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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Monday, June 27, 2022

Album review (Various artists); Heart of Mine - The Songs of Ross Lorraine

(Press release)

Heart Of Mine is the new album from the unique and versatile composer and pianist Ross Lorraine. Heart Of Mine is produced by jazz figurehead Claire Martin and features the vocal talents of Liane Carroll, Gwyneth Herbert, Ian Shaw, Luca Manning, Sara Colman and Claire Martin herself: a cast of guest singers who represent the very best vocal jazz talent in the UK and internationally.

Each protagonist lends their own incomparable style to the project, creating a captivating showcase and a diverse and entertaining realisation of Lorraine’s original compositions. Moreover, the dexterous and imaginative talents of Rob Barron on piano, Mike Walker on guitar, Laurence Cottle on bass and Elliott Henshaw on drums further fortifies the project, making the sum of all parts a tour de force of musical brilliance.

Having mastered his craft under the supervision of the internationally revered composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle (working as both his assistant and later as his editor at Universal Edition), Ross Lorraine has become a widely respected composer, arranger and pianist in his own right, lending his unique expertise to a vast spectrum of projects across the music industry. These range from a series of  compositions that were broadcast on BBC Radio 3, to virtuoso solo pieces written for some of the UK’s top performers of contemporary music, that have been presented at events and festivals throughout the world.

 

As a keyboard player, Ross Lorraine has performed at The London Jazz Festival, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and at London venues such as Pizza Express Soho, The Pheasantry, The Bulls Head and The Green Note to name just a few notable venues. In addition to his extensive work in jazz, Ross Lorraine has composed Tangos that have been broadcast by the BBC World Service and soundtracks to accompany the work of leading playwrights, and he has promoted concerts focusing on important contemporary composers.

 

Ross Lorraine adopts a thoroughly non-restrictive approach to his work, actively encouraging a collaborative approach with those who perform his music. He has already recorded singles with such well-known singers as Sarah Moule and Emilia Martensson. Now with Heart Of Mine, Lorraine will showcase his inimitable talent in what is both his most ambitious and accomplished work to date.

 

Quotes:

 

Ross's songs are so organically structured for the voices he writes for. Claire's seamless production makes it a total joy to sing and get involved. Wonderful to be part of this fabulous project
Liane Carroll

 

It has been an absolute joy to work with Ross Lorraine and all the incredible singers on this project.  Each of Ross's songs has a distinct personality, and these brilliant vocalists really do them justice and make them their own.  Soup to Nuts Productions was recently set up by myself and Chris Traves, and this project has really been a dream come true for us, as it combines the very best UK musicians alongside these unique and original songs. A joy from beginning to end!
Claire Martin OBE

 

Ross reached out to me with a song that he thought I might like to sing…‘We Will Sing Again’ struck a chord with me almost instantly. It beautifully captures the solitude we were all experiencing, the yearning to be together again. I was inspired by the folky melancholy in Ross’s great storytelling ability, and was very happy to record it as part of this project. – Luca Manning

 

Sweetly meandering melodies, timeless lyrics tinged with nostalgia... Ross Lorraine's songs are a joy to sing! – Gwyneth Herbert

 

Such a thrill to sing such well-crafted songs. Whether the generic pop-structure format or a denser, more character-driven narrative, Ross Lorraine’s writing is a joy. – Ian Shaw

 

Ross has such a distinctive voice as a narrator, he writes with a perfect balance of the personal and the universal. Sara Colman

 

Track Listing: 

The Waiting Game (Liane Carroll)
They’re Playing Our Song (Gwyneth Herbert)
Like Love (Luca Manning)
Body Language (Claire Martin)
Pull You Back (Sara Colman)
Heart Of Mine  (Liane Carroll)
The Name of the Game (Claire Martin)
I’m By Your Side (Ian Shaw & Claire Martin)
We Will Sing Again (Luca Manning)
A Silent Cry (Ian Shaw)
All Our Days (Sara Colman)
Play On (Gwyneth Herbert)    

Claire Martin, Gwyneth Herbert, Sara Colman (backing vocals); Rob Barron (piano/Rhodes piano); Mike Walker (guitars); Laurence Cottle (electric bass); Elliott Henshaw (drums).


Available CD/Bandcamp.

 

Recorded At Kenilworth Production Studios

 

Engineered, Mixed and Mastered By Chris Traves for Soup To Nuts Productions

 

All Music and Lyrics By Ross Lorraine

 

Co-produced By Claire Martin OBE, Ross Lorraine and Chris Traves              

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