Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 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

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

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 30, 2021

Album review: Marques Carroll - The Ancestors Call

Marques Carroll (trumpet/flugelhorn); Brent Griffin (alto sax); Amyr Fahmy (piano); Christian Dillingham (bass); Greg Artry (drums) + Victor Garcia (congas); Alex Wasily (trombone);  Sharon Irving (vocals).

An interesting debut album by St Louis-born trumpeter Marques Carroll was recorded on August 14-16 2020 at Palisade Studios in Chicago, a city that has produced many fine and influential jazz musicians. Carroll composed and arranged all eight tunes and his melodic thoughtful approach, together with his superb sound, is evident on every number.

The Ancestors Call Amongst Us:  Nice solos from trombone and alto sax.  

Generations Response: Flugelhorn, alto sax and piano share the honours.    

Assemble the Enlightened: Alto sax and piano solo, 

Beyond the Battle: Starts with a short wild freak-out from trumpet and alto then goes into a catchy theme from the alto, before the tempo increases and it finishes with some explosive drumming from Greg Artry.   

Urgency: Very aptly named! Starts with staccato trumpet then it takes on a Mexican mariachi vibe after which we get a fluent alto solo.

Aries Goddess (for Consuela and the fallen):  The only track with a vocal which is OK with me although Sharon Irving is certainly worth hearing.

Resolution for Us: Out of tempo intro then a bass riff leading into some relaxed flugelhorn. 

Our Ancestors Final Words: A medium tempo groove with trumpet to the fore.       

I must also mention the fine playing of alto saxman Brent Griffin on this disc as he does a first-rate job and has a great sound which blends well during the themes. I have played this CD many times and all the tracks are worth repeated listening but, if I had to make a choice I would pick track 4 Beyond the Battle which reminds me of something Roy Hargrove once played. A second choice would be track 5 Urgency which makes me think of Mexico or Spain. One thing I like about this album is that they used an acoustic piano rather than electric piano, thus avoiding a retro feel that some bands seem to favour.     

Anyway I can say that anyone buying this fine album are unlikely be disappointed and for information about the many activities of Marques Caroll check out his website www.marquescarroll.com

Mike Farmer.

Release date - April 16.

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive