Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

From This Moment On

August

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

CD Review: John Fedchock Quartet - Reminiscence

John Fedchock (trombone); John Toomey (piano); Jimmy Masters (bass); Dave Ratajczak (drums); Billy Williams (drums on 1 track).
(Review by Lance).
Another fine trombone album - two in one day!
Fedchock, who came in at No. 17 in the recent DownBeat Poll (should have been placed much higher), has also had a couple of Grammy nominations for Best  Instrumental Arrangement and has to his credit five big band recordings. However, it is his trombone playing that is to the fore revealing a sound with the mellowness of Dorsey and the attack and rapidity of JJ. In fact, if Peter Lin and John Fedchock got together it would be a case of Jay and Kai ride again!

Recorded over three nights at Havana Nights, a club in Virginia Beach, VA, back in 2015 this is the second album from the weekend (the first was Fluidity). Sadly, the club is now closed but, at the time, it was a beautiful, intimate space with state of the art recording equipment as this album proves.

Fedchock, seemingly, began his performing career with Woody Herman in 1980 - talk about starting at the top! - and I was fortunate to hear him with the band at the North Sea Jazz Festival, held at Den Haag, in 1983 and although time has dimmed my memories of the soloists I still recall the sheer power of the band.

A well put together mix of standards and originals played at the highest possible level. Toomey on piano, Masters on bass and the two drummers prove to be top draw players in their own right combining to make this an enjoyable experience.
Lance.
The Third Degree; Loose Change; Lament; The End of a Love  Affair; You're my Everything; If You Could See Me Now; Brazillian Fantasy.
Available on Summit Records - listen/buy.

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