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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

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. 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: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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.

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

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Album Review: South Florida Jazz Orchestra - Cheap Thrills: The Music of Rick Margitza

There was a time when a band like the South Florida Jazz Orchestra would, perhaps, have been described as a 'territory' band. And that's what it is, based in the Miami area of the Sunshine State. Bands such as the SFJO perhaps don't travel as much as in the past but that's down to the economics of keeping a large ensemble on the road and its personnel holding down day jobs (often teaching jazz to the next generation).  

The South Florida outfit has at its helm Chuck Bergeron. Formed some fifteen year ago and boasting four albums under its belt, this is a mighty fine orchestra. Regularly working with big names - Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval and Ira Sullivan to name but three - it can't be anything other than helpful to have Bergeron make that phone call to a friend who just happens to be another 'big name'. This latest project - The Music of Rick Margitza - succeeds in maintaining both the high standard of musicianship and the band's deserved high reputation. 

Margitza conducted a masterclass at the University of Miami which led to Bergeron suggesting the one-time Miles Davis sideman bring along a couple of charts with a view to including them on a recording. One thing led to another, the end result being all but two of the nine tracks on Cheap Thrills were written by Margitza, hence The Music of Rick Margitza. The title track, the opening number, features special guest guitarist John Hart. The album's many first rate soloists are a joy to listen to, supported, as they are, by a swinging rhythm section. Guest trumpeter Brian Lynch shows what he can do on 45 Pound Hound and the closing number, in some ways an incongruous selection - Embraceable You - features a brilliant cadenza by an uncredited member of the five-strong reeds (plus three guests - the aforementioned Lynch, David Leon and Phil Doyle). 

Cheap Thrills is is a fine big band album and would be a worthy edition to the collection of any big band fan or, indeed, the collection of almost anyone who has an interest in jazz.   
Russell

Cheap Thrills The Music of Rick Margitza by the South Florida Jazz Orchestra is available from Summit Records (DCD 757).
    
South Florida Jazz Orchestra: Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Ed Calle, Jason Kush, Mike Brignola (saxophones); Greg Gisbert, Jason Carder, Alex Norris, Pete Francis, Augie Hass, Jesus Mato, Jared Hall, John Daversa (trumpets); Dante Luciani, John Kricker, Andrew Peal, Major Bailey (trombones); John Hart (guitar); Martin Bejerano (piano); Chuck Bergeron (acousitc & electric bass); John Yarling (drums) + Brian Lynch (trumpet): David Leon (baritone sax, bass clarinet); Phil Doyle (tenor sax); Derek Pyle (trombone); Haden Mapel (trombone); Xavier Desandre Navarre (percussion)  

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