Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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

Sunday, June 24, 2018

CD Reviews: Hendrik Meurkens w. Roger Davidson Quartet/Bill Cunliffe.

Roger Davidson (piano); Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica/vibes); Eduardo Belo (bass); Adriano Santos (drums).
----- 
Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica); Bill Cunliffe (piano).
(Review by Lance).
I'd heard of Meurkens but never actually heard him until suddenly my sadly neglected education was rectified in the form of not one but two albums featuring the German harmonica player who also, on one of them, plays vibes rather well.
However, as the delightful album by the Roger Davidson Quartet - Music From the Heart - isn't released until September 4, I'll go with the duo album for the time being although, in the meantime, I will be playing the quartet recording many times. It's beautiful and so so so romantic. Put this on your car stereo and your success rate will multiply! I'll report back in August.
The duo album is another gem. For those readers who fondly remember cornetist Ruby Braff's duo recordings with pianist Ellis Larkins or the Toots Thielemans/Bill Evans album Affinity, this release will sit proudly, head held high, alongside them.
The harmonica has never quite received its deserved acceptance, despite the virtuosity of Thielemans and earlier players such as Larry Adler, Tommy Reilly and Max Geldray.
I'd like to think that Meurkens will help to lift the profile and, on the strength of his playing on these two albums, maybe he will. Already he is touted as the premiere living master of the jazz harmonica something I would find difficult to bet against.
With Cunliffe on piano - himself a highly regarded pianist, composer, arranger, in-demand sideman, author and composer of many screen soundtracks - the duo click in a programme of standards: Cabin in the Sky. Invitation; Speak Low and Wave. Jazz compositions: Miyako (Shorter) and Young and Fine (Zawinul). Bobby Gentry's enigmatic Ode to Billie Joe, and, finally, a couple of originals each: Afternoon and Prague in March by Meurkens; You Don't Know and Time to Say Goodbye by Cunliffe.
A choice selection although, without the storyline, Ode to Billie Joe doesn't have the same impact when played in this format. Still, 10 out of 11 is pretty good going.
Lance.
Now available on Height Advantage 002.
Buy/Sample.

No comments :

Blog Archive