Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

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, January 05, 2022

Album review: Lennie Tristano - Personal Recordings 1946-1970 (disc 2/6)

Lennie Tristano (solo piano).

With four discs to go this is the benchmark for the rest! Anyone who doubts Tristano's deserved status in the upper echelons of the modern jazz piano pantheon need only to listen to this, album two of six, of what is a wonderful boxed set.

The fi here is definitely more hi than on the previous disc and, whilst still not perfect, it does gives the listener a clearer appreciation of the genius that was Lennie.

A mix of originals with a couple of juicy standards thrown in for good measure. Listen to the chordal versions of These Foolish Things and When Your Lover Has Gone. Sack the sound engineer but don't sack the pianist!

Apart from Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, Billy Bauer, Arnold Fishkin and Peter Ind, the only other person I can think of who followed in Tristano's wake was perhaps George Wallington. I could be wrong perhaps there were others - if not there certainly should have been - but I can't think of anyone. Perhaps Jack Goodwin or Dave Brownlow could offer suggestions.

Tomorrow, disc 3/6 brings in the sextet - can't wait! Lance

1 comment :

Unknown said...

Yes Lance, Pianists Ronnie Ball and Sal Mosca were also from the "Tristano School"
From more recent times, Paul Bley, Andrew Hill & Mal Waldron were influenced by Lenn-ie's concepts too.

Of course, Bird himself was interested in the Tristano movement and Lennie's playing, as they recorded together formally in the '47 'Bands for Bonds', the '49 Metronome All stars sessions, and informally at Lennie's apartment with Kenny Clarke in'51 using Chan Richaardson's new tape recorder !

Dave Brownlow

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