Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

CD Review: Mette Juul - Change

Mette Juul (vocals, guitar); Ulf Wakenius, Gilad Hekselman, Per Mollehoj (guitars); Lars Danielsson (bass, cello, cymbals); Heine Hansen (piano, Rhodes, celeste, harmonica).
(Review by Ann Alex)

Mette Juul, a native Scandinavian songwriter, guitarist and jazz singer releases her fourth CD. And what a delightful listening experience it is! 

Five original songs and eight standards based on the theme of 'change'. The music was recorded in Juul's own home and also in New York and Sweden in an informal fashion, though anchored by Juul's voice and guitar. There are just 2 or 3 musicians on each track, giving the music an intimate 'feel' with genuine emotion. Ms Juul's voice is a pleasing expressive alto and every word is clear.

1/ Beautiful Love:  A sensuous, intimate interpretation with some pleasant wordless vocalisation.
2/ At Home (There is a Song): An original. 'This is a joyful place, come as you are', she sings and adds
 some gentle scat.
3/ Get Out Of Town: A difficult song to interpret (I've tried!) and Ms Juul does it with a touch of menace from bowed bass and cello, very exciting and atmospheric.

4/ It Might Be Time To Say Goodbye:  An original about ending a love affair but having last minute doubts, with a suitably contemplative piano accompaniment.
5/ Double Rainbow: A Jobim tune, a bossa featuring both acoustic and jazz guitars.
6/ Just Friends:  A sad love song, sung touchingly, with guitar soloing and a bass accompaniment.

7/ I'm Moving On: A song about spreading your wings, with a bright airy, starry feel provided by the celeste.
8/ Dindi: Another Jobim Latin number with light percussion which sounds like lapping water, and also guitar.
9/ Young Song: An original with a rather hymn-like tune and featuring a harmonica solo and interesting lyrics 'What is perfect love? Is it just a picture in a magazine?'

10/ Without a Song: I've always considered this a rather trite lyric unworthy of the tune but our singer manages to make it 'live'.
11/ Northern Woods: An original about finding peace among trees, and the guitar echoes the vocal line.
12/ The Peacocks (A Timeless Place): Lyrics by no less a person than Norma Winstone (music Jimmy Rowles). Love as an illusion, with voice and guitar, and also bass at the end.

13/ Evening Song:  An original which is very suitable as the last track. All about the close of day, contemplative.

This CD is highly recommended and it was released on September 6th by Universal Music.
See www.mette-juul.com
Ann Alex
at

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