bebop spoken here: Album review: Jamess Copus

From This Moment On

August
Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).
Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.
Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Album review: Jamess Copus - Dusk

James Copus (trumpet/flugel/voice); Tom Cawley (piano/synth); Conor Chaplin (bass); Jason Brown (drums).

Looking back through the archives of BSH I find that I first heard Copus in the NYJO trumpet section in 2012 at the Scarborough Jazz Festival. I must confess, no lasting impression was made back then. Well it was a vintage year for the band and just some of the stars to emerge were Louis Dowdeswell, Tom Dennis, Tom Green, Rob Luft and Conor Chaplin who is also on this album.

However, subsequent hearings since have left me in no doubt as to his capabilities. In one review I referred to him as a more exciting trumpet player than Miles. Strong words, I know, but I stand by them and listening to this latest recording only serves to reinforce my opinion.

All seven tracks were composed by Copus and his writing reflects his playing. Lyrical, harmonic and adventurous. In Cawley he has a pianist who brings a lot to the table both as a soloist and sympathetic accompanist. Copus and Chaplin have accomplished much with and without each other since the old NYJO days but the big surprise is Brown! Why haven't I come across him before now? Where has he been hiding? Well, er, NYC actually with, among others, Joey DeFrancesco. As the song goes, "If you can make it there ...

If you like post bop modern jazz with a nod to the future then this is for you.

Recommended.

Lance

Try/buy.