Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: 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 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Saturday, March 30, 2019

CD Review: Tom Culver - Duke's Place

Tom Culver (vocals); Josh Nelson, Rich Eames (piano - 6 tks each); Larry Koonse, Pat Kelley (guitar - 6 & 5 tks each); Ricky Woodward (sax); Nolan Shaheed (trumpet); Gabe Davis (bass); Kevin Winard (drums); Mark Winkler (vocal - 1 tk.)
(Review by Lance)

What can I say? This is a great album but, where are the buyers other than at his sell-out gigs in prestigious east/west coast venues? 12 of the best of Duke's songs is the immediate attraction and he does them to perfection but the casual buyer is going to say, "Hang on, I've got these songs by either, Sinatra, Tormé, Bennett, Ella as well as at least a 101 others".
Fair point but, whilst I'd fall short of saying this album eclipses what has gone before, it is still an album well worth checking out. Culver has his own distinctive identity enhanced by the musicians around him. Woodward solos on both tenor and alto delivering blistering blasts particularly on Duke's Place (C Jam Blues) whilst Shaheed updates Harry Edison. Koonse, is practically the house guitarist on this site - he pops up more frequently than some of our local boys! The pianists are both swingers. Bass and drums do the business and Mark Winkler sneaks in on Caravan with some additional vocal work.

The more I play it, the more I like it. I think that maybe Ol' Blue Eyes, the Velvet Fog, Anthony Dominick Benedetto and Ms. Fitz may be left on the shelf for a while.
Lance.
Duke's Place; I Let a Song Go Out of my Heart; I Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues; Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me; Everything But You; Just Squeeze Me; Mood Indigo; Something to Live For; Love You Madly; Sophisticated Lady; I'm Just a Lucky So and So; Caravan.
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