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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

CD/Tour details: Mario Chiara Argirò - Hidden Seas


(Press release)


Hidden Seas is London-based Italian pianist and composer Maria Chiara Argirò’s second album, following on from her 2016 debut The Fall Dance. She is a well-known name on the London scene – her keyboard skills much in demand – currently involved with a variety of musical projects including Liran Donin's 1000 Boats, Kinkajous, Teotima, Rosie Turton and Jamie Leeming.

 
During her career, Argirò has developed her own style of jazz with a twist of contemporary genres inspired by her numerous tours with bands such as These New Puritans and drawing on a wide variety of influences including Radiohead, Shai Maestro, Tigran Hamasyan, Kneebody, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Bjork, Jon Hopkins, Shostakovich and Scriabin.

Hidden Seas – composed entirely by Argirò – departs from the more traditional sound of her debut and sees her turning to synths and electronics and the introduction of vocals. Vocal duties fall to remarkable French singer Leïla Martial, whose extraordinary voice, often deployed as an instrument, brings a new dimension to the music. Martial also co-wrote the lyrics with Argirò on opener Beneath the Surface, with other lyrics on the album written by collaborating artists – Vera Jonas, Jamie Doe (The Magic Lantern) and Daniel Gadd – who Argirò provided with the music and song concept, leaving them free reign to create something befitting. The result is an album of expansive soundscapes, the sparse, evocative lyrics and Martial’s vocal dynamics weaving through the instrumentation that underpins the album. Accompanying Argirò on piano and electronics is singer Leïla Martial, Sam Rapley (Tenor Sax/Clarinet), Tal Janes (Guitar/Effects), Andrea Di Biase (Double Bass) and Gaspar Sena (Drums).

A lifelong fascination with the sea led to the initial concept of the album, and when a copy of Edward MacDowell’s ‘Sea Pieces’ fell at Argirò‘s feet at a Camden Market bookstore the idea was sealed. The overarching theme of the album is the sea and each song represents a story about the sea, either imagined or inspired by real life stories. For example, Nautilus (the first single) was inspired by Jules Verne’s novel ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea’ and explores what it would feel like to be inside a submarine surrounded by every possible layer, colour and sound of the sea. Another track, The Water Oath, was inspired by the story of Chiara Vigo, believed to be the last person on earth who still knows how to harvest, dye and embroider sea silk, the title referencing the sacred ‘Sea Oath’ that maintains that it should never be bought or sold. However, what all the tracks do is transport the listener to another world, where sounds are distorted and melodies come and go. But there’s always a pull, something that draws it all back at the last minute before turmoil sets in.

The move towards a more electronic sound was a natural one and entirely self-taught. Argirò’s excited about this new direction – the electronics, synths and lyrics – the finished album coming as a surprise to her, leaving her keen to explore this direction more in the future.

“...subtly percussive, cinematically evocative ensemble...She’s a quietly compelling presence in new European jazz.” The Guardian

Release date:  27 September 2019
Cavalo Records: CRMCALP01 / CRMCACD01

DATES 2019
28 September – Lucca Jazz Donna Festival, Lucca, Italy
23 October – Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham
24 October – Seven Arts, Leeds
25 October – Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle
15 November – The Crypt, London (part of the EFG London Jazz Festival)

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