Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

September.

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

DVD Review: Low Down

Based on the turbulent life of jazz pianist Joe Albany, this award-winning film came out on DVD in 2016  and covers the relationship problems he had raising his young daughter Amy in a tough area of Hollywood populated by a collection of misfits, dope fiends and hustlers etc.  Directed by Jeff Pries who had a hand in making of the Bruce Webber film Let's Get Lost. However, this is not a documentary but a well-written story by Amy Albany herself which adds an air of authenticity to the proceedings.

Joe Albany is played by John Hawkes (born 1959) and believe me, he really gets to grips with the part. Not only does he look like Joe but has his voice down to a T.   An amazing performance!


Amy’s part is taken by Elle Fanning (younger sister of Dakota Fanning) and she is just fantastic in what must have been a difficult role, winning her a best actress award. I should point out that the film covers the years 1974-76 so Joe's later period is only briefly referred to.


Other parts are played by Glenn Close (mother of Joe), Lena Headley (Joe’s hard drinking wife), an actress born in Bermuda of British parents who has appeared in Game of Thrones plus many films, and Flea who plays one of the strange residents of the seedy area that Amy encounters.


After giving it a lot of thought, I think Low Down could be the greatest movie with a jazz theme made so far, or at least that I have seen. No doubt some may disagree but as it says on the cover of the DVD - LEGEND-GENIUS-ADDICT-FATHER, A fitting tribute to Joe Albany.

Mike Farmer

4 comments :

Lance said...

I need to check this one out. However, although you wrote about the film, you didn't mention any actual music or who dubbed what for whom which I think would have added interest.

Russell said...

IMDB is a useful resource. Of the many musicians listed as appearing on the soundtrack, Kirk Knuffke plays trumpet.

Mike Farmer said...

Hi Lance- I did consider including info on the sound track but I didn't want to make the review too long. There is such a lot going on in the film that to reveal too much might ruin it for any prospective buyer of the DVD. The music kind of takes a minor role in the drama but I take your point.---Mike

Mike Farmer said...

Re Russell's mention of Kirk Knuffke made me check him out on Spotify.Nice player but if the lettering on the back of the DVD was a bit clearer so I could read it, or maybe like Lance sometimes says, might be time to go to Specsavers.

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