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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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, February 17, 2020

CD Review: Jeff Rupert & George Garzone - The Ripple.

Jeff Rupert, George Garzone (tenor sax); Richard Drexler (piano); Jeremy Allen (bass); Marty Morell (drums).
(Review by Lance).

The two tenor line-up has long been a favourite of mine. How could it not be when you think of such legendary pairings as Wardell Gray & Dexter Gordon; Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt; Sonny Stitt & Red Holloway - so amply demonstrated back at Newcastle's Corner House in the 1980s - Lockjaw and Johnny Griffin; Al and Zoot and, of course, the best of them all (said with nationalistic pride) The Jazz Couriers. Tubbs and Ronnie took the format to a new level and, if this  Stateside offering doesn't topple the champions they come within the tip of a Rico number 2 reed of doing it!

Dedicated to Lester Young who influenced so many modern tenor men -  paradoxically Sonny Rollins took the Hawkins route - this is a fine tribute. Both players have an individual sound and, I suspect that it is Rupert who has the marginally lighter sound but I could be wrong! Rupert is featured on his own Beauty Becomes Her whilst Garzone is featured on The Shadow of your Smile.

This is Lester via Getz, this is Lester via Zoot, this is Lester's legacy in the language of today's jazz, as I see it, scene.

The two horns may have top billing but, Drexler on piano is of equal stature with some amazing solos and Allen and Morell underpin the whole shebang. I close my eyes, turn the volume up and it's hard not to believe I'm sitting in a NYC 52nd St. club back in the day. Even though it's a studio recording there is a live feeling to it. All that is missing is the the background noise of someone ordering a pastrami on rye sandwich. Maybe if I turn the volume up next door will provide some background noise, they usually do when I'm practising but, then again, I'm not Jeff Rupert or George Garzone!

Next stop the car stereo - the ultimate accolade for a review CD.
Lance.

Bahia; Go-Go; Stardust; Without a Song; The Shadow of Your Smile; Detour Ahead; The Red Door; Red Top; Hoboken; Beauty Becomes Her; Lester Left Town; Alone Together.

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