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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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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