Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sun 30: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Tango Jazz Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Single review: Monocled Man - Bernabe Jurado

Rory Simmons (trumpet/keys/electronics & processing); Chris Montague (guitar); Jon Scott drums).

The 12" diameter piece of vinyl is becoming a more and more frequent visitor to my Dansette, much to the delight of some and the horror of others. A rarer specimen is the 7" 45rpm beast formerly known as an EP (extended play).

CDs with a short playing time are often referred to as an EP, but aren't actually the real deal - and nor is this one which is, in effect, a single like what we had back in the old days when Ronnie Scott was bailing out The Beatles on Lady Madonna.

An A side (Sero Max for Joan Vollmer) and a B side (The Raw, Mineral Blue).

Gateshead's Chris Montague blasts effectively in a contemporary vein, Rory Simmons uses the various devices at his disposal although, cross my heart, I prefer him blowing straight trumpet - he gets a great sound. Jon Scott adds his voice as an integral part of the trio. Not content to sit in the corner he is as much a front liner as the other two.

In actual fact, this is one half of an EP the whole being inspired by the true story of William Burroughs' murder of his wife Joan Vollmer in a drunken game of William Tell, and the subsequent defence offered by his lawyer Bernabe Jurado. Reading more about the bizarre circumstances of the killing and Burrough's subsequent life gave me a deeper understanding of the music. It's way out and surreal but so was Burroughs - it seems they built upon each other even though Burroughs died long before the recording.

The more I play it, the more I want to discover Burroughs' writing.

The full EP is available from
 Whirlwind Recordings.

Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive