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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Album review: Sam Braysher Trio - Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man

Sam Braysher (alto sax); Tom Farmer (bass); Jorge Rossy (drums/vibes/marimba).

If you thought that cool was no longer a part of the jazz lexicon then you'd better think again.

Sam Braysher is as cool as a crew cut once was, as an ice cold drink still is and yet he is anything but bland. There's warmth too. It's a bit like the enigmatic question as to why we blow on our hands to warm them yet blow on our tea or coffee to cool them? Sam Braysher's like that, he has it both ways!

Tone-wise the sound is related to Konitz, Desmond or early Art Pepper but the application is different. He uses notes and phrases differently. Sometimes sparingly other times with virtuoso flourishes. Seeking to redefine a variety of standards without taking away the essence of the tune whilst still making it his own. If he'd been a singer he'd have done with a lyric what Sinatra did.

With Farmer providing the all important harmonic foundation - sympathetically helped along by Rossy's drumming - we have an album that's easy to listen to but a 1000 miles away from being filed under "Easy Listening".

Rossy also plays vibes on a beautiful rendition of Some Other Spring and marimba on a rather doom-laden version of This Nearly Was Mine.

Incidentally, the finally number, Walking the Dog, is not to be confused with the Rufus Thomas' Walkin' the Dog. The latter is a Gershwin theme from the movie Shall We Dance. Just goes to show what a difference an apostrophe makes!

In the booklet to the CD Sam has provided what I'm sure are insightful observations on each track. However, as they are printed in very slightly different shades of grey I'll have to wait until I next visit Spec-savers to read them.

But, it's the notes on the album that count rather than the notes in the booklet and, on that score it is highly recommended.

Lance. 

PS: When is he going to show up on a livestream?

Available April 23. Pre-order.

For Regulars Only; Heart and Soul; One Note Samba; Some Other Spring; Pintxos (original); Little white Lies; The Sweetest sounds; Reflection; Shall We Dance?; This Nearly Was Mine; Walking the Dog.

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