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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

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Paul Moran: 'Smokin' B3' livestream from 606 w. Special guest Jo Harrop - April 10

(Collage by Lance)
Paul Moran (B3); Jim Mullen (guitar); Mez Clough (drums) + Jo Harrop (vocals).

Difficult to be objective when you've been a fan of three of the four players for a varying number of years - next time round it will be four out of four as this was the first time I'd heard Clough and he slotted in easily.

The B3 can be a lethal beast in the wrong hands (and feet) and I've heard some great pianists fall flat on their bass (pedals) unable to adapt to the vastly different technique required.

(Screenshot by Lance)
No such problems tonight, Moran has the beast well and truly tamed playing material from his  'Smokin' B3' albums volumes 1 & 2, he had the 'crowded' - if only! - 606 clientele clamouring for more.

He strides the thin borderline between jazz, soul and funk in the manner of his idols so effectively that he can now be regarded as more than just a mere clone but a voice in his own right.

(Screenshot by Lance)

With Jim Mullen, will he be upset if I describe him as one of the Grand Old Men of British Jazz? (I hope not because he is just that and much more) on guitar alongside newcomer, to me that is, Mez Clough on drums, this was as good a groove as you're likely to hear either side of Detroit - maybe even better!

(Screenshot by Lance)
Then, as if this wasn't enough, bring on Jo Harrop. Was this really Jo Harrop? - had she just been auditioning for the Judy Garland role in Easter Parade (We're a Couple of Swells)? It didn't matter, she still looked and sounded great on a couple of Dukies - Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues and I Got it Bad as well as Marvin Gaye's We Gotta Find a Way, Stevie's Until You Come Back to Me and Dusty's Son of a Preacher Man.

Amazing how those old sixties classics, such as Preacher Man, grab me more now than they did then! The instrumentals included Lee Dorsey's Working in a Coal Mine; Fats Domino's Blueberry Hill; The Chi-lites' Have You Seen Her? as well as One Note Samba; Work Song; Where or When? and some Moran originals - Groovin' Groove; Fried Chicken and his arrangement of The Theme From Mission Impossible.

One thing isn't very clear, There were only 4 comments and I supplied 2 of them - I guess the music left everyone spellbound! Lance

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