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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

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

Friday, August 27, 2021

Live from Emmet's Place Vol. 67 - August 23

Emmet Cohen (piano); Russell Hall (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums) + Samara Joy (vocals); Julius Rodriguez (piano); TJ Reddick (drums)

It wasn't too long ago when someone quipped: Do you remember live gigs? Now, as things begin to return to something like 'normal', perhaps the question should be: Do you remember live streams? Of course some musicians continue to stream gigs, it's likely some will do so long into the future, particularly if the revenue stream doesn't tail off. One immensely successful weekly stream is Live at Emmet's Place. This week's edition - # 67 in the series - presented pianist Emmet Cohen's trio with one or two special guests.

As pianists go, NYC based Cohen* has to be up there with the best of them. Astounding technique, swinging it at the drop of a hat, Cohen's trio - bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole - is one tight unit. Cohen's very nice looking apartment is home to his weekly online concert presentation. And it is a professionally produced package with its four camera set up (at times split screen), excellent sound and...there's a Steinway piano at our pianist's disposal! 

Two instrumental numbers opened the show - one by Thelonious Monk and one by Bud Powell. Quite simply, tremendous! The following ninety minutes or so would feature a singular talent, Ms Samara Joy**. A recent graduate of Purchase College, New York, Joy is an astonishing performer. In her early twenties, our vocalist is in possession of impeccable chops and a rapidly developing stage
presence, no doubt honed by recent European concert dates with Cohen. 

I'm Old Fashioned sang Joy. No way is Ms Joy old fashioned but she sure does know the GASbook! Keepin' Out of Mischief NowNostalgiaToo Close for Comfort and a whole lot more, Samara Joy is, by way of Sarah Vaughan, the 'real deal'. 

Two of Juilliard's exceptional students came along to sit in. Cohen vacated the piano stool to allow Julius Rodriguez to show what he could do. The fact the young man has recently signed a recording contract with Verve Records suggests he is the business, and he sure is! What a great player with Blow Top Blues a particular highlight. Drummer TJ Reddick made a big impression earlier this year working on one of Rossano Sportiello's Live from the Flat live streams, and he did the exact same thing here at Emmet's Place. Volume 67 of Emmet Cohen's weekly stream is recommended viewing. Catch up on YouTube, you won't believe how good Samara Joy and the guys are!

* Emmet Cohen plays Ronnie Scott's on Wednesday 13 October.
  
** Samara Joy appears at Ronnie Scott's on Monday 8 November. An added bonus is Ms Joy will be accompanied by the brilliant guitarist Pasquale Grasso. Russell
     
Set list: Teo; Tempus FugitI'm Old FashionedKeepin' Out of Mischief NowIf This Isn't LoveI Got it Bad and That Ain't GoodNostalgiaYesterdaysHeartbreak Here I ComeCan't Get Out of this MoodToo Close for Comfort'Round MidnightBlow Top BluesStardust; If You Never Fall in Love with Me  

1 comment :

Ron Ainsborough said...

Russell I watched this from start to finish and surely Samara Joy is up there near the top of best jazz singer list (not that the list should really exist ).
We all know about Emmet Cohen trio being first call in NYC and beyond and I concur 100% with your review.
I thought this was one of the best sessions from the 5th floor venue, namely Emmet's flat, Samara Joy is absolute class . Having said that, the other 66 sessions are all very close to this set.

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