Total Pageviews

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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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.

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

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

CD Review: Julija Jačėnaitė - Moon Moods

(Review by Lance).
I missed the album launch last month and I didn't get to Julija's DJazz gig on Saturday gone but I do, however, intend to catch her at The Globe on Sunday (June 10). In the meantime, this album of Julija's originals will tide me over till then and, indeed, long after.
Since I first heard JJ at the Jazz Café back in the Crombie days and more recently when she reappeared on the scene, I've been a fan of her delivery - emotional, sometimes dramatic, but always sung from the heart. Now I find she has those same qualities and more as a songwriter. The 12 originals are varied, melodic and, despite several of them being multi-lingual, very accessible.
The actual tunes will, I'm sure, in years to come will be in the Great Lithuanian Songbook and although I don't understand the words I get the mood. Songs of happiness and pain, joy and sorrow, jazz at the core but not the whole.
Apart from the vocals, several of the northeast's jazz elite are present amongst the above personnel.
Alan Law, Steve Glendinning, Paul Grainger, Katy Trigger, Joel Brown and Paul Gowland are all featured at some point or other. Gowland has some whimsical moments responding to Julija's vocal on Jaukintojo Metal.
Tops. If you don't believe me visit here or better still, catch her at The Globe on Sunday night.
I'm not sure that I'm the right person to write this review as my words from a previous review of a live concert are quoted on the sleeve so I'm hardly likely to be hyper-critical even if the cover designer did misspell my name. What's in a name anyway? The odds against me correctly spelling the assortment of  Lithuanian names among those below are pretty high!
Lance

Julija Jačėnaitė (vocal) w. Kęstutis Pavalkis (piano); Driezhas (thunder & lightning); David French (shakers); Alan Law (piano); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Alexys Alfaro (guitar); Joel Brown (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Paul Gowland (alto); Giedrę Kilčiauskienę (vocal); Vytis Smolskas (piano); Katy Trigger (bass); David Manasse (vocal).

No comments :

Blog Archive