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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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, August 03, 2019

CD Review: Richard Michael - Contemplation

Richard Michael (solo piano)
(Review by Lance)

With CDs dropping down like meteorites from a distant universe what I need like a hole in the head is a double CD. But, this is the cross I've chosen to bear, so I travel on which, in this case, isn't such an arduous task - in fact it's actually a most delightful walk in the park!

Richard Michael, a Scottish jazz legend both as a pianist and an influential educator, is that rare breed of musician blessed with the ability to move effortlessly between styles and genres. Here he pays homage to his favourite pianists/musicians offering his own interpretations rather than rattling off a transcription by, say, Art Tatum. No, the man from north of the border pays homage to Fats, Brubeck, Corea, Trane, Duke, Herbie, Bill Evans, Django and many more in his own sweet way.

It may verge on 'Easy Listening' but most certainly nowhere near what that misleading term means - I've been in record stores and found Coltrane albums filed under Easy Listening - no wonder folks are buying online!

I use the term because it is easy to listen to and please do not dare to make conversation whilst I'm listening!

Apart from the beautiful renditions of the standards there are also some intriguing jazz versions of - wait for it - We Plough the Fields and Scatter coupled with What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Postman Pat; The Lark in the Clear Air which is twinned with Brother James' Air and a couple of personalised originals - A Kwela For Caitlan (his daughter) and When All's Said and Done (for his wife, Morag).

What comes out from all this is that it's likely to be the best solo piano album I'll hear this year - it certainly is up to now,

And the story doesn't end with the final track Love Walked in as love walks in once more on October 5 when,  as part of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music, Richard Michael gives an afternoon workshop at Sage Gateshead and plays a gig at the Globe Jazz Bar in the evening.

A masterclass in jazz piano throughout the ages but, don't take my word for it, have a listen,
Lance.
Available via the usual suspects from August 7.
Blackbird; I Could Write a Book; We Plough the Fields/What a Friend; The Shadow of Your Smile; Postman Pat; When All's Said and Done; Giant Steps; In Your Own Sweet Way; A Kwela for Caitlan; Spain;  The Lark in the Clear Air/Brother James' Air; Django/Nuages; I Got it Bad; Viper's Drag (maybe these days it should be retitled Vaper's Drag); Bewitched, Bothered and BewilderedDolphin Dance; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Here's That Rainy Day; Love Walked in.

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