Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

August

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Album Review: Florian Arbenz - Convergence

Florian Arbenz (drums); Jorge Vistel (trumpet); Maikel Vistel (tenor sax); Jim Hart (vibes); Nelson Veras (guitar); Rafael Jerjen (bass).

Well, you couldn't get much more international than this! The leader is Arbenz - a Swiss drummer - he has some tasty rolls (Swiss - get it?). A couple of Cuban horns, an English vibraphonist, a Brazilian guitarist and an Aussie on double bass. The end result proves that music, and jazz in particular, really is a universal language.

The eight extended tracks are varied in mood ranging from the melancholic to boundary pushing extremes but with a lot of intriguing byways in between. From Django to Coltrane, Henry Threadgill and Steve Coleman it is compulsive listening. The various cultural influences are absorbed but not allowed to dominate. This isn't a battle royal or a musical World War III but six musicians interacting intuitively.

Arbenz, perhaps better known as part of the trio VEIN, lets us know that Switzerland, contrary to Harry Lime in The Third Man, has given the world much more than the cuckoo clock.

Jim Hart, living up to his rising status in the DownBeat polls, keeps the UK flag flying. The two Cuban's give credence their homeland's jazz roots Veras is from Brazil - he plays guitar and plays it good - whilst Jerjen proves that Australians do more than play cricket. If we were to draw parallels then maybe Jerjen is Steve Smith.

An album well worth checking out.
Lance.

Available from June 12 in various formats - try/buy.

Little Idea; Translagion; Fast Lane; Ambar; Sound; Nocturne; Strong Steps; Edificio.

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