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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Sunday, May 09, 2021

Album Review: Sue Maskaleris – Love Is The Key

This CD comprises ten original, catchy, Brazilian-influenced jazz songs. The general 'feel' of the music is unusual, a sort of 'West Side Story' meets jazz solos. I say this because there was something of a musical theatre element to the singing, and a feeling that a good time was being had by all concerned.

Sue Maskaleris hails from Short Hills New Jersey, and she played piano and violin as a child, and later studied arranging and composition. McCoy Tyner met Ms Maskaleris at an NYC gig and became her mentor – he said that she had 'a touch like Bill Evans.' Her bands have performed at The Blue Note, Birdland and at jazz festivals such as the Lincoln Center, and she has also performed abroad in Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, and England.

The lyrics are interesting, concerning all aspects of love, relationships, equality, problems that immigrants face, and love for the planet. I laughed out loud at lyrics such as ' I got a double date with Ben and Jerry this Valentine's day' and ' Love me Tender, love me sweet, Who's gonna  swipe me off my feet?' (Valentine's Day For One).

Procrastination is a lively samba with scat, Bliss is a sensuous bossa ballad with strings, flute and Latin percussion; Love Will Overflow has word-painting from the band, that is musical illustrations, such as the sax making laughing sounds, then falling cadences at the words 'Into love we fall'. Just some examples of how this music works.

March of the Refugee is sung urgently by a few voices, in English and Portuguese. Love is the Key is an appeal to save the planet, with a rhythmic, jagged violin solo. Summer and Fly Away are richly flowing tunes to celebrate the changing seasons.

An album which is well worth the listening. It is available now on the Jazilian Records label. See www.suemask.com

 Ann Alex

Procrastination; Bliss; Love Will Overflow; March of the Refugee; Love is the Key; Renewal; Voce Pra Mim; Valentine's Day For One; Summer; Fly Away; Love Is The Key (radio edit)

Sue Maskaleris (vocals, piano, keyboards, synth strings); Wesley Amorin (guitars, some tracks); Leo Traversa (bass, 5-string fretless bass, most tracks); Samuel Martinelli (drums, some tracks) + guests Janis Siegel, Darmon Meader (background vocals); Sara Caswell (violin); Steve Williams (drums); Mauricio Zottarelli (drums)

2 comments :

Ann Alex said...

Lance, you obviously don't frequent dating apps, nor do I, but the quote is 'Love me Tinder' not love me tender, after the app of that name.

Lance said...

I've led a sheltered life!

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