Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

No comments :

Blog Archive