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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Monday, July 12, 2021

Album review: The Mark Masters Ensemble - Masters & Baron Meet Blanton & Webster

It takes a brave man to offer fresh interpretations of Ellington's music and to do it without falling short. Fortunately, Masters manages to pull it off with neither insult nor injury to the original recordings which were by the 1940-42 band. That band was often referred to as the Blanton-Webster Band with reference to key players Jimmy Blanton, who revolutionised bass playing, and Ben Webster, one of the all-time greats of the tenor saxophone.

Kirsten Edkins and Jerry Pinter share Webster's solos with Bruce Lett occupying the Blanton berth. However, there's more - much more.

One of the key members of that particular Ellington band (justifiably known as Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra) was trombonist Joe Nanton or "Tricky Sam" who, arguably, could be said to have invented the growl/plunger style of trombone playing. Here, Art Baron, who himself played in the very last Ellington band, takes on the role as if to the manor born.

On trumpet, Tim Hagans is more Clark Terry than Ray Nance and drummer Ferber swings like Sam Woodyard rather than the more exotic Sonny Greer.

Whilst most of the pieces are identifiable to those familiar with the originals a notable exception is Duke's Place, better known as C Jam Blues where it is only as the band hits the out chorus that we get a clue as to the tune. This in no way diminishes it as, apart from solos by Schroeder, Woodley and Lett there's some exciting trumpet exchanges between Stout and Hagans.

Whether you're a devout Ellingtonian or just a mere fan it's an album well worth checking out. Lance.

Available now on Capri Records (74166). Sample.

All Too Soon; Duke's Place; I Got it Bad; A Flower is a Lovesome Thing; What am I Here For?; Jack the Bear; Perdido; Passion flower; Take the 'A' Train; Ko-Ko; Introduction to In a Mellotone; In a Mellotone.

Scott Englebright, Les Lovitt, Ron Stout, Tim Hagans (trumpet); Les Benedict, Dave Woodley, Art Baron (trombone); Kirsten Edkins, Jerry Pinter (tenor/soprano saxes); Danny House (alto sax/clarinet); Adam Schroeder (baritone sax); Bruce Lett (bass); Mark Ferber (drums); Mark Masters (arranger).

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