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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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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. SOLD OUT!
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.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, January 14, 2021

The London Supersax Project livestreaming from Ronnie Scott's - Jan. 14

(Screenshots by Ken Drew).

This was, in effect, what Kansas Smitty's would call a Playback Session with the front man giving the audience the background to how it all happened. Explaining how Med Flory, Warne Marsh and others transcribed famous Charlie Parker solos for five saxes which were then released as Supersax.

At Ronnie's no mention was made of the original Supersax although Charlie Parker's connection to the tunes, most of which he composed, was detailed - cutting out the middle man one might say. The lesser informed may have thought this was something new.

However, all that aside, this was a stonking set with the five saxes reading the parts with such accuracy that it was incredible to speculate on how much or how little rehearsal time they'd had.

Surprisingly, given that this was a sax orientated session, most of the solos went to trumpeter Steve Fishwick who took on the role of Conte Candoli and did it well. Upon reflection, as the saxes were playing Charlie Parker solos as a section, how were they, the saxes, going to improve on what Bird had laid down?

When they were let loose, boy did they go to town! On Moose the Mooche, Garnett, Mayne and Richardson hit pay-dirt with their solos. The Adrenalin flow was upped with the exchanges which progressed in ever decreasing measures ultimately ending up with one bar individual salvos. It was a close thing but I think Richardson shaded it by a demi-semi-quaver.

At the other end of the line, Barford and Allen went toe to toe on Koko. The jury's still out. Skelton also parradiddled on this one.

As ever, Pearson did the piano part to perfection and Conor Chaplin's bass solo impressed on Parker's Mood

Other numbers were Cool Blues; Just Friends; Groovin' High; Star Eyes and A Night in Tunisia with the saxes playing what came to be known as "The famous alto break".

The finale was Salt Peanuts. I'd got a packet of crisps for my supper but it didn't stop me shouting "Salt Peanuts" at the appropriate moments.

Excellent!
Lance

Alex Garnett, Sammy Mayne (alto sax); Tom Barford, Brandon Allen (tenor sax), Leo Richardson (baritone sax); Steve Fishwick (trumpet); James Pearson (piano); Conor Chapman (bass); Matt Skelton (drums).

1 comment :

Russell said...

A great session, exemplary section work from the all-star saxophones.

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