Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Thursday, May 09, 2019

CD Review: Alvin Queen Trio - OP (A Tribute to Oscar Peterson)

Alvin Queen (drums); Zier Romme Larsen (piano); Ida Hvid (bass)
(Review by Lance)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery wrote Charles Caleb Colton in the early 1800s. Close on a couple of 100 years later, John Mason wrote Imitation is Limitation. Listening to this delightful tribute to the late Oscar Peterson both sides could make a case. The word tribute itself is defined as an act, statement or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect or admiration. Well, it is certainly all of those things as Peterson's daughter Celine points out in the blurb. She continues and explains that Alvin Queen created this powerful musical statement as a gift to her dad showing his deep gratitude for the time they were able to spend together performing all over the world.
Amen to that.

Queen, who was part of one of the great Canadian pianist's trios (was he before or after Martin Drew?) drives this disc along as he no doubt did with the maestro. Indeed maestro could be equally applied to Larsen - he has absorbed the inspiration and, in the process, become his own man.

The repertoire includes nine Peterson originals. Oscar's faith is expressed very profoundly in Larsen's interpretations of Jesus Christ Lies Here Tonight; The Last Supper and Hymn to Freedom. These are beautiful beyond words but, if you want to get your kicks without hitting Route 66 then It Happened in Monterey will supply the fix. This swings like as though there was no tomorrow!

Reunion Blues is a classic mid-tempo 12 bar with Queen putting the boot in and Ida holding her own against Oscar's illustrious bass players. One of them, Ray Brown, composed Gravy Waltz and it was Queen who got the gravy on this one.

It doesn't get any better than this!
Lance.
Sushi; Nightingale; Jesus Christ Lies Here Tonight; Wheatland; Hero; Cake Walk; You Look Good to Me; The Last Supper; Soon; When Summer Comes; It Happened in Monterey; Reunion Blues; Gravy Waltz; Hymn to Freedom.
Available May 10 - CD or LP on Stunt Records.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive