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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

Friday, March 08, 2019

CD Review: Nick Sanders Trio - Playtime 2050

Nick Sanders (piano); Henry Fraser (double bass); Connor Baker (drums).
(Review by Dave Brownlow)

The Nick Sanders Trio present a 12 track album of creative material combining classical music and jazz in an innovative style. Looking to the future is how Sanders sees jazz developing via a repertoire of through-composed songs, swing tunes, free improvisations, ‘prepared piano’ interjections and solo piano items.

The album’s cover features rather disturbing art-work showing a young girl clutching a soft toy and both wearing gas masks. This painting appealed to Nick Sanders – its dark humour weirdly attracting his interest.

Live Normal has an appealing, jaunty melodic theme with various changes of tempo where bass and drums contribute strongly and attentively in middle segments. Manic Maniac has many shifts in time ranging from frantic to calm. Blisteringly avante-garde, some Cecil Taylor-like moments add to the chaos. The title tune, Playtime 2050 is a short swinger with a different tempo middle section. The charming melody leads to some clever improvisations before a reprise of the theme.

Prepared for the Blues provides the added interest of a ‘prepared piano’ where metal nails are placed between the piano strings to create a special ‘jangly’ effect. Sanders also quotes from Thelonious’ Blue Monk as the piece follows the conventional 12 bar structure. The meditative Still Considering conjures up a classical feel and indeed incorporates various fragments of melody from well-known masterpieces cleverly woven into the piece. This is a through-composed ballad which is well-thought-out at a gentle tempo.

The Number 3 has a frantic Bud Powell-type intro which then morphs into wild avante-garde passages where piano and drums challenge each other. Again, the ‘manic’ sections are interspersed with slower parts. Interlude For S.L.B. is a brief solo piano tribute respectful to Nick’s late mother. This charming piece has a strong classical form with hints of other diverse influences which intrigue…Endless has an A-B-A form where the fierce piano/drum ‘A’ sections are sharply contrasted with a calm, pastoral ‘B’ interlude. Drummer Baker is in the front line here as an equal soloist.

It’s Like This - a trio-led exploration of a gentle peaceful melody in a time signature that is difficult to pin down. Hungry Ghost has a tense, eerie, dark theme where bowed bass and muttering drums add to the feeling of unease…RPD is a slow, stately ruminative piece – its source being a zombie apocalypse video game “Resident Evil”. Prepared for the Accident is freely improvised, a percussive piece also using the prepared piano. The inspiration for this comes from avant-garde composer John Cage. #2 Longfellow Park concludes the program – its gorgeous hymn-like style reverently apt for the address of an old church in Boston.

Nick Sanders is a player committed to his ideas of moving jazz music forward and I applaud him for it.
The CD is worth repeated hearings to familiarise the listener to his wry style and humour as he looks to the future.
Available from March 15 on Sunnyside SSC 1537 from nicksandersmusic.com
Dave B

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