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

Sunday, March 27, 2022

Album review: Bill Evans - Morning Glory

Bill Evans (piano); Eddie Gomez (bass); Marty Morrell (drums) 

It seems as though this is the piano season - or so it would seem! Following on from the six disc set by Lennie Tristano, the wonderful Stan Tracey Trio's 1959 album, the Mingus/Hampton Hawes' Trio album and the live doubler from Cecil Taylor I now have four live CDs by Bill Evans that were recorded in Buenos Aires in 1973 and 1979 - talk about an embarrassment of riches!

This is the earlier concert recorded at the Teatro Gran Rex on June 24, 1973 and, despite the social unrest in the city - Peron and all that - there is a warmth inside the hall from both the pianist and the audience that transcends what is happening in the streets outside.

I won't use the cliche and say that this is Evans at his best - wasn't he always? - instead I'll just say that, this is Evans at his best!  If you don't agree just listen to the thunderous applause after each number!

He has that langruous approach that, even on an uptempo number still manages to come across as laid back.

Apart from Evans, Eddie Gomez's solos, both plucked and arco, reveal a player perfectly suited to the leader's approach. Marty Morrell adds drive and solos with confidence, neither of them over-awed by their illustrious forebears with the trio - Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian. 

Both concerts (1979 review to follow) are scheduled for release as limited edition two-LP record store day releases on April 23. CD and digital downloads will be available a week later on April 30.

Normally I wouldn't post a review so far in advance but, the PR people at Resonance Records say "for immediate release" and DownBeat list them so who am I to argue? 

Amazing that, as April approaches, we have four contenders for Album of the Year - and they're all piano led! Lance

Re: Person I Knew; Emily; Who Can I Turn to?; The Two Lonely People; What Are you Doing the Rest of Your Life?; My Romance.

Morning Glory; Up With the Lark; T.T.T (Twelve Tone Tune); Esta Tarde Villover; Beautiful Love; Waltz For Debby; My Foolish Heart.

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