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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Album review: Mark Winkler and David Benoit - Old Friends

Mark Winkler (vocals); David Benoit (piano/arranger); Gabe Davis (bass); Pat Kelley (guitar); Clayton Cameron (drums); Kevin Winard (perc.); Stefanie Fife (cello).

Mark Winkler features frequently on BSH, several of his previous 16 (or thereabouts) albums have been reviewed, invariably, and deservedly so, enthusiastically. 

He's one of those singers who rarely figure in the DownBeat polls but who, nevertheless, exude a sense of class some of the young guns have yet to achieve. On top of that, he's a fine songwriter whose lyrics have been covered many times by many great vocalists including Claire Martin. Indeed on the old Al Jarreau "list song", Better Than Anything, he includes Claire Martin singing along with Bill Evans' ballads and Joe Williams' blues.

With his old friend David Benoit on piano and some stellar support the whole project came about through the pandemic. Benoit had had a tour cancelled and, with his wife unable to leave Japan, the pair got together to sing and play a few songs. With Winkler socially distanced at the far end of Benoit's 9-foot grand they ran through some of their favourites and, eventually the outline of the album took shape Winkler commenting that you can actually sing through a mask!

Three of the songs are joint collaborations between the two principles: Dragonfly; In a Quiet Place and Thirty Years. There's also a song composed by Bob Dorough (I've Got Just About Everything) as well as one by Dave Frishberg (Sweet Kentucky Ham). The inclusion of songs by those two hippest of the hip guys serves as a good guide to the whereabouts of Winkler's centre of gravity.

This is what singing and communicating with each other (and, of course the listeners) is all about,  Well worth checking out.

It hits the virtual street on Friday (Feb. 19).
Lance

I've Got Just About Everything; Sweet Kentucky Ham; Better Than Anything; The Shadow of Your Smile; Two for the Road; Old Friends/ Bookends; When This Love Affair is Over; I Think It's Going to Rain Today; In a Quiet Place; I Wish I'd Met You; Dragonfly; Thirty Years; Some Other Time.

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