Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00.

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: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.br/> Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, July 13, 2019

CD Review: Rich Willey's Boptism Big Band - Down & Dirty


(Review by Lance).

I know I never stop moaning (or should that be Moanin'?) about the number of CDs I'm presented with for review. When I first started BSH I'd eagerly await the postman in anticipation of what goodies he may have in store for me - I was a kid in a sweetie factory! However, with the passage of time, it became reminiscent of the old joke about the musician who goes to Hell and finds himself playing in the Basie Band. 
He's in his element blowing alongside Lester and the rest of the guys on One O'Clock Jump. Chorus after chorus they're swinging like the devil who just happens to be conducting the band. However, by the time the tune has become Six O'Clock Jump, the newcomer looks at the chart and says to Prez, "Where's the coda?" to which the tenor player replies: "There ain't no coda, where do you think you are, Heaven?"

So, I've had to become more selective and, as such, overlooked many gems - this particular album being an example of one that almost passed under the radar. One excuse is that it is less time taking to review a trio or a quartet album than one involving umpteen musicians - fewer names to type you see.

Nevertheless, had I ignored this album, I too would have been consigned to Dante's Inferno Club. 

Possibly the big band album of the year. However, as I've wasted too much space already, rather than give chapter and verse follow the link and find out more as well as hearing samples. My highlight is the leader's bass trumpet solo on Old Folks which, unfortunately, isn't heard on the sample. Five stars and counting!
Lance

Rich Willey (trumpet, flugelhorn & bass trumpet); Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero, Rob Schaer, Mike Rocha, Tony Bonsera (trumpets); Alex Iles, Andy Martin, Steve Holtman, Bill Reichenbach (trombones); Dan Higgins, Brian Scanlon, Bob Sheppard, Jeff Driskill, Sal Lozano, Jay Mason (reeds); Wally Minko (keyboards); Andrew Synowiec (guitars); Edwin Livingston (bass); Peter Erskine (drums); Joey De Leon (percussion) + Thomas Hooten (piccolo trumpet on Down & Dirty).

No comments :

Blog Archive