Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Thursday, August 22, 2019

CD Review: Rob Ryndak, Tom Lockwood - Gratitude (featuring Brian Lynch).

Rob Ryndak (piano/percussion); Tom Lockwood (saxes/clarinets/flute); Brian Lynch (trumpet/flugelhorn); Sasha Brusin (electric/acoustic guitars); Karl E.H. Seigfried (bass/bass guitar); Jeff Moehle (drums); Victor Gonzalez, Jr. (various percussion); Micah Rutschman (vibes); Ryan Koranda (cello); Steve Talaga (piano).
(Review by Lance).

Such is the avalanche of CDs I receive that some get overlooked for all the wrong reasons! Sometimes I just don't like the cover, or there are too many names to type. Often the liner notes are difficult to read or maybe the musicians are unfamiliar to me and I have a more promising album waiting in the wings. I usually  make a resolution to check it out tomorrow which, as we all know, never comes.
Gratitude by Rob Ryndak and Tom Lockwood is just such a case. Scheduled for release on June 7, here I am two and a half months later belatedly playing catch up - and it turns out to be a most enjoyable album.

The co-leaders share composing credits on alternate tracks as well as displaying their instrumental virtuosity. Ryndak, a sensitive pianist with an affinity for Brazilian music and Jobim in particular - it shows - is also no mean percussionist which is when Talaga takes over on piano.

Lockwood plays alto, tenor, soprano and baritone saxes as well as clarinet, bass clarinet and flute enabling him to add to the tonal variety. 

Rutschman's vibes, reminiscent of Milt Jackson at times, effectively add some shades of Shearing.

Trumpet ace Lynch flew in from Miami for the recording and he makes telling contributions.

It's easy listening verging on the smooth side which I don't think, in this case, is derogatory - It does what it says on the tin i.e. "A montage of jazz tunes with a distinctly Latin accent and a few dashes of pop and funk."
Lance.
Released June 7 on Pacific Coast Jazz.

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