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.

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

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.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

CD Review: Fleur Seule – Standards And Sweet Things

(Review by Ann Alex)

Yes I thought after hearing the first 2 tracks, yet another sweetish-voiced woman singer, clear diction, competent musicians, good but not unusual, then I sat up for track 3, I Only Have Eyes For You, done as a very slow ballad with the piano commenting after each line, a bass solo, and sung in a manner I can only describe as 'lovingly'. The slowness of this version would have daunted many singers and made listeners yawn, but Ms Briggs carries it off well.

This is the fifth studio album from the band Fleur Seule and they are every inch an experienced outfit. They are described as Manhattan's very own 1940's jazz band and the CD includes swing, French songs from WW2 and the sounds of Puerto Rico. Ms Briggs looks the part as she is a blonde who resembles Marilyn Monroe. A CD with a cheerful feel, suitable for your next nostalgic party.

They play regularly at Birdland, and have a 5 year residency as the house band at The Tavern on the Green. Ms Briggs sings in 7 languages and speaks 4 so she is able to cover many genres to reach the varied New York audiences.

This is a very enjoyable CD and some tracks deserve a special mention, such as the lively Them There Eyes with a skilled trumpet solo; Tenderly, which is very, yes, tender, slow with brushed drums and a romantic bowed bass; Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy is a very amusing song about food, quote 'shoo-fly pie and apple pan dowdy, makes your eyes light up and your stomach say howdy'.

 Then we have the variety of a fast Latin number, Piel Canela; a jaunty French fun song Zou Zou Bisou and the more serious La Vie En Rose. Other tracks are: Taking A Chance On Love; Sabor A Mi; Manuelo; Misty; Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan; Almost Like Being In Love; Sweet Happy Life; Embraceable You; and 'S Wonderful.

The album was self-released on October 9. See www.fleurseule.com
Ann Alex

Allyson Briggs (vocals, bandleader); Andy Warren (trumpet, arranger, musical director); Jason Yeager (piano); Michael O'Brien (bass); Paul Francis (drums); Richard Miller (guitar); Ivan Llanes (percussion); Martina DeSilva, Vanessa Perea, Marg Davis (background vocals)
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