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.

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 Things, Day by Day (as sung by Carmen MacRae), Star Eyes, Sophisticated 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   
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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

Sunday, June 27, 2021 5:07:00 pm

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