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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.

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. CANCELLED! 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.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Monday, December 07, 2020

Billie Holiday: A Concert Celebration live streaming from Y92, NYC - Dec. 6

Catherine Russell (vocals); Veronica Swift (vocals); Tivon Pennicott (tenor sax); Emmet Cohen (piano); Yasushi Nakamura (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums)

Located on 92nd St, NYC, Y92 has been hosting cultural events for something like 145 years. This New York live stream was actually recorded on November 21. Two weeks later, no doubt following considerable promotion, it finally became available to view, fifteen bucks, to you. Billie Holiday: A Concert Celebration featured stellar names, it couldn't be anything other than good ...
A cavernous, exposed brick performance space, Y92 would, one imagines, in pre-pandemic times, be filled to the rafters. The now familiar sight, and sound, of musicians playing to, and looking down, a camera lens, is how it was for this celebration of Billie Holiday. The Emmet Cohen Trio, as good a piano trio you'll find anywhere, augmented by tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, provided impeccable support to the two star vocalists paying tribute to Lady Day. 

Catherine Russell, daughter of famed bandleader Luis Russell, emerged from the wings to sing the first of the evening's numbers - Time On My Hands. Yes, this was good alright. I Wished on the Moon introduced tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott supporting Ms Russell. The one time tenor player with Gregory Porter didn't seek to emulate Lester Young, he is his own man, a fine player. Fine and Mellow took it down, bluesy tenor accompanying our vocalist. 

Time to introduce Ms Veronica Swift. Our vocalists exchanged compliments as they went into Ain't Nobody's Business. Great stuff! It helps to have an ace 'backing band' in the shape of Cohen, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Kyle Poole! The collective cv spoke volumes - Berklee, Juilliard, NYC first callers, international festival appearances, major concert hall touring musicians etc. 

Ms Russell exited stage right. Ms Swift remained on stage to sing a spellbinding You Go to My Head accompanied by Pennicott's exquisite tenor saxophone playing. More from Swift - If You Were MineDid I Remember? and a sensational Ella-like scat chorus on What a Little Moonlight Can Do (Kyle Poole's brushes on an uptempo round of fours, Pennicott effortlessly referencing the great tenor players!). 

Our vocalists momentarily left the stage to Pennicott and the trio to play Lover Man with Cohen inventively incorporating McCoy Tyner-esque chords - most impressive! Catherine Russell returned once more to sing God Bless the Child accompanied by Cohen. The evening drew to a close in an entirely unexpected way. The musicians' work done, an image of Billie Holiday filled the screen. We were left listening to Billie singing Strange Fruit.    
Russell

1 comment :

Ron Ainsborough said...

Only saw and heard of Veronica Swift about a month ago whilst checking YouTube featuring Emmet Cohen. I have obviously led a very sheltered life to not have them under my jazz radar.
Emmet Cohen I find to be sensational ,likewise Veronica Swift. Great voice and scat singer of the highest standard . Checked out two Emmet Cohen with Veronica Swift sessions in Emmets house in NY.. each over one hour in duration which I found mesmerising.. What more can I say other than you won't see any better jazz. Obviously this is my personal view but feel so lucky to have seen them. Will they be at the Sage one day I wonder.
Ron Ainsborough

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