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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Saturday, October 02, 2021

Album review: Lauren Bush - Dream Away

Lauren Bush (vocals); Liam Dunachie (piano); Conor Chapman (bass); David Ingamells (drums) + Miguel Gorodi (trumpet on 4 tks); Fliss Gorst (tenor sax on 1 tk).

Lauren Bush's second album (I reviewed the first here) is yet another fine vocal album in a year that has been incredibly blessed with fine vocal albums. That Lauren Bush shows in such class surrounds isn't surprising when you remember that the Canadian born, London based vocalist was a top 5 finalist in the 2016 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition which is generally regarded as the top jazz vocal competition in the world.

Lauren also stepped in as a reviewer for BSH early last year which shed a light on her skill with words as demonstrated on the beautiful Blackfriars. Lyric by Lauren Bush music by Fliss Gorst who also blows nice tenor on the track.

Until I reviewed Live by Chris Corea's Akoustic Band a couple of days go,  I was unfamiliar with Chick's composition You're Everything. Now here it is again and this version loses nothing by comparision. Indeed, getting down to the nitty-gritty, I think Bush just manages to edge Mrs Corea's vocal out of the money.

In a Mellow Tone is another gem with some meaningful scatting to enhance her interpretation and Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most didn't hang me up at all - it was very much the most!

Keep it to Yourself - words and music by Geoff Gascoyne and Bob Dorough - swings like nobody's business.

Hopelessly Devoted to You didn't quite cut it for me. Impeccably sung and, jazzwise streets ahead of the hit version by Olivia but not quite as catchy.

Four of the ten tracks have trumpet solos by Miguel Gorodi who is one of the best around. Dunachie not only arranged all of the songs but contributed some telling piano solos and intros ably supported by Chaplin and Ingamells - the latter also chipping in with some key moments of his own.

Lauren Bush's home town of Nanaimo, British Columbia it turns out is also Diana Krall's home town. Perhaps all aspiring singers should spend some time in Nanaimo - there must be something in the air... Lance

Available Oct. 15. Album launch at Pizza Express Oct. 19

Samples

You Stepped Out of a Dream; Dream Away; If This Isn't Love; The Shadow of Your Smile; Keep it to Yourself; Blackfriars; You're Everything; In a Mellow Tone; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; Hopelessly Devoted to You.

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