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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17755 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 76 of them this year alone and, so far, 1 this month (Feb.1).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 08: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 08: Anth Purdy @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’.
Sat 08: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra event. All welcome.

Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

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, May 13, 2021

Album Review: Larry Mindel – Love In Troubled Times

Larry Mindel (voice); Liam Stevens (piano); JJ Stillwell (bass); Callum Smith (drums); Ben Treacher (sax); Geoffrey Richardson (strings, woodwind); Rebecca Phillips, Francesca Raimondi (backing singers)

This is Larry Mindel's second album, nine original songs recorded in 2020 under the restraints of lockdown, covering themes of love, loss and longing, with lyrics which evoke a sense of various landscapes of the countryside, Suffolk, Australia, the Hebrides.


Mr Mindel began his musical life in the folk clubs of south east England and also the jazz venues of Soho. After a break he took up music again in 2004, sharing the songs he'd written with friends and performing regularly in England, Europe and the Antipodes. This CD was recorded using mainly acoustic instruments.


'Stars In the sky tonight

Float past the quiet moon

Your footsteps forever in the grass

Where the wild orchids bloom'


These lyrics are from the last track, Be Careful How You Go, which was written when visiting his mother in hospital on the day before she died. There is an accompanying video of family memories which is very moving and the song title is inspired by some of the words his mother used to say. This is by far the best track of an album, about which I have to say I had mixed feelings.


Although the music claims to have folk and jazz influences, I could hear very few traditional folk elements, unless you count storytelling lyrics as 'folk', but that applies to many types of music. The most jazz-like track was Brave, with lively, low, pounding chords on piano, underpinning the voice, then a skilled sax solo, followed by piano and drums together, very tasty jazz. 


The other seven tracks were closer to what I'd say was middle of the road, very pleasant music, but not necessarily what jazz or folk listeners want. The ideas behind the songs are interesting. Lowland Love concerns the mysterious disappearance of a student, and is enhanced by music from the strings. Take A Rest At My Door has a gospel tune and backing singers.


Lemon, about a trip away, is made interesting by a sax solo; In The Undergrowth is a bit more jazz-like, with a short bass and piano duo and a B3 sound, presumably from a keyboard. Deep Water concerns a love affair; Time To Fall tells of an older couple falling in love and I Love Paris In July speaks for itself.


The album is available now digitally. See www.larrymindel.com


Lowland Love; Take A Rest At My Door; Lemon; Deep Water; In The Undergrowth; I Love Paris In July; Time To Fall; Brave; Be Careful How You Go.
 


Ann Alex


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