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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 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

From This Moment On

September.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Monday, March 08, 2021

Trish Clowes "My Iris" livestreaming from Ronnie Scott's - March 8

Trish Clowes (tenor sax); Ross Stanley (keys); Chris Montague (guitar); James Maddren (drums) + Lauren Kinsella (voice); Louise McMonagle (cello).

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

I hold my hand up and confess that this was totally outside of my comfort zone so it would be unfair of me to pass judgement as, in effect, I'd be passing judgement on myself. Had I been listening with others in an unsocially distanced environment I may have been swept along with the enthusiasm shown by the 300 plus online watchers but, sitting alone with a glass of plonk, it (the music) went totally over my head.

Having said all that, I must point out that have the utmost respect for the musicians in My Iris, having heard them in many different situations, but this was one gig where I should have called in our younger back-up troops such as Chris K or Steve H.


Lance

PS: The person who says they like everything doesn't really like anything (anon).

at

1 comment :

Chris Kilsby said...

I caught up with Trish Clowes Ronnie’s session after the event, and I’m glad I did!

I can see why Lance might have lost his way, as there were a few points where the band went so far west they were in uncharted waters..... This included some very musical but fairly “out” improvised vocals from guest Lauren Kinsella. But in the main, My Iris proved to be every bit as remarkable and musical as ever, with stunning versions of tuneful and clever recorded numbers such as “Free to Fall”, “Abbot and Costello”, "I.F.", as well as the new “View with a Room” (relating to these modern Zoom times).

For my money My Iris are simply the freshest and most musical outfit in the UK currently, and all four players are top of their trees! Clowes has to be the top UK sax player of her generation, with musical power, ideas and fabulous tone at warp speed. Maddren is of course a legend - driving, bouncing, cajoling, holding it all together when needed. Montague and Stanley play in multiple modes, avoiding clichés, and alternately grounding the band (in the absence of a bass) and soloing.

But the main impression is the band is much more than the sum of its parts – as commentators in the chat noted, they are very tight, but more than that, they listen and play off each other like few others. My top "live stream" of the lockdown so far.

Chris K

Tuesday, March 09, 2021 5:05:00 pm

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive