Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sat 22: Durham Alumni Big Band + Durham Alumni All Stars + Swing Manouche @ Darlington Market Place. From 1:00pm. Free. The All Stars (1:00pm); The Alumni (2:00-4:00pm); Swing Manouche (4:15pm).

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Thursday, April 01, 2021

Album review: Down For The Count Concert Orchestra - at the cold stores

This isn't the rip-roaring swing band I remembered from a previous release. This is the Concert Orchestra which is a totally different ball game. How could it not be with all those strings augmenting the the saxes, brass and percussion? 

So what is the score?

Capitol Records. The iconic building in Los Angeles where so many classic recordings were made by Sinatra, Cole and Garland and where the wonderful arrangements by Nelson Riddle did so much to keep those singers' careers afloat. Musical director and producer Mike Paul-Smith has successfully tweaked them to suit the ensemble and to recreate that Capitol/Riddle sound whilst, at the same time, celebrating Nelson Riddle's centenary.

George Simmonds blows the famous trombone solo on I've Got You Under my Skin - to play the Riddle arrangement of the Cole Porter tune without the trombone solo would be akin to playing High Society without the Picou clarinet solo or failing to shout "Oh play that thing!" on Dippermouth Blues.

Apart from the trombone solo, Alex Western-King has a couple of tasty tenor choruses and Simon Joyner blows a trumpet solo on Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. However, this is predominately a vocal album with all 13 tracks split between three very good singers who manage to retain a degree of identity without losing sight of the source.

Katie Birtill: The Man That Got Away; Secret Love; Day In, Day Out; Nature Boy.
Hannah Castleman: That Old Devil Called Love; Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps; When I Fall in Love; Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart.
Callum Gillies: Mona Lisa; More; Mr. Bojangles; I've Got You Under my Skin; Stardust.

It's an album that's well worth checking out if you're in an easy listening mood and haven't got the originals. Plus, if you're out and about in the Sloane Square area on June 6 you should drop by Cadogan Hall for the album launch. After hearing the whole shebang live, I gurantee you won't leave empty handed!
Lance

Release date is April 30 and there are two launch concerts at Cadogan Hall on June 6 for which tickets are now available from the venue.

Mike Paul-Smith (MD); Max Fagandini, Luke Davies, Simon Joyner (trumpets); George Simmonds (trombone/bass trombone); Katie Edwards (alto sax.clarinet); Alex Western-King (tenor sax/clarinet); Luke Pinkstone (tenor sax/clarinet/flute); Jamie Hone (baritone sax/clarinet); Alex Howgego (piano); Charlie Pyne (bass); Sam Ainslie (guitar); James Smith (drums); Dae Hyun Lee (percussion); Katie Birtill, Hannah Castleman, Callum Gillies (vocals) + City String Ensemble (12 strings).
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