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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

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. CANCELLED! 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.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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