Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

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, February 01, 2019

CD Review: Nick Malcolm - Real Isn't Real

(Review by Russell)

Trumpeter Nick Malcolm's new album comprises five sections - Spiral I to Spiral V - with all but the closing section linked to a companion piece featuring a vocal contribution from, variously, Emily Wright, Marie Lister, Josienne Clarke and Lauren Kinsella.  

Real Isn't Real is the result of studio sessions spanning 2015 to 2017 with Malcolm revisiting the material last year to add electronic overlays. The band leader's regular associates - Alexander Hawkins, Olie Brice and Ric Yarborough - are well equipped to negotiate his compositional ideas, shifting effortlessly between the structured and the free. 

From straight ahead, in-the-pocket swing (Olie Brice frequently the pivot) to dance floor beats to focused improvisations, the quartet is an established stand-alone entity but it is the inclusion of four very different vocalists which makes Real Isn't Real an intriguing, new aspect of trumpeter Nick Malcolm's evolving musical world.     
Russell

Nick Malcolm (trumpet, piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, vocals); Alexander Hawkins (piano, Fender Rhodes, organ, pump organ); Olie Brice (double bass, electric sitar); Ric Yarborough (drums, percussion); Emily Wright, Marie Lister, Josienne Clarke, Lauren Kinsella (vocals)

Today - February 1 - marks the release of Real Isn't Real on Green Eye Records (GE002). Nick Malcolm hits the road tonight (The Con Cellar Bar, London) with the new quartet Jade (Jake McMurchie, tenor sax, Will Harris, bass, and Ric Yarborough, drums and electronics) performing material from the album and some new material. Jade will tour through to April calling in at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Globe venue on Thursday, March 7.

No comments :

Blog Archive