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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

Saturday, May 05, 2018

CD Review: The Brubeck Brothers - Timeline

Chris Brubeck (bass guitar/ bass trombone); Dan Brubeck (drums); Mike DeMicco  (guitar); Chuck Lamb (piano)
(Review by Lance).
I've long been a Brubeck fan, albeit not a hero-worshipper oblivious to his sometimes heavy-handed approach, but one who appreciated his sincerity, his compositional qualities and (most of the time) his piano playing. Brubeck's innovative use of unusual time signatures brought a new dimension to modern jazz that only now is being brought into the jazz mainstream.
Given this background, it isn't surprising that his family are continuing to keep his legacy alive whilst contributing some of their own. Apart from Chris and Dan, featured here, there is also pianist Darius Brubeck and cellist Matthew.

Seven of the eleven tracks are compositions by Brubeck père although probably, only the opening Blue Rondo à la Turk will be familiar to the nonaficionado. Far More Blue; Easy as You Go; Since Love Had its Way; Tritonis; The Golden Horn and Thank You may be lesser known but are no less appealing and, in many ways, because they are less gimmicky, of greater lasting value.
Easy has some mellow trombone from Chris who really blows 'dirty' on Lamb's Prime Directive. Thank You was inspired by Dave Brubeck's visit to Chopin's house in Poland. Anyone who watched last night's screening of the documentary, The Jazz Ambassadors, on BBC4 will recall that after Dave had played it at a concert, the Polish audience were stunned into silence for a full minute before erupting with rapturous applause. Lamb, on the 60th anniversary of that tour by the boy's dad, does that memory proud and Chopin too would surely have appreciated (I hope) the trombone playing over a bossa nova rhythm in 5/4!
Chris Brubeck, Lamb (2) and DeMicco provide the other four compositions. Each one in keeping with the tradition.
I heard Dan and Chris (and Darius) at Sage Gateshead a few years back with Dave O'Higgins taking the Paul Desmond role (on tenor) and I was a little hesitant when I noted there was no sax player on this album. My worries were unfounded, DeMicco's guitar solos and Chris' rich toned trombone provide the lyricism that Desmond did back in the day. 
Timeline is a fine album - Dave would have been proud of his offspring and maybe even more so when he discovered that yesterday, America celebrated Dave Brubeck Day (May 5/4!)
Available on Blue Forest Records.

Lance

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