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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

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.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Album review: Sam Newbould Quintet - Bogus Notus

Sam Newbould (alto sax/compositions); Bernard van Rossum (tenor sax); Youngwoo Lee (piano); Daniel Nagel (bass); Guy Salamon (drums/perc) + Beth Aggett (voice); Ian Cleaver (trumpet); Billy Marrows (guitar); Frederico Calcagno (bass clarinet).

Back in the good old days (pre-2020) apart from the regular big bands with their relatively stable, and often interchangeable, personnel there was also the university based bands with their yearly turnover of musicians who came up through the ranks and then graduated. Frequently, not to pursue a career in music, but to become rising stars in the city. Doctors lawyers, architects or arch-villains. Their musical achievements put on the back-burner maybe never to be rekindled.

Fortunately, Sam Newbould, a former member of the award winning Durham University Big Band (Great North Big Band Jazz Festival 2012) stayed with the music and eventually relocated to Amsterdam where he has just released his second album of original music.

In the main it's a deep and dark rather profound album reminiscent of some of Charles Mingus' work. Rich, often discordant, harmonies combine to make this compulsive listening.

Newbould's alto playing  bursts from the ensembles shining like a beacon in the darkness. Likewise van Rossum too has moments that stay with you, his tenor offering contrast to the leader's alto.

The rhythm section hold it all together with Salaman's drums providing volatile support.

Song For Annie is a folksy kind of piece with Beth Aggett singing a love lyric to, I presume, her child. Guitarist Marrows provides sympathetic accompaniment.

Another guest is Dutch trumpet player Ian Cleaver. Cleaver was at the 2017 GIJF taking part in a concert billed as Three Nations One Groove. This featured youth bands from Britain, Germany and Holland culminating in a 75 strong finale. He solos at length on the title track as well as on a single from the album - Concrete Caterpillar.

Newbould comments that the inspiration for each piece was based around his memories of growing up in the Yorkshire Dales although I'm not quite sure where the final track - Superfast Fibre Optic Broadband - which features bass clarinetist Calcagno, fits into the rural landscape.


Lance

Release date March 5.

Left Side of the Cove; Concrete Caterpillar; Do it Yourself; Bogus Notus; Carried to the Common; Right Side of the Cove; Song For Annie; Superfast Fibre Optic Broadband

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