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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.

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. CANCELLED! 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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!

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 05, 2021

Album review: Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller - In Harmony

Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugel); Mulgrew Miller (piano)

Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver in 1924 followed by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines in 1928 were probably the first jazz masters to explore the trumpet/piano duo format. Ruby Braff and Ellis Larkins recorded some fine tracks in 1955 and, no doubt, there have been others before and since but, this is the absolute pinnacle!

Ten years ago I heard Roy Hargrove at the Union Chapel and I left worshipping the trumpet player who I thought I'd hear many more times - if only! 

He passed in 2018.

I wasn't as familiar with Mulgrew Miller although I'd heard tracks on radio shows and South Shields' drummer, the late Stan New was an avid advocate of the pianist - I should have heeded his words!

Together, trumpet and piano create magic. No drums? No bass? No tenor? Really? I hadn't noticed! To be honest, any other musicians would have been a distraction so perfect is the empathy between Roy and Mulgrew. A bass solo, a sax running the changes or a drummer swapping fours with all and sundry would have completely ruined the ambience between the two players - this is as close to perfection as it gets.

Hargrove's sound is so round and pure, a complete contrast to the strangulated tone of so many modern trumpet players. When I heard him at the Union Chapel I wondered if it was the hall's acoustics that made him sound so good. Now I realise that it was he who made the hall seem so sonically perfect!

Sadly, I will never have the opportunity to hear Mulgrew Miller live although, these two discs were actually recorded live in 2006 and 2007 so that, in a sense, if I close my eyes I'm actually sitting front row at Merkin Hall, NYC or at Lafayette College in Easton, PA and loving every minute of it. 

Make no mistake, when the all-time list of modern jazz albums is compiled this will be up there alongside  Bird, Miles, Trane and whoever else you care to name -  an absolute masterpiece. Likewise, Hargrove and Miller must surely take their place amongst the all-time greats.

Release date for the limited edition 2-LP Record Store Day exclusive is July 17 with July 23 being the drop down day for the 2-CD and digital edition - both on the Resonance Records' label. There's also a 64 page booklet included. If you're strapped for cash, rob a bank, hold up a liquor store, sell your signed copy of Kind of Blue or raid the kid's piggy bank but don't miss it. Lance

YouTube preview.

Disc 1: What is This Thing Called Love?; This is Always; I Remember Clifford; Triste; Invitation; Con Alma.

Disc 2: Never Let me Go; Just in Time; Fungii Mama; Monk's Dream; Ruby, My Dear; Blues For Mr. Hill; Ow!

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