Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

From This Moment On

August

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Album review: Richard Shelton - An Englishman in Love in LA

Richard Shelton (vocals). Band includes Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Eric Marienthal (sop sax, alto sax, flute); Brian Scanlon (tenor sax, flute); Jordan Siegel/Michael Lang (piano); Alex Finck/Chuck Berghoefer (bass); Ryan Shaw/Gregg Field (drums) and others.

Back in 2016 I posted a video of the title track in anticipation of this album. It took rather rather longer than expected for the actual album to appear.

It's fringe jazz in the way that Bennett and Sinatra are and British born Shelton has much in common with the latter having appeared in several theatrical productions based around Ol' Blue Eyes - Rat Pack Confidential, Sinatra & Me and Sinatra RAW.

Five originals, three pop songs and eight standards make for a very listenable album that is maybe 55% Shelton and 45% Sinatra - give or take 10% either way.

Surprisingly, one of the most interesting tracks is a song indelibly associated with Tom Jones - until now!

It's Not Unusual eschews the full-on uptempo approach of the boyo from the valleys in favour of a slow, laid back, balladic interpretation that works.

Most of the solos are by Marienthal. Short, pithy and effective and probably up there with the best that emerged from the legendary Capitol Tower.

This is a swingin' affair, to be listened to in the wee small hours by swinging lovers as well as those who are young at heart and maybe nursing a drink at a quarter to three - ring-a-ding-ding! Lance.

Lost and Found; My Kind of Girl; And I  Love Her;; Sinatra and Me; It's Not Unusual; The Touch of Your Lips; Where or When; She Loves Me; My Thoughts Return to You; An Englishman in Love in LA; For Your Lover Give Some Time; Young at Heart; Smile; Pure Imagination; Over Like the Roses; One For my Baby.

Richard Shelton - An Englishman in Love in LA. UK release April 22.

Pre Album Launch Show - April 4 @ Crazy Coq's / Brasserie Zedel

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