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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £TBC.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ 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

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Album review: Mark Lewandowski - Under One Sky

Mark Lewandowski (bass); Addison Frei (piano); Kush Abadey (drums).

The last album I heard by Lewandowski was a tribute to Fats Waller. By contrast, the bassist's latest release comprises eleven of his own compositions which, although not related to times gone by, contains enough melodic content to suggest that had Fats been of a later generation his compositional skills may well have been not too far removed from Lewandowski's.

The composer first came to prominence in the UK and did actually play a Jazz Co-op gig at The Globe in 2017 shortly before he relocated to NYC. The idea behind this current album is to draw on his time in both London and New York painting musical pictures of those two cities.

In truth, personally, I couldn't be blindfolded and say this one's London, this one's New York although I could make educated guesses and still be totally wrong.

The theme of the rather beautiful Very Well bears a marked resemblance to Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu Op. 66* which has little in common with London, New York or Nottingham - Lewandowski's birthplace. It doesn't matter, what's in a name? As the album's title implies, they're all under one sky. What does matter is that this is a very listenable album. Although led by a bass player, the album isn't awash with bass solos although when he does emerge e.g on The Same Moon he's impressive. However, the main focus is on the interplay between pianist Frei and Lewandowski with Abadey providing the filler that holds it together.

Not an album to change the universe but certainly one to make it a better place - Lance

*A.K.A I'm Always Chasing Rainbows.

Introduction (3459 miles); Licks; Provavus; For Paul Bley; The Same Moon; Islands; Very Well; Queen of the Orchid; For Andrew Hill; Skyline; Under One Sky.

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