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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, June 27, 2021

Live from Emmet's Place - March 1

(Screenshot by Russell)
Emmet Cohen (piano); Russell Hall (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums); Samara Joy (vocals)

A combination of reading (and believing) LL's rave review of Samara Joy's album (posted earlier this month) and noting in the current issue of Jazz Times that Emmet Cohen's March 1st live stream continues to be available to view on YouTube goes some way in explaining why this review arrived a tad late in BSH's inbox...near enough four months late! 

Live from Emmet's Place is pianist Emmet Cohen's weekly contribution to the now familiar world of the virtual gig. Emmet's Place is the pianist's rather swanky-looking NYC apartment. It just so happens a Steinway occupies centre stage (nothing unusual there, your Steinway is in the spare bedroom, isn't it?). Let's get things straight...Emmet Cohen is nothing short of brilliant, a piano player to die for. Cohen's regular working trio partners - bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole - are similarly outstanding musicians. The attraction of this particular online performance? The participation of Ms Samara Joy! 

To open the show the trio loosened up with a couple of instrumentals courtesy of Ahmad Jamal and Cedar Walton. Superb. And then, Samara Joy...These Foolish ThingsDay by Day (as sung by Carmen MacRae), Star EyesSophisticated Lady and more. Samara, recently turned twenty two, more than met expectations. Wow! Samara knows Cécile McLorin Salvant, inviting comparison. Let's say Samara doesn't/wouldn't come off second best.  

Sarah Vaughan is an obvious touchstone. How about Ella? Scatting at that. Samara went for it on Oh, Lady be Good! The smiling trio spoke volumes, Emmet and the guys couldn't believe what they were hearing. A new star is in our midst. Oop-Bop-Sh'Bam! Emmet announced that in due course he would get back out on the road and he'd be taking Samara with him. True to his word, later this year they'll be in Europe*.  

There was a poignant twist to this March 1st stream. On the day, news broke of the death of drummer Ralph Peterson Jr. Emmet Cohen dedicated the performance to his friend and fellow musician.  

Samara Joy's appearance with guitarist Pasquale Grasso at Ronnie Scott's on July 6 has been cancelled. Let's hope it'll be rescheduled. Russell   

1 comment :

Ron said...

Russell a great review .coincidentaly I posted early March that this session revealed a great new jazz singer 'Samara Joy giving Emmets Vol no. I also gave another Two 'Vol numbers well worth watching with Veronica Swift and Cyrill Aimee. Like yourself Russell I am also a massive fan of Emmet Cohen Trio.
Ron Ainsborough

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