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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Friday, February 25, 2022

Album review: Cecil Taylor Unit - The Return Concert

Cecil Taylor (piano); Jimmy Lyons (alto sax); Sirone (double bass); Andrew Cyrille (drums)

The album's full title - The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 - marks the release of all the material recorded at the New York Town Hall concert almost fifty years ago. In the pre-digital age it wasn't viable to market a free jazz album running to almost two hours. Now, compressed onto a two-disc CD package, we get to hear Taylor in full, unexpurgated, vintage form. The established Cecil Taylor Unit (the CTU - Jimmy Lyons and Andrew Cyrille) was augmented for the occasion by bassist Sirone (Norris Jones).

The 'return' element of the recording points to Taylor's immersion in composing and teaching for some years until returning to the New York stage with a vengeance. The CTU was a long-established working unit, the addition of Sirone being the new element. Spring of Two Blue-J's (solo piano) and Spring of Two Blue-J's (quartet), spanning some thirty eight minutes, are the known tracks, now we get to hear the rest of it, all eighty eight minutes of it! Uncompromising, fearless, virtuosic. Taylor dazzles, the percussive drive relentless. Jimmy Lyons, Taylor's most frequent collaborator, hangs onto his bop leanings although, as the compositions develop, he plays every bit as 'free' as the CTU's leader.        

The then newcomer, Sirone, deftly navigates his way through Taylor's turbulent musical landscape alongside percussionist Andrew Cyrille (the sole surviving member from the November evening in '73) who knew what was required and duly delivered. For those unfamiliar with Cecil Taylor's work, the length of some of the numbers - Autumn Parade clocking up one hour and twenty eight minutes - could be a bit of a stretch. However, patience and listening closely should/will bring its rewards.      
        
The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert at The Town Hall NYC November 4, 1973 (catalogue no. OD-8) is available from revived Oblivion Records (the label has been more or less dormant since the mid seventies). A 24-page, LP-size booklet contains some fascinating facsimiles of documents from the time including a Town Hall concert programme and handwritten notes on the original master recording tapes. See: www.oblivionrecords.co. 
Russell

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