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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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

Friday, October 18, 2019

CD Review: Brenda Earle Stokes - Solo Sessions Volume 1

Brenda Earle Stokes (piano/voice).
(Review by Lance)

An interesting mix of standards, contemporary songs and originals by a Canadian singer/pianist now based in NYC. Stokes is very much her own (wo)man and stamps her individuality on both her singing and her piano playing. If anyone springs to mind vocally, or as a composer, it is Carole King although, obviously, Brenda is jazzier.

Ladies in Mercedes, the Sondheim classic with words by Norma Winstone, shows Stokes at her best. A knockout piano solo - all done without the safety net of bass and drums and coupled with a vocal where restraint is at a minimum - well worth checking out.

If You Never Come to me is unmistakably Jobim and sympathetically interpreted.

Over the past few years, Weaver of Dreams has reemerged in popularity with songbook songbirds and Stokes does nothing to slow down the momentum.

How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone? Brenda Earle Stokes and Leroy Carr is as unlikely a pairing as the Devil and Robert Johnson down at that crossroads in Leflore County, Mississippi, but at least we have the evidence of this one with some fine blues piano and a voice to match.

Strange Meadowlark floats like a bird in the breeze with a gentle swing that conveys the composer's image perfectly.  The piano does justice to Dave Brubeck's melody and Brenda's voice handles Iola Brubeck's words imaginatively.

Brenda supplied the words to The Waltz, an interesting tune with some demanding intervals for a singer that our girl handles with aplomb.

Standing is total Stokes - words and music composed, arranged, produced, played and sung by. Maybe she also made the coffee. If she percolates like she sings and plays then forget Kopi luwak!*

The Consequences of Falling, a tune associated with k.d.lang, didn't quite do it for me but, then again, neither did k.d.'s version.

I Can Let Go Now by Michael McDonald tugs at the heartstrings - Brenda in sensitive mode.

East of the Sun includes some boppy scatting with an abundance of flattened fifths by both voice and piano - love it.

Huey Lewis' The Power of Love is another number that showcases her versatility across the genres.

Solo Sessions Volume 1, grew upon me with repeated hearing. Initially I wasn't comfortable with the diversity of the material but gradually I came to like it a lot and now I love it!
Lance
Available November 15.
* Reportedly the world's most expensive coffee.

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