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

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Move over Liz Taylor, Lana Turner & Liberace make way for Beyoncé, Michelle Obama and Rihanna - CD Review: Eyal Vilner Big Band - Swing Out!

(Review by Lance)

Recently I was bemoaning the fact that, whilst I love Nina Simone's version of My Baby Just Cares For Me, it was time for today's vocalists to update the lyrics. Well, on this superb big band album, vocalist Brianna Thomas has done just that and so we get Beyoncé for Liz Taylor, Michelle Obama for Lana Turner and, Rihanna for Liberace. It works, not least because Vilner has also scored Nina's iconic piano solo for the whole band - this is like WOW!

What a gem! A big band with a difference, a band that brings the past pretty close to the present!

Think Bob Crosby, Luis Russell, early Benny and maybe some territory bands and you get the idea. Pre-bop big band scored to meet the demands of today's listeners - and dancers. Yes, dancers! The Vilner Big Band is tops with the New York swing dance community and your feet will tell you why.

Superb arrangements and great solos - one moment I'm at Connie's Inn, next it's the Cotton Club or maybe the Palomar Ballroom out on the coast. Could be The Savoy in Harlem anywhere but The Oxford or Hammersmith Palais.

Take your partners for the Lindy Hop.

Absolutely love it!
Lance

Downhill; In a Mellow Tone; Dinah; Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?; St. Louis Blues; That's All; Big Apple Contest; My Baby Just Cares For me; Going Uptown; 5-10-15 Hours; Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen; I'm on my Way to Canaan Land.

Street date July 12. Visit: www.eyalvilner.com 

 PS: And if you live in NYC there's a CD launch...
Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing, Wednesday, July 10, 6pm - Damrosch Park, 62nd Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.
Dance floor opens at 6:00 pm; Dance lesson at 6:30 pm; Live music at 7:30 pm 
Single Tickets: In advance: $18, Day-of: $22

Eyal Vilner (alto sax/flute/clarinet/MD); Bryan Davis, Michael Sailors, Brandon Lee, James Zoller (trumpets); Robert Edwards, Mariel Bildsten, Rob Wilkins (trombones); Bill Todd (alto sax/clarinet/flute); Jordan Pettay (alto sax); Evan Arntzen (tenor sax/clarinet); Michael Hashim (tenor sax); Eden Bareket (bari sax); Jordan Piper (piano); Ian Hutchison (bass); Eran Fink (drums) + Itai Kriss (flute tk 12; Andrew Millar (washboard tk 3); Brianna Thomas, Brandon Bain (vocals).
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