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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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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