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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

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

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Album Review: David Larsen - The Mulligan Chronicles

David Larsen (baritone sax); Dave Glenn (trombone); Bill Mays (piano); Dean Johnson (bass); Ron Vincent (drums).

This isn't a recreation of the legendary Mulligan pianoless quartet rather it's the culmination of several years of research by Larsen into the compositional style of Gerry Mulligan. The result shows that the research was well worthwhile with 13 arrangements of some of the late baritone saxist's lesser known compositions - I only knew Walkin' Shoes, Festive Minor and Open Country.

Larsen gets a good sound, maybe slightly warmer than Gerry's dry, cool tone whilst Glenn is also less arid than either Baker or Brookmeyer. In the latter case I suspect this is partly due to the use of a slide as opposed to valve trombone. Another major factor is Mays' piano filling out the ensembles. Mays, incidentally, has some cracking solos.

My reaction after reaching the end of the final track was to start seeking out the original versions but, before I pressed the Spotify button, I changed my mind. Nothing, not even Gerry, was going to top this.

Simply superb, not least because of the rhythm section who, along with Glenn, had all worked with Gerry Mulligan at one time or another and whose input Larsen admits was invaluable. There was also support from Franca Mulligan, Gerry's third wife and there's a piece dedicated to her which is rather beautiful. Lance.

Bandcamp

Walkin' Shoes; Curtains; Festive Minor; Good Neighbour Thelonius; Lonesome Boulevarde; Idol Gossip; Rico Apollo; Open Country; The Flying Scotsman; Out Back of the Barn; Etude for Franca; Ring Aoud a Bright Star; Tauros Moon.

1 comment :

David Larsen said...

Thank you for the fantastic review.

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