Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Album review: Jim Rattigan - When

Jim Rattigan (French horn); Nicki Iles (piano); Michael Janisch (bass) James Maddren (drums) + The Tear Quartet - Julian Tear, Alison Gordon (violins); Nicholas Barr (viola); Nicholas Cooper (cello).

The French horn, despite its lovely dry sound has rarely been a jazz voice since the days of John Graas out on the West Coast back in the 1950s. Possibly it's because of the instrument's lack of tonal variants compared to other brass instruments - French horn players please put me right if I'm wrong - its forté seems to be purity of sound of which Rattigan demonstrates most admirably.

Like almost all French horn players he has a classical background which hasn't done him any harm since he succumbed to the call of jazz. His sound is pure and his solos are as lyrical as any valve trombonists which, I suppose is the nearest area for comparision. With this album he decided to combine his two passions using the string quartet as a link.

The string arrangements are beautifully voiced reminiscent of some of the writing behind Sinatra in his Columbia days. Having Nikki Iles on piano is an added bonus, her delicate touch ensures the continuity of the ambiance that exudes throughout - I fall in love with her every time I hear her play!

I don't fall in love with Michael Janisch although I do like him and I love his playing it is just so right for this music. On the beat or laid back you get the impression that no other note or run would do, his solos, an extension of the string quartet. James Maddren is content to stay out of sight doing just enough to keep the ship on a steady course.

Rattigan composed and arranged all of the music on the album 5 years ago and then allowed them to gather dust. Paradoxically, the title When (no question mark!) would probably be even more appropriate now if it had a question mark!

It's not a party record - well it is if there are only two people at the party in which case it's up there with the Wee Small Hours albums! If jazz, like classical music, ever has a Romantic Era then Rattigan will be up there alongside Freddy Choppin, as I remember an AFN disc jockey once describing a jazzed up version of a piece by Chopin! 

Not for the socially distanced...

Lance

YouTube.

Available on Dec. 4 on Three Worlds Records TWR005.

No comments :

Blog Archive