Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Monday, March 08, 2021

Album review: Logan Richardson - Afrofuturism

A big wake up and antidote to my normal reserved fare of ECM, Scandi and standards, with this blockbuster release by Whirlwind from Logan Richardson, the NYC alto saxophonist, composer and producer.  He is also the current voice of Afrofuturism (see an overview here), a movement taking African history and aesthetic, fused with the modern, science fiction, and in the case of early proponent Sun Ra, outer space travel! Arguably the movement peaked in the 70s, but is now resurgent, energised by hiphop, electronica and more, arriving via Kamasi Washington to this album by Richardson’s risk taking exploratory collective.

The album is an intriguing and attention-holding programmed collage of substantive ensemble pieces, interspersed by short sonic interludes of spoken “scraps of found audio”, electronica and historical references.

The dominant voices are Richardson’s powerful, sustained sax layered with programmed keyboards, driven by a maelstrom of drumming from Cory Fonville,  best known for his work with Christian Scott. The Birth of Us lays down the repeated, heavy anthemic style for the headline songs, with thunderous propulsion, punctuating sustained, shifting synths.  

Trap throws in a whole array of filthy beats, while a synth fest dominates Photo Copy. That’s not to say there are no reflective moments, which I feel are often missing from Kamasi or Scott’s work, so Sunrays casts cooler light, with piercing sax over a calmer but constantly shuffling beat. Other voices are showcased, with multi-tracked strings, over-driven guitar and emotive vocals.

An imposing and exciting statement emerges from this busy and sometimes over-produced symphony of modern times - watch for more focused future visions from where this came from!

Chris K

Try/buy CD, vinyl,digital. 

Recorded July 2019/September 2020, releases March 12, 2021.

Logan Richardson (alto sax, piano, keys, synths); Igor Osypov (electric, acoustic guitars), Peter Schlamb (vibes, keys, key bass); Dominique Sanders (bass, key bass, production); Ryan J. Lee (drums, bass); Corey Fonville  (drums); Laura Taglialatela (vocals);  Ezgi Karakus (strings).

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