Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''We knew back in the day that Emmet [Cohen] had it.'' (DownBeat July, 2026)

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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Mon 03: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 03: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 04: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 05: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 05: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 05: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Album review: Shane Allessio - Everything and Nothing

Shane Allessio (bass); Bill Jones (tenor sax); Christopher M. Jones (guitar); Thomas Arey (drums)

New Yorker Allessio is one of the newer breed of bassists with a penchant for arco playing, particularly when soloing prompting the question as to why don't more bassists use the bow when in the spotlight? In the hands of a skilled performer, arco playing offers more harmonic and tonal variation than the single note pizzicato mode favoured by most.

Allessio is certainly a skilled performer in both styles achieving an almost cello like sonority at times - in contrast to his fleet-fingered dexterity when discarding the bow.

His fellow travellers are on the same wavelength. Jones gets a big gutsy sound on tenor, Brown's guitar is an absolute delight and Arey is perfectly attuned to what's happening around him particularly on the title track with its ever changing modes.

Some of the themes are understandably quite dark as Allessio explains: "This is my fourth independent release, and it's my most personal and emotional one yet. I draw on various themes such as my stint in a behavioral health unit, medically-supervised ketamine treatments, the passing of my mentor and Berklee professor Jim Stinnett, and of course a few lockdown-inspired compositions."

Apart from Villa Lobos'  Bachanias Brasileiras and Duke's Pitter Patter Panther all are original compositions by Allessio. Perhaps the standout track is Willow, inspired by the composer's daughter who seemingly runs everywhere. This is well-depicted by the quirky theme over a Latin rhythm. Lance

Try/buy Bandcamp.

Shoulder Sauce; Canon; Henniker Blues; Willow; Bachanias Brasileiras; Pitter Patter Panther; J.S.; B.H.U.; Everything and Nothing.

No comments :

Blog Archive