Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

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

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Album review: Scott Burns, John Wojciechowski, Geof Bradfield - Tenor Time

Scott Burns, John Wojciechowski, Geof Bradfield (tenor saxes); Richard D. Johnson (piano/Rhodes); Clark Sommers (bass); Greg Artry (drums)

What a belter! The opening track brings to mind a legendary recording from the past - Tenor Conclave - that threw John Coltrane, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and Hank Mobley into the studio to produce some memorable music.

This session only has three horns out front but they hit the same high level - a level that is closer to the moon than it is to even the top of the Empire State or whichever is the highest building in Carpentersville, Illinois where it was recorded last July!

The three saxes  contribute two pieces each as does pianist Johnson and they blow like as if there was no tomorrow. Altar Blues has the saxes trading choruses blow for blow and had this been a live gig the audience would have been on their feet shouting and cheering, and if it had been from an earlier era, Norman Granz would have been waving his cheque book!

These guys are that good and Johnson, Sommers and Artry are right up there with them. I don't know which tenor is which - they are all true individuals -  but, not having solo identification in the notes ... it doesn't matter! You want tenor playing? You got it! Lance.

More info

Available tomorrow (Jan. 21) on AFAR MUSIC.

Valkyrie; Monday Waltz; Force Majeure; Some Other Sunday; Altar Blues; Jazz Folk Song; Curioso; Corea.

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