Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Monday, May 10, 2021

Live from the Flat: Chopin in Jazz - May 9

(Screenshot by Russell)
Rossano Sportiello (piano); Felix Moseholm (double bass); TJ Reddick (drums)

Live at the Flat in Greenwich Village is Rossano Sportiello's regular 'gig'. Today's live stream, #31 in the series, presented Chopin in Jazz. Joining our NYC resident Italian pianist, two bright young things from Juilliard, Danish bassist Felix Moseholm, and TJ Reddick, a talented student drummer who has already worked with Wynton Marsalis. 

Sportiello suggested Chopin held a particular fascination for jazz musicians, the composer's work lending itself to improvisation. Mazurkas, nocturnes and preludes, Sportiello's unfailing elegance - musically and sartorially - would befit the concert stage, here in Greenwich Village he maintained the highest of standards, presenting the music as if to an attentive full house. An online full house did indeed listen attentively, as did our two Juilliard students. 

Bassist Moseholm, at 23 a future star, similarly drummer TJ Reddick, listened to Sportiello's recital-like performance, knowing precisely where to come in, the trio transforming nineteenth century piano compositions into swinging jazz pieces, at times reminiscent of Dave Brubeck or the MJQ, Sportiello effortlessly incorporating stride elements into his playing. 

Sportiello the established name, he couldn't have been more encouraging, saying he was convinced Felix and TJ had bright futures ahead of them. As a Chopin nocturne unfolded, Felix, mid-solo, heard our pianist say: Yes, play! And Felix played on, tremendous stuff! A prelude morphed into Oscar Peterson's Nighttime, we heard the brilliance, the elegance of OP, Chopin and Sportiello. For an encore, TJ put aside his brushes for the first time in favour of sticks to see the trio out on a swift What a Little Moonlight Can Do. Ten o'clock Sundays (that's 5:00pm EST) at Rossano Sportiello's flat, online (YouTube). It's a date.   
Russell

No comments :

Blog Archive