Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Stedman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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

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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