Total Pageviews

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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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, November 10, 2021

Samara Joy @ Ronnie Scott's - Nov. 8

Samara Joy (vocals); Pasquale Grasso (guitar); Mathias Allamane (double bass); Alberto Chiozzi (drums)

Samara Joy first came to the attention of your reviewer thanks to Emmet Cohen streaming weekly concerts from his New York apartment. Week to week pianist Cohen continues to invite one or two guests to join his trio in what is always a high quality session: the quality of the audio-visual presentation is of professional standard, the music sublime. On one such occasion, the then Purchase College undergraduate Samara Joy sang some songs - and how!  Fast forward to November, Monday of this week to be precise, Ms Joy, who celebrates her twenty second birthday this week, made her bow at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. 

Samara Joy is currently on a first European tour and Frith Street, London, was on the itinerary. Supported by a world class trio - the peerless Pasquale Grasso, guitar, bassist Mathias Allamane and drummer Alberto Chiozzi - Ms Joy took to the stage to be greeted by a rapturous reception from a sell out crowd. From the opening lyrics to If You Never Fall in Love with Me (Sam Jones' Del Sasser), all present realised they were in the presence of the finest singer of her generation. Correction, the finest singer out there. The comparison, wholly justified, has been made with Sarah Vaughan. Ms Joy is a twenty first century Sassy! Think Ella, Billie, Carmen McRae, today's birthday girl is following in their footsteps. Poise, range, pitching, phrasing, Samara Joy has got it all. 

Stardust didn't frighten Ms Joy, songs recorded by Nat Cole - (It's Easy to See) The Trouble with You is Me and Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You - were given impeccable readings, Everything Happens to Me, sublime. This was some performance. Ms Joy spoke about Jon Faddis' guidance during her time at SUNY Purchase which led to our vocalist penning lyrics to Tadd Dameron's Nostalgia. Here at Ronnie's we heard Samara Joy 'singing' Fats Navarro's solo from 1958's Nostalgia album. Amazing, astounding, it begs the question: How can a twenty two year old sing like that?! Who knows? What is certain, Samara Joy is as good as they come. As her set drew to a close, Ms Joy was greeted with tumultuous applause. An encore demanded, an encore won, Samara Joy left us - she had a plane to catch! - with Come Rain or Come Shine. It had been a privilege.
Russell 
                              
Set list included: If You Never Fall in Love with MeStardust(It's Easy to See) The Trouble with Me is YouNostalgiaNothing Ever Changes My Love for YouBe My LoveLet's Dream in the MoonlightJimEverything Happens to MeCome Rain or Come Shine.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Love the description of Pasquale Grasso - peerless. One word says it all!

Blog Archive