was in a Latin Jazz mood when reviewing this CD, brought on by watching the excellent documentary film about The Buena Vista Social Club (Friday evening television), with its lively street scenes of Cuba, biographies of the musicians, and of course the music itself. This CD features the music of Brazil, different country you say, but still with the Latin rhythms and songs of love shot through with images of sea, sand, trees and flowers.  
Karen Lane was raised in Perth, Western Australia, and she started off as a soul singer in Sydney in the early 90’s. She eventually settled in the UK, became involved in the jazz scene, and was championed by the chat show host, Michael Parkinson. She has played at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express, and Cafe De Paris in Monte Carlo. This is her newest album, with a new set of musicians, with some songs in Portuguese and some in English. The musicians are well up to the mark and beyond, the voice is pleasing, with a good range, and the repertoire is of both well-known songs and some less familiar. The language was no barrier to enjoyment.

The title track was typical, Jobim’s Passarim, (track 9), with English lyrics about a bird, a tree, and love. The flute portrays bird-like sounds, then is joined by piano.  Track 10, Moon And Sand is rhythmical yet relaxing, with skilled wordless vocalisations. On track 5, we meet Lane’s eldest daughter, Saskia Horton, playing excellent violin, together with more great flute work from Lockrane which lasts to fade-out. Lots of songs are by Jobim, 6 out of 13 tracks. Track listings are:-
1 Chega De Saudade (No More Blues); 2 Manha De Carnival (Carnival); 3 Samba De Verao  (That Would Be So Nice); 4 Caminhos Cruzados;  5 If You Wanna Be A Lover ; 6 Poinciana (I’m Glad There Is You); 7 Amor Em Paz; 8 So Tinha De Ser com Voce 9 Passarim 10 Moon And Sand; 11 Estate;
12 Crystal Silence 13 Vivo Sonhando

The CD is released this coming Friday, April 27.
Ann Alex

No comments :

Blog Archive