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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. 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

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Album Review: Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne – Monday Nights


Sophie Bancroft (vocals, guitar); Tom Lyne (acoustic and electric bass)

This couple coped with lockdown in the way that many jazz musicians did, by live-streaming gigs from their Scottish home each Monday evening, hence the title of the album that has come out of those gigs. The songs are a mixture of re-imagined standards, four originals written by Ms Bancroft, one offering from Tom Lyne, and a final track from the pen of Tom Waits.

The music set me wondering why on earth I hadn't heard of these two superb musicians before: what have I missed from the past? 'Brave, bright and engaging' said Jazz Journal, and I have to agree. The re-imagined standards really are that, with a fresh uncluttered feel to them

Ms Bancroft's voice is true with excellent diction and the bass plays sympathetically, sometimes on the tune, sometimes improvising or soloing, or occasionally providing rhythm for the guitar tune. This is what gives the uncluttered feel, edging towards contemporary folk on some tracks, such as the original love song Blue Room (not to be confused with the Rodgers and Hart tune of the same name).

You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To is surprisingly upbeat; Far from Mars is an intriguing song about a family preparing to go to Mars: I thought it was the Tom Waits' number listed but it turned out to be by Tom Lyne himself. Miles Away (Bancroft) is a love song sensitively sung to steady guitar chords. On The Street Where You Live is definitely jazz rather than the usual musical theatre style and the album is well rounded off with Tom Waits melancholy Grapefruit Moon, 'and I slip just like the stars, into obscurity.'

Sophie Bancroft is from a jazz-playing family and has sung at jazz festivals and venues in Britain and Europe. Her last CD came out in 2015. She also writes poetry and songs and is a vocal trainer, who has worked in various establishments, including Newcastle University. She currently teaches on the music degree course at Aberdeen University. Tom Lyne, who hails from Canada, plays bass in jazz, folk and contemporary styles in many settings. He settled in the UK in 1998.

The album will be available everywhere from November 23. See www.jazzfuel.com

 Ann Alex

Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby; You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To; Fragile Moon; Underneath The Apple Tree; Miles Away; Blue Room; Far From Mars; Comfort; On The Street Where You Live; Grapefruit Moon

4 comments :

Lance said...

Great voice - nice backing.

NeilC said...

They have an earlier album from 2012 You turned the tables on me and Sophie has quite a number of other albums to keep you company until this is released.

Jen said...

Sophie also runs annual - 4 day vocal courses (usually in April) at Cromarty along with Fiona Duncan, Brian Kellock, Sara Colman and Liane Carroll as tutors. Can really recommend this.

Anonymous said...

Sophie Bancroft has a heavenly voice and great understanding of each song she sings. Her own songs are beautiful and there is always at least one in each of her albums that speaks directly to you. So looking forward to this new album. The Monday night gigs have been a lifeline in our house and we have tried to attend every one. Relaxed and informal presentation with small insights into Sophie and Tom's life, family and friends as well as explanations for each song, why they've chosen it and what it means to them. Oh, and they have adopted a 50/50 stance for writers which means they often feature unheard of female writers and, and this is wonderful, give you some history of these artists. Buy the album, listen in on Monday nights.

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