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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

Sunday, October 27, 2019

CD Review: McAlmont & Webb - The Last Bohemians

(Review by Lance).

McAlmont, I’m ashamed to admit, is a new name to me. However, discovering that The Independent described him as "British pop's best kept secret" gave me the consolation of not being alone in my ignorance and, on the strength of what's laid down here I'll do my best to ensure McAlmont's no secret any more.

An intriguing voice, higher pitched than your average jazzman's vocal chords - at first hearing I was gender confused and the fact that he recently did a live interpretation of Billie Holiday's songs muddied the waters even further. However, listening again all doubts were banished and I realised I was listening to one of the more original (and pleasing) male voices of recent years. Where has he been hiding?

Teaming up with Alex Webb, himself one of the UK's outstanding pianists and composers, makes for an ideal partnership. Ten of the songs are by Webb two of which are co-written with the singer. Other items include Queen's Love of my Life, The Beatles' I'm So Tired and Suede's The Wild Ones

McAlmont and Suede's Bernard Butler also formed a duo - McAlmont and Butler - who made their mark back in the 1990's, early 2000's.

The Last Bohemians is described as a love letter to the jazz life. A life most of us have lived either at the mouthpiece end or at the end of a horn player's bell. If you're reading this page you've done it for real or by proxy. The music takes the listener along a journey. An adventure  that maybe began in London at The Flamingo (depicted on the inner cover) or maybe The Down Beat in Newcastle or any of the dives, anywhere in the world, that we sought out to sate our passion for the music.

That journey is portrayed in all its tarnished glory by the contributions from Tony Kofi's sax playing, Andy Davies' trumpet playing, a sympathetic rhythm section and, most of all, by McAlmont and Webb. 
Lance

Release date November 22. Launch at Hampstead Jazz Club on November 19 - details.

David McAlmont (vocals); Alex Webb (piano/MD); Andrew Cleyndert/Jihad Darwish (bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums/perc.); Jonathan Preiss (guitar); Tony Kofi (soprano/alto/tenor saxes); Andy Davies (trumpet/flugelhorn); Alex Balanescu, Julian Tear (violins); Katie Wilkinson (viola); Dave Daniels (cello).

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