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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
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.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, March 23, 2021

Album Review: Lucinda Fosker – I Get Along

Lucinda Fosker (vocals); Piera Onacko (piano); Stuart Barker (bass); Maxim Tomlinson (drums); Chris Young (tenor sax)

I've been moaning that I couldn't find enough to say about these singers, then along comes a great CD which is different and gives me more than enough to comment on. I could of course just simply quote no less a person than Lauren Kinsella, who says of Ms Fosker 'A talented vocalist with an original flair for song writing that blends an array of styles from jazz to soul to groove composition'.

I could finish the review there, but I'd be sacked by Lance!

Pennies From Heaven is nothing like Sinatra. First we have Tomlinson drumming up a storm, then a bit of swing and angular vocal scatting, drum and bass exchanging fours, then back to the head to finish. Young is featured on Frishberg's satirical I'm Hip with a deliberate off key effect, and amusing lyrics such as 'I even call my girlfriends man'.

Say It Isn't So is pared back and groove-based which brings out the pathos; On The Street Where You Live begins with a calypso style introduction, so unusual. There are three original songs, whose lyrics are effectively sparse but full of meaning: For a Fool is a pleading love song, Rose That Spoke is short and sweet and Birds Are Beautiful simply repeats that idea to the accompaniment of the soaring tenor sax.

The title track ends the album, beginning with just voice and bass suggesting a feeling of loneliness, then after a piano solo, we have the killer line which ends the song, performed poignantly, 'Break my heart in two'.

This is Ms Fosker's debut solo album although she was featured on the extended play Walking Blind with Soweto Kinch. A graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, she aims to produce music which is related to both pop and jazz, as shown by this CD which has a very contemporary feel. I'd love to see her at The Globe sometime soon.

Having already played at leading events such as Cheltenham Jazz Festival and honed her craft alongside such artists as Anita Wardell and Norma Winstone, it comes as no surprise that, in 2020, Lucinda Fosker was awarded a Jazz South commission.

The album is available now from the usual suspects. Link.

Ann Alex

Pennies From Heaven; I'm Hip; Say It Isn't So; On The Street Where You Live; For a Fool; Rose That Spoke; Don't Explain; The Very Thought Of You; Birds Are Beautiful; I Get Along Without You Very Well.

2 comments :

Patti said...

Ah - I Get Along (Without You Very Well) is such a gorgeous song, with those poignant lyrics. I remember my young grandson listening to this, on one of my 1950's Chet Baker recordings - he was only 4, but listened so carefully - after the song finished, he turned to me and said 'Nana, this is a really sad song'. It is indeed - young Sam was quite right.

Ann Alex said...

Patti, Sam sounds like a very perceptive child, how clever. I'd like to bet that he will/ has gone on to do something creative.

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