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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

Monday, October 28, 2019

CD Review: Carolyn Lee Jones – Close Your Eyes

(Review by Ann Alex)  

Carolyn Lee Jones entered the jazz scene in November 2008, which is about the same time as I became interested in jazz, and this is her fourth studio album. (Where have I been all these years?) A fine well-sung CD on the theme of the many facets of love, produced with her musical partners Williams, Pamies and Pierce, and various other musicians on various tracks. Ms Jones (a great name for a jazz singer!) began singing full-time after a long career as a retail buyer. Entertaining regularly with a jazz ensemble in Dallas and, 2017, honoured as Cabaret Artist of The Year by the Sammons Center For The Arts in Dallas.

The album opens with Close Your Eyes, and the delight of a bass solo early, on the first track; then comes a favourite song of mine, No Moon At All, in which the night-time atmosphere is portrayed via cymbals, bass and drums; I Was A Fool features a muted trombone which to my ears adds to the feeling of folly and I'm sorry if that has offended any trombonists! On That Old Black Magic the tricky saxes suggest the magic: Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You is all Latin drumbeats and flutes; When I Found You has a rich big band sound involving the brass instruments; The amusing Confession saucily tells us 'I always go to bed at 10 then I go home at 4'. The album is suitably rounded off with a very slow ballad version of I Only Have Eyes For You, which has a pleasing ethereal sound provided by the synthesizer. The other tracks included are The Nearness of You; Love After Midnight; When I Found You; My Foolish Heart and All Night Long.

The CD was released on September 16 on the Catn'round Sound label and it is available at all fine retailers. See www.carolynleejones.com
Ann Alex

Carolyn Lee Jones (vocals); Brad Williams (piano, synthesizer, Hammond); Sergio Pamies (piano); Jonathan Fisher, Young Heo, Jeffry Eckels (bass); Jeff Plant (electric bass); Andrew Griffith, Dennis Durick, Lupe Barerra, Matt Young (drums); Arno Lucas (percussion); Todd Parsnow, Joe Lee (electric guitar); Pepe Valdez (acoustic guitar); Tony Baker, Dave Pierce (trombone); Pete Clagett (trumpet); Daniel Pardo (flutes); Dave Monsch (tenor, bari saxes).
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1 comment :

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful surprise to see this review! Many thanks and much appreciated. Sincerely, Carolyn Lee Jones Dallas , TX

Thursday, October 31, 2019 4:53:00 pm

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