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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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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. 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.

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, February 08, 2021

Album review: Allan Harris – Kates Soulfood*

It's debatable as to whether or not this  fine album should actually be reviewed on BSH as it is more soul music than jazz, though I'm no soul expert. This is Harris's fourteenth release as a leader and the ten original songs were written as both a history and a tribute to Harlem in NYC.

The title comes from Harris's Aunt Kate's well-loved luncheonette which was behind the Apollo Theater. The songs draw on our singer's childhood memories and the atmosphere of Harlem which gave music, literature, history and a sense of belonging to its residents. Harris has a pleasant baritone voice, he sings with feeling, and the songwriting is skilled. There are short jazz-like solos, mostly from piano, guitar and harmonica, and interesting lyrics, such as (Open Up) 'Love is the fruit of mankind, we must pick it from the vine' and (One More Notch, about a boy with a gun) 'we must live as one, put down your gun.'

The album opens with lively restaurant chat, then Harris sings about growing up in Harlem; Wash Away My Sins combines gospel with a love song; 99 Miles is about being on the road and also a love song; New Day is about making the most of each day. Feelgood themes. The track I liked best is very much of the moment, Run Through America, a driving rhythm and lyrics about the current situation of the black community in the USA and how it has to change, mentioning, for example,  George Floyd, ending with repeated choruses of 'run through America'

The album will be released on Friday of this week on the Love Productions label, and is available from the usual suspects.

Ann Alex  

* The title spells Kates without an apostrophe. The blurb includes  an apostrophe!

Try/buy.

Allan Harris (voice, guitars); Shirazette Tinnin (drums); Nimrod Speaks (bass); Arcoiris Sandoval (piano); Gregoire Maret (harmonica); David Castaneda (percussion); Curtis Taylor (trumpet); Alex Budman (alto sax); Keith Fiddmont (tenor sax); Ondre J Pivec (organ); + Tonga Ross-Mau (guitar track 6); + Marty Kenney (bass) Jhair Sala (perc); Carolyn Leonhart (Background vox) all on final track

I Grew Up (Kate's Place); One More Notch (Put down your Gun); Wash Away My Sins; Open Up; Shallow Man; Color Of A Woman Is Blu; 99 Miles; Autumn Has Found You; New Day; Run Through America

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