Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 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

18721 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 585 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 18) 49

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

July

Sat 25: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitgerald. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Costa Café (within Next), MetroCentre, Gateshead. 2:00-3:00pm. Free.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 26: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Bright Street Big Band @ Sandhaven Amphitheatre, South Shields. 3.30-5.30pm.
Sun 26: Jo Harrop & Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.
Sun 26: King Bees @ Luckies, Jesmond, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Chicago blues.

Mon 27: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: Liam & Shayo @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Abbie Finn Trio @ Music Dept., Durham University. 9:15pm. A Durham Fringe Festival event

Thu 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £6.50.
Thu 30: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes. .

Fri 31: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 31: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 31: Milne Glendinning Band @ Repas 7 by Night, Berwick. 8:00-9:00pm. £6.00. A Berwick Fringe Festival event. £6.00 (£6.00 wristband access to all Fringe events).

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

CD Review: Kristin Callahan – Lost In A Dream

Kristin Callahan (vocals); Eliot Seppa (bass, most arrangements); Matvei Sigalov (guitar); Tom Teasley (perc 2,4,6) Mark Prince (drums 1,3,5); Lee Pearson (drums, conga 4,6); Carroll Dashiell 111 (drums 7); Joe Herrera (trumpet 2,3,4,6); Matt Rippetoe (sax 4)

A singer since childhood, Kristin Callahan went on to study jazz and piano and has performed at festivals and venues such as the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall and throughout the east coast as well as tribute shows to both Peggy Lee and Julie London.

In this, her third album, Callahan aims to give a more earthy feel and a Latin sound, with acoustic guitar and percussion, and with a repertoire of fewer traditional standards. The CD was on the whole enjoyable, with one reservation. Ms Callahan's voice was good, a pleasing alto with a light nasal tone, but for those who have an interest in lyrics, the words were not all discernible, especially at the end of vocal lines. This was especially a missed opportunity on the title track which was written by the singer herself.

The overall result was that I enjoyed the instrumental segments every bit as much as the singing.  The percussion was especially effective, with conga, cowbell, caxixi, and Cajon, added to skilled hand-drumming, notably on the short instrumental Memories Always Start, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, and Caravan. The latter track begins with an effective solo bass, then voice to hand drums and bass accompaniment before trumpet and guitar enter with an eastern theme, fading out with voice, trumpet and  hand drums.

The singing style is reflective, very noticeably on Lush Life (what a gem of a song!) and also on 'Round Midnight, where the bell-like guitar seems to chime away the hours. The final track, Jobim's Once I Loved, has the guitar playing comments between the lines of song, arpeggios (I think) my musical theory is dodgy!

Mostly enjoyable, the album is available everywhere from July 16 on Ivy Door Music. See www.kristincallahanmusic.com - Ann Alex

Lush Life; Memories Always Start; 'Round Midnight; Softly As In A Morning Sunrise; Lost In A Dream; Caravan; The Shadow Of Your Smile; Once I Loved.

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