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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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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