Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

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).

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

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

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