Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: 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 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

CD Review:Zoe Francis - Blue Town

Zoe Francis (vocals); Ross Stanley (Hammond B3); Jim Mullen (guitar).
(Review by Lance).

Impeccably sung and played. An emerging talent combines with two British jazz legends for this collection of familiar and not quite so familiar standards. The result is flawless - perfection in fact.  Francis has a winsome voice that is well-suited to the bittersweet lyrics. Singing of lost love, heartbreak and other related emotions the listener shares her grief, feels the pain as her laid back voice gently weeps. 

And yet, at times, I wanted her to break out of her shell, maybe put on a happy face, face the future, the music - even when she does just that in All My Tomorrows you get the feeling that it's not going to work out. Ellington's Love You Madly is the exception. Here she sings with the, maybe over-optimistic, assurance that her chat up line is going to get results!

Helping to cure Zoe's blue mood Stanley and Mullen are the perfect antidote - much better than sulphur and molasses - the duo provide the shoulders to cry on with solid support and tasty solos. Listen to Mullen's sensitive accompaniment on Deep in a Dream.

I do love it madly but hope that next time around the mood is a bit more cheerful!

It's a one for the wee small hours
Lance 
A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; Early Autumn; The Meaning of the Blues; Daydream; A New Town is a Blue Town; Song For Elena/Medley from film Cinema Paradiso, Main Theme/Song For Elena; Who Will Buy?; All My Tomorrows; Love You Madly; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; You Won't Forget me; I've Gotta Right to Sing the Blues; Deep in a Dream.

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