Total Pageviews

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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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

Thursday, August 05, 2021

Album review: Francesco Ciniglio - The Locomotive Suite

Francesco Ciniglio (drums); Raynald Colom (trumpet, flugelhorn); Matt Chalk (alto sax);  Matteo Pastorino (bass clarinet); Alexis Valet (vibraphone); Felix Moseholm (double bass)

An interesting and refreshingly different set of originals from a new-ish but very talented mostly European group with strong New York connections.  This is the debut on Whirlwind for the leader and writer, drummer Francesco Ciniglio, out of Naples via NYC and Paris. Ciniglio is a noted stylist not only in drumming, but also in clothing and generally looking cool!  Collaboration with Wynton Marsalis resulted in the trumpet maestro contributing lengthy, gushing liner notes, adding to the already ambitious aims of a programmatic approach where each song is “a landscape which a train might pass through.” The music owes little debt to Marsalis however, with a contemporary and loose feel, drawing on diverse rhythmic influences and an unusual palette featuring vibraphone and bass clarinet.

A gentle slow vibes and reeds opener is named after his grandmother, Laura Martina, but this soon changes tracks to the 10 min Locomotive featuring solo drums in a style which sounded African to my ears, but is apparently Neapolitan!  As to be expected from a drummer’s album, the rhythmic “locomotion” is prominent, but never dominant, and another strong voice is soon introduced with emotional and engaging trumpet playing by Spanish star Colom. The vibraphone and bass clarinet provide further contrasting solos over strong and angular propulsion from bass/drums.

Self Made Man brings new rhythms, with choked and splashing cymbals. The horn playing here is fabulous, recorded with a touch of echo, and plenty of range (both tonal and dynamic) which convey intensity without any frenetic excursions to the stratosphere.

The Turtle uses brushes pattering to evoke reptilian rather than railway progress, while Concern in the Background is more abstract, with ever-shifting drum workouts overlaid by loose motifs. This one builds to a frenetic pace before a restated melody closes in a satisfying unison byf sax and trumpet.

945 St Nicholas is the most straight ahead, with some blues feel, giving the bass clarinet free rein with glorious range and emotive tone, and the vibes in piano role giving a different feel to most other bands of this stripe.   The album closes with Mon Ange, unexpectedly introducing some vocals, in a relaxed sequence of melancholy and passion… that’s Italians for you I suppose.

A refreshing new voice with plenty of compositional ideas on top of virtuoso and emotional playing - one to watch out for. Chris K

Release date: 23.07.21 CD, LP, Digital at Whirlwind Recordings WR4773CD (UK)

Recorded on July 5/
6 2020 at Studio Ferber, Paris

Listen.

No comments :

Blog Archive