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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Friday, January 29, 2021

Album review: Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine - Mazel Tov Kocktail!

Big bands come and go and some stay. Locally, The Customs House Big Band, Strictly Smokin' Big Band, The Gala Big Band and Musicians Unlimited have achieved varying degrees of longevity curtailed only by the occasional pandemic.

Down in Southern California the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine have been swinging since 1979. Liss, whose CV includes playing baritone sax with such luminaries as Rob McConnell, Louis Bellson and Thad Jones, initially formed the band purely as a vehicle for his students to get their chops together.

They certainly did that and soon they were playing in public before, becoming a community band and, eventually, a full-time pro band.

By 1994, Liss had stopped playing and taken on the role of musical director. It was also the year the band made its first recording.
 
More recordings followed and this is their sixth, celebrating the 40 plus years since it was formed.

Six, mainly original, instrumentals and six vocal covers by Janet Hammer and Carly Ines. Carly, who's also in the trombone section, sings Chick Corea's High Wire, Love You Madly and Joy Spring. Janet lends her vocal chords to You'd Better Love Me While You May, I Wish You Love and Where or When. Both singers are the real deal.

There's a host of fine soloists both from within the band and from the imported guns. In the latter category Greg Armstrong is active on flute and tenor. Tyler Richardson blows alto, Melanie Medina plays some funky guitar on Springtime and April Leslie gives us some rollicking klezmer clarinet on the title track. Castel Del Oro takes the tenor solo  on High Wire,  David Barnard takes a trombone solo on one of the vocals whilst keyboard capers are in the hands of Steve Sibley on piano. The solo trumpet chores - whenever have I used a term so inappropriately? - are performed by Mark Nicholson and Jeff Beck - listen to Beck on Joy Spring. No piccolo players required today.

The presence of Mike Vax on Gimme That didn't faze them one little bit even though Vax was at the top of his game.  Gimme That was written by Andrew Neu  who takes the tenor solo. Matt DiBiase on vibes has his say on a couple and Nathan East is featured on Bass:The Final Frontier which was composed and arranged by Dan Radlauer who also played accordion on another of his compositions Mazel Tov Kocktail.

There is so much more I could write about this album but, with another 20 albums
knocking on the door time and tide etc....
Lance


(Collective personnel): Tyler Richardson, Josh Smitley, Greg Armstrong, Nicholas Hoo, April Leslie, Malcolm Jones, David Castel De Oro (saxes); Randy Aviles, Mark Nicholson, Jeff Beck, Jack Houghton (trumpets); Gary Bucher, Carly Ines, David Barnard, Tim Hall (trombones); Steve Sibley (piano); Lance Jeppeson (bass); Charlie Styx McGhee (drums); Melanie Medina, Robert Cartwright (guitars); Noah Ines (perc.); Janet Hammer, Carly Ines (vocals) + Nathan East (electric bass); Andrew Neu (tenor sax); Dan Radlauer (accordion); Mike Vax (trumpet); Matt DiBiase (vibes).

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