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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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, May 04, 2018

CD Review: Joanne Tatham - The Rings of Saturn

Joanne Tatham (vocals); Max Haymer (piano); Lyman Medeiros (bass); Dan Schnelle (drums); Kevin Winard (perc); Marcel Camargo (guitar - 3 tks); Larry Koonse (guitar - 1 tk); Brian Swartz (trumpet); Bob Sheppard (sax).
(Review by Lance)
The second album I've reviewed by Joanne and this one (her fourth) is as good as if not better. As is the wont these days, the fayre comprises a mix of standards and lesser-known songs often from more contemporary sources. Particularly impressive is Summer in New York written by, perhaps, the most charismatic singer/composer outside of Tom Waits - Michael Franks. Lots of mood changes and a Larry Koonse guitar solo to create the feeling that it is summer and you are in New York (ah, if only...) 
Mark Winkler's Catch me if you Can highlights Haymer's piano – the ideal contrast to Tatham's flighty vocal. I certainly would have loved to have caught her! Phoebe Snow's Poetry Man, Bill Gable's Rings of Saturn and Todd Rundgren's Can We Still Be Friends? show that jazz singing doesn't have to depend on the good old GASbook although Love me or Leave me and It Could Happen to You which open and close the album are the perfect bookends.
Few vocal albums escape an Antonio Carlos Jobim composition and I'm pleased to say that we have two here and that Tatham does them both justice - If You Never Come to me and Jazz 'n' Samba are the selections. For some unexplainable reason, the works of Stephen Sondheim are rarely part of the jazz canon which is a shame, listen to Tatham sing Anyone Can Whistle and you'll know what I mean. 
Nice to be Around by John and Paul Williams is another that hasn't been overworked. Swartz's trumpet adding to the emotive vocal. The two horns aren't heavily featured but when they are they add immeasurable colour and the rhythm section swings like crazy, to use a phrase from my dated vocabulary.
Lance

1 comment :

Liz said...

Good to see my hero, S.S. included

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