Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

October.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Mon 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 12: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Julija Jacenaite (vocals).

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Album review: Collette Cooper – Lost

This fine CD was issued a few days ago with all proceeds being donated to Nordoff Robins,which is the UK's largest independent music therapy charity, for which Ms Cooper is an ambassador. The general 'feel' of the album is of driving blues and a feeling of loss, with musical surprises on some of the tracks.

There are four original songs, two popular standards (I Put a Spell on You and Street Life) plus a bonus track coda, which is informal fun, where Ms Cooper sings and tries to play harmonica. The recording was made direct to tape in one take, not obvious at all except for the coda.

The track which stood out for me is Cooper's own Perfect Girl, an entertaining cabaret number which would have been worthy of Piaf. Voice and piano lead the song, describing a too-perfect person in the limelight, with accordion comments and low bass notes supplying the darker side of the portrayal.

On blues style numbers such as Don't Throw Your Love Away, the voice has hints of Bessie Smith with a pleasing raspy undertone and Lost Soul is a heartfelt gospel song with trumpet solo and lyrics asking for help - Jesus help me find, some kind of peace of mind.

I Put a Spell on You has a repeated rhythm on piano and a solo on muted trumpet. This is all rounded off with the coda, with spoken comments: They're all lookin' at me showing the singer's very human side.

Ms Cooper, championed by BBC2, Radio6 Music and Jazz FM, plays regularly around London at venues such as the Jazz Cafe, The Roundhouse and the Piano Bar Soho. A community activist and artist who has been involved in Vivian Westwood's Cool Earth environmental charity.

I hope this recording makes a lot of money for the charity. It is available on Thelonius Punk Records via the usual suspects.

Ann Alex

Don't Throw Your Love Away; I Put a Spell on You; Lost Soul; Outta My Mind; Perfect Girl; Street Life; Coda (bonus track)

Collette Cooper (vocals); George Muranyi (piano); Francois Moreau (bass); Cyro Taylor (drums); Graeme Flowers (trumpet) + Sam Taylor (piano); Andrea Trillo (drums); Kevin Davy (trumpet); Steve Counsel (harmonica); Dan Lipman (sax); Mike Hanson (lead guitar); Frank Biddulph (violin); Martina Schwarz (accordion); Simon King, Dan Lipman (backing vocals track 6)

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