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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: 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.

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

Tue 21: ???

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, March 15, 2021

Album review: Dan Blake - Da Fe

Dan Blake (tenor, soprano sax); Carmen Staaf (piano, Fender Rhodes); Leo Genovese (piano/synthesizers); Dmitry Ishenko  (acoustic and electric bass); Jeff Williams (drums).  

An intense evocation of the world’s suffering and crises... no easy listening dinner time jazz here! (Thanks Lance).  The NYC based Blake’s latest project proclaims its objectives in the blurb to be drawing attention to climate change, poverty and a whole panoply of the world’s ills.    

 

The all-round virtuoso playing retains some conventional jazz roots, and is mostly bounced along by the veteran NYC and London-based Jeff Williams’ varied swing.  Staaf sets out the spacious, solo Prologuin classical mode with gently cascading chords, and throughout the album delivers deeply pianistic” and sensitive playing.  She alternates with Genovese (last seen up north in Sage One with Jack de Johnette’s Spring Quartet) on synth who adds colour and other worldly feel.   

 

Blake uses soprano to lay out the nearest to a melody you’re going to get, doubled and traded with piano on Cry of the East.   He steps on the gas for Like Fish in Puddles recalling late Coltrane with runs and squalls.  Pain does what it says on the tin, with swirling layered synths, followed by some fine, muscular and angular tenor in tandem with Staaf on The Grifter Multi-tracked saxes take The Cliff into a more avant garde Monk-ish mood 

 

The title track puts the bass up front with noodling electronica making for a moody and unsettled interlude, before the ruminative, calmer Epilogue: It Heals Itself closes the album with some sounds of hope...

 

Altogether quite a ride, maybe not all in one go for the faint-hearted, but plenty here to enjoy and explore.  

Chris K 

 

Try/buy CD, Vinyl, Digital 

Released: 2021 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records. 

Livestream release March 26 – details here 

1 comment :

Russell said...

Quick! Log on to Ronnie Scott's website. This evening's live stream starting at 8:00pm presents Xhosa Cole playing Larry Young's Unity album. Drummer Jeff Williams is on the gig.

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