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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

From This Moment On

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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