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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Friday, July 24, 2020

Album review: Jazz Plus Ensemble - Collective

Jazz Plus Productions is/are Chris Jones and Charles Price. Followers of the award-winning Durham University Big Band will know their names from a couple of years ago. Since graduating from the Land of the Prince Bishops the boys have been busy making a name for themselves in the music business. The 'Collective' is aptly named as several members of the eighteen piece band just happen to be Durham University alumni. 

Seven tracks spanning approximately forty one minutes were recorded some twelve months ago in what seems like far off pre-Covid times. The audio quality is excellent, the musicianship (ensemble and solo) is of the highest order. Chris Jones composed and/or arranged all of the tracks and the solo contributions come from all sections of the band. 

Alto sax star Dan Garel features on the opening cut - Feel Alright Experiment - and Monkey Suit with its stately brass band intro, funk bass line, Matt Jacobs conjuring retro Hammond organ-like sounds and Ollie Farley's killer guitar chords. A few years ago at the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival a star vocalist emerged. Her name? Laura Paul. And here she is on this Jazz Plus recording! Singing in Portuguese on Esse Passaro Chamado Tempo (David Sear, trombone) and in English on Inhale Exhale (Matthew Sulzmann, soprano sax, David Sear, trombone), the award-winning vocalist simply confirms what we knew back then...Laura is a star!

Four Court Fish (comp. C. Jones) introduces tenor saxophonist Josephine Colter. Excellent, brooding tenor sax and organ, tight ensemble work, this is a stand out track on an album of stand out tracks. Impressive arrangements, frequently dynamic ensemble playing, incisive solos, the Jazz Plus Ensemble's debut recording is set to receive many plaudits and all of them will be fully deserved.    Russell     

Jazz Plus Ensemble: Daniel Garel, Matthew Sulzmann, John Somerton, Josephine Colter, Felicity Evans (saxophones); Noah Lawrence, Alexander Astbury, Joey Penaliggon, Alistair Martin (trumpets); David Sear, Chris Jones, Laura Piggford, Luke Bentley (trombones); Ollie Farley (guitar); Matthew Jacobs (piano); Jonathan Berry (bass guitar); Tristan Bacon (drums) 

Collective is available now as a download (MP3, FLAC etc.). Further details at www.jazzplus.org and Jazz Plus Productions' YouTube and Instagram TV pages.  
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