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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Album Review: Fred Randolph - Mood Walk

A bass-playing leader playing his own compositions wasn't a recipe that filled me with eager anticipation and my first thought was, who can I pass it on to who will appreciate it more than I will?

Then I played it! Boy did I get it wrong. The moment the needle hit the groove (figuratively speaking) I knew this was mine.

On the Upside: Randolph says it was inspired by Clifford Brown - it sure was! The head was so recognisable I tried to put a name to it but couldn't. Whatever, it's a great number.

Unaware: Chick Corea is the inspiration and Sheldon Brown impresses on flute and there are some tasty vibes from Dillon Vado. Where have I been hiding? I'd never heard of these musicians but they are Summa Cum Laude as Bud Freeman once named his band. Well, these guys are far removed from the world of Bud Freeman other than they play with the highest distinction.

T Bone Slide is a bouncy shuffle groove with Sankovich doing the business on B3. In case you think it all happens in NYC, check out Northern California where these guys hang out.

It's West Coast, but not as we remember it from the old days. The same quality of musicianship, yes, but gutsier, more intense, less ephemeral. Typical being Strange Game - David Crosby the subconscious inspiration. 

Mood Walk, runs rather than walks, enabling trumpet and tenor to blow some 21st century bebop with piano and bass adding to the recipe.

Knowing has a nice Latin feel to it, far removed from the pseudo bossa rhythms that pervade the European (and UK) scene. To misquote from the Leiber/Stoller number Peggy Lee (and Zoë Gilby) used to do so well - these cats really do know!

Mr Now came via Randolph listening to Coltrane Plays the Blues. I think that maybe Sheldon Brown also listened to the same album. But what am I doing mentioning names? Every one is Napoleon Brandy!

Todd Rundgren is name checked in the title of Todd's Idea. Sankovich plays a Wurlitzer electric piano on this one bringing back memories of the days when your allegiances were either Wurlitzer or Fender Rhodes. I think the Rhodes probably won that particular war although I  personally preferred the sound of the former.  

Nouveau Monde features the Congolese Ndombolo rhythm adding to the cosmopolitan feel of the album. Meadows is a Latin waltz and the album finishes off with Funky N.O. Thing. This does exactly what it says on the label and everyone has a good old blast.

Now available via the usual suspects - check out here.
Lance

Fred Randolph (basses); Erik Jecabson (trumpet/flugel); Sheldon Brown (tenor sax/flute); Dan Zemelman (piano); Greg Wyser-Pratte (drums) + Greg Sankovich (keys/organ) ; Silvestre Martinez (perc.); Brian Rice (perc.); Dillon Vado (vibes). 

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