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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

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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.

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

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

How it all began (for me) by Ann Alex

When I first became interested in jazz in about 2007, a friend with very wide tastes in music compiled a CD for me as an introduction to jazz. So I thought I’d outline the tracks as a suggestion of what to play for someone new to jazz. It certainly worked for me.

1/ Blue Ortani -  Herbie Hancock  
A tune new to me, lots of flowing piano, but with a strong melody which never gets lost among the improvisation. My idea of ideal jazz.

2/ Stormy Weather -  Billie Holiday
Heartfelt singing, a lesson for all singers, it’s all been said already.

3/ Summertime - Booker T & The MGs (note to Lance, NOT SUNG) Featuring guitar, bass and B3 (I think) very effective, strong turnarounds at the end of each section. Great stuff.

4/ Autumn Leaves  - Stan Getz  Pleasing straightforward tenor sax.

5/ St James Infirmary - Jack Teagarden  This is big band swing with clapping and a male chorus which still manages to get the pathos of the song across. ‘Hush, hush, hush, darlin’ baby’ they sing.

6/ New Orleans Function -  Louis Armstrong  New Orleans funeral music, camped up to the hilt, amusing, clever trumpet/cornet (?), slow as they approach the graveyard them fast and rollicking as they leave to the tune of Oh Didn’t He Ramble.

7/ Body And Soul - Coleman Hawkins. Not sung, but I later had to learn the song so I had a head start despite the fact that the melody is only suggested. Featuring piano and tenor sax with a steady beat from the rest of the band.

8/ On Green Dolphin Street - Herbie Hancock, alternate version. Absolutely beautiful, superb improvisation played to a gentle repeated riff.

9/ Seven Minds - Jimmy Ponder  I’ve no idea who Jimmy Ponder is, but this is the CD’s longest track, involving guitar, keys, brushed drums, vibes, bass and clarinet, with the frontline instruments taking the tune in turn as expected, effective jazz.

10/ Danse Norvegienne - Django Reinhardt. A jazz version of a Grieg (?) composition, with clever guitar improvisations.

11/ Flamenco Sketches Miles Davis.  My introduction to Miles and cool jazz. Needs no comment for BSH readers, and others who – if any - don’t know this music should simply listen to it, and it really does have flamenco influences.

12/ Take Five - Dave Brubeck Quartet. I’ve loved this piece since childhood. Tricky 5/4 timing of course, and the drumming is fascinatingly unpredictable.
13/ Blue In Green - Miles Davis. Ditto track 11 above, without the flamenco.

14/ Run the Voodoo Down - Cassandra Wilson.  A marvellous piece of singing. I don’t know how she kept to the timing as there are no obvious leads from the band of guitar, sax, drums and bass, who do creepy ‘voodoo’ sounds. The spirited song is powerful ‘When it comes to makin’ music (travel, love) I’ll run the voodoo down’ she sings.

15/ Where Flamingos Fly - Gil Evans.  A delightfully singable tune from reeds and piano.

16/ I Put A Spell On You - Mica Paris.  A soul version rather than jazz, with an orchestra and rock style guitar solo. All stops out for the last chorus, a fitting finale to the CD.

A pretty good introduction to jazz, I thought. Personally, more vocal tracks would have made the listening even better, although I know that others will disagree, but still very enjoyable. Now start to plan your own mix tape/cd to persuade non-jazz people into the fold.

Ann Alex

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