Bebop Spoken There

Dominick "Domo" Branch: ''Most people say drummers can't write, they're just time-keepers only beating on things. But I have a very musical brain.'' (DownBeat February, 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

18288 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 142 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 14), 42

From This Moment On ...

February

Thu 19: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: George Shearing Jazz Moments.

Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Squabble @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:00pm. Steve Chambers (organ); Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Sid White (drums).
Fri 20: Jive Aces @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors).
Fri 20: Alex Clarke w. Dean Stockdale Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Clarke w. Dean Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Sat 21: ???

Sun 22: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 22: Joe Steels Group @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Sun 22: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Harben Kay Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: Joe Steels Group @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. A Blue Patch album tour.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 24: Finn-Keeble Group @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00.
Tue 24: Liam Oliver & Shayo Oshodi @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 26: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 26: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00 adv.
Thu 26: Mick Cantwell Band @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Blues.

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

Thursday, April 30, 2020

CD Review: Linda Purl – Taking a Chance on Love

Linda Purl (vocals); David Finck (bass); Tedd Firth (Piano); Ray Marchica (drums); Nelson Rangell (reeds)

Yet another superb woman singer who is also an experienced actor, which shows in her skilled interpretation of lyrics, and not a note of scat in sight, (or rather hearing). Ms Purl has performed at Lincoln Center Jazz, Birdland as well as other USA venues and also in Naples, Paris, Tokyo and London (Crazy Coqs). She has sung with many jazz orchestras including Glenn Miller's. As an actor she has been in 45 USA television films and has performed in theatre in the USA, Monaco and Tokyo.

This is Ms Purl's fifth album which is based on great American song book material and is very much led by voice and piano, with just one or two solos from the other instrumentalists, notably a fitting flute interlude on Wave which continues to fade-out; a neat drum and bass solo on the title track; and then a run for the tenor sax on Darn That Dream. It's the sort of CD for late-night romancing or even quiet listening during Lockdowns. We know about those.

 A fair mixture of slow ballads, swing, a bossa such as Wave and the final track, a lullaby which could be sung to a child. The piano deserves special mention as it complements the singer well and solos ripplingly and skilfully. As for lyrics, I noticed plenty of internal rhymes on You Fascinate Me; Try Your Wings is all about following your dreams and Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) is rather touching.

Tracks: Pure Imagination; I Have Dreamed: Lucky Day; And We Will Fly/ Come Fly With Me; Taking a Chance on Love; Too Late Now; Throw It Away; Wave; Darn That Dream; You Fascinate Me; Try Your Wings; Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)

The album is scheduled to be released on May 29 on the Reaching Records label. The proceeds from the first month's sales will go to the MusiCares Covid-19 Fund and the second months proceeds will go to ActorsFund.org when you buy direct from the website www.lindapurl.com
Ann Alex

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