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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ 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, October 09, 2020

Album Review: San Gabriel 7 Featuring Femi Knight – Red Dress

I remarked in a previous review that the album in question lacked 'bite': the songs on this download have 'bite' in spades and more so. Seven original songs and two live performances of songs by other writers, spirited lyrics about the lives of 21st century women, written with wit, intelligence, humanity, and also memorable 'hook' lines for good measure. The musical style is towards the funky, R&B end of jazz, but the horns supply a goodly measure of jazz influence in their solos. 

The San Gabriel 7 formed in 2006 and have been gigging around southern California, but they now wish to take their music further afield. This is their 10th album, on which they have teamed up with singer, songwriter and keyboardist Femi Knight (aka Dawn Bishop). The band have played with some of the biggest names in the music business and Ms Knight has a long association with Sergio Mendes.

A songwriter who can find a rhyme for Chicago ('Zhivago') wins every time in my book! This is from the song The Next Best Thing, about a woman who is trying to sort out her ideas, 'grabbing on to anything', which she does to a Latin beat. West Indian Brown (Red Dress) is a sort of celebration of the dress, with a funky, gospel feel and a skilled interlude from the horns;  New Tomorrow, about starting again, is Brazilian tinged, with a lively trumpet solo.

The two live performances, recorded at the Cal Tech Jazz Festival, When A Woman's Has Enough and Never Make Your Move Too Soon are blues style, and Ms Knight invites the audience to dance on the latter track, which I would have done if it had been earlier in the evening! 

I could write more about the fun I had listening to this album, but I'll leave readers to listen for themselves, at www.sgsjazz.com. Click on to the YouTube link, then the link for this album.

Ann Alex

I'm Going Home Tonight;
Give A Little; West Indian Brown; When A Woman's Had Enough; New Tomorrow; The Next Big Thing; Stranger; Never make Your Move Too Soon; The Next Big Thing (radio edit) 

Knight (vocals, songwriter); Chad Edwards (keys, Hammond B3 most tracks); Matt Weisberg (Keys 4,8); Chris Gordon (piano 6, background vocals 2); Steve Gregory (guitar); Jonathan Pintoff (bass); Randy Drake (drums); Scott Breadman (perc); Mike McGuffey (trumpet 2,3,6,7); Jeff Jarvis (trumpet, flugel (1,3,5); Kye Palmer (trumpet (4,5,8); Glen Berger (tenor, alto sax); Jim Lewis (trombone).

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