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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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: 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.

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, September 19, 2019

CD/LP Review: Doc Bowling & his Blues Professors - Cosmopolitan Soul

(Review by Lance)

Regarded by many as London's top contemporary blues band which, some may argue, means the UK's number 1, Doc Bowling and his Professors do nothing to change that view with this vinyl offering (also available on CD and download).

This isn't one of those "Well I woke up this mornin' bands" although they obviously did. The material, however, is more in tune with today with the overall feel being an appeal for racial integration.

Cosmopolitan Soul: A funky pulse with JB Horns style brass and a blistering sax solo from Fox.

She Noh Nah: Fox blows again here. The feel is of early Manfred Mann and some paintstripping trumpet from Braun takes it out.

Black White and Blue: Another plea for equality from the Doc with some fancy feline fiddlin'.

MLK was a Trekkie: MLK - Martin Luther King - explores the universe on the Starship Enterprise...

Hitler's Favourite Cowboy:.. and if you thought the last title was bizarre... That old country favourite Ghost Riders in the Sky provides the melody for this one. To think Hitler's favourite author (Karl May) wrote westerns. Not only that - he was a pacifist!

Stop and Search Yourself: A counterblast to the overuse of police powers on top of the Elmore James riff appropriated by Fleetwood Mac.

The Loving Blues: A jaunty country blues that bounces along beneath the more serious and, ultimately law-changing story of a mixed race married couple in Virginia who were jailed for being married to each other. This was actually based around the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving whose case was heard by the US Supreme Court resulting in interracial marriage no longer being seen as a criminal act - even in Virginia.

Blue Mambo: A dancy, Latin 12 bar with solos from the horns of Johannes Sahmland Bowling and Laurent Dumoulin.

High Speed Train Blues: Paradoxically a mega slow lament based on  Leroy Carr's How Long Blues relocated to Kings Cross. Blues drenched Hammond B3 and wailing guitar remain faithful to the original but we, the listeners/travellers, are still waiting for HS2.

Laius' Lament: Not many blues deal with the Oedipus complex and those (if any!) that do aren't usually recited in BBC announcer's English. Strange? Yes, but the quasi Oxford accent only adds to its quirky appeal.

The Blue Waltz: Based on Leadbelly's Irene Goodnight it's also a personal expression of love by Doc B.
The final line says it all: So, while we still have breath, we just have to keep dancing.

A great band - let somebody put up the Thunderbird wine, a couple of  '57 pick-up trucks, a fistful of dollars and bring 'em north of the Johnson-Corbyn Line.
Lance

Doc Bowling (guitar, vocals, harmonica); Donnie Burke (lead/baritone/slide guitars, banjo, backing vocals); Simon Minney (bass, backing vocals); Roger Chapman (drums - 8 tracks -, percussion, backing vocals) + Graham Hadley (drums - 3 tracks); Louie Watson (percussion, backing vocals); Susi Sahmland (backing vocals); Sophie Loyer* (violin); Johannes Sahmland Bowling (alto/tenor sax - 4 tracks); Rainer Fox (alto/baritone sax - 2 tracks); Martin Sander, Frank Braun, Laurent Dumoulin (trumpet on various tracks); Jens Skwirblies (Hammond - 2 tracks); Eddie Kulak (piano - 3 tracks); Kenny Bruno (piano - 1 track); Melania Wicks (voiceover - 1 track).

* Aka Mlle Chat Noir

1 comment :

Patti said...

And who can resist a CD review like this! I've just ordered one - available from CDBaby!

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