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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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, June 30, 2022

Album Review: Vicki Burns – Lotus Blossom Days

Vicki Burns (vocals); Art Hirahara (piano); Sam Bevan (bass/arr.); Billy Drummond (drums); Dayna Stephens (tenor/bari sax tks 3, 4, 12); Josh Deutsch (trumpet tks 1, 2, 9); Mas Koga (flute/bari sax tk 2); Nick Vayenas (trombone tks 1, 9)

An album from yet another very good jazz songstress who is accompanied by instrumentalists who are well on the money. This poses the reviewer, with the problem of what to say that is original. I must do it otherwise the Editor-In-Chief will sack me! Help!

Vicki Burns deserves better than the title of songstress. This lady has a pleasing wide-ranging voice, crystal clear diction, and she knows how to sing as if she means it, notably on the alluring Love Spell and on Coltrane's Equinox, where the vocal tones suggest a darker side to love. She duets with the bass on a couple of the tracks, actually singing the same notes wordlessly, which adds interest to scat.

Ms Burns hails from Maine USA, knew from childhood that she wanted to be a singer and, after studying music at New Hampshire University, soon became involved in jazz, singing in clubs in Boston, New York City and the San Francisco area. At present she performs in NYC and also teaches. This is her third album as leader.

The album is made up of three originals, Love Spell; Siren Song; You Don't Have to Believe; three standards; and six songs that began life as instrumentals. The songs chronicle the arc of a love affair, from seduction, through the bitter sweetness of a failing relationship, to a wider view of love, life and happiness. Quite a tall order for an album, but this just about manages the task, with skilled piano solos to add to the mix, and some interesting brass and sax input on some tracks.

Notable numbers include two deliciously decadent Strayhorn songs, and I quote lyrics from Bittersweet  'a string of promises tied in a knot of lies' (Roger Schore). Then we have You Don’t Have to Believe, flamenco style, a keys and drums duet and a lone trumpet to finish. Ms Burns’ Siren Song is sung as if she is the daughter of the siren, very original. The album is rounded off with a satisfactory love affair in the shape of the Arlen/Mercer song Out of This World, which allows our singer to display the higher part of her range.

The album is available everywhere from July 8. See HERE. Ann Alex

If You Never Fall in Love With Me/Del Sasser; Close Your Eyes; Love Spell; Lotus Blossom Days; Bittersweet; Watch Out/The Sidewinder; A Long Way to go/Equinox; It's Over Now/Well You Needn't; You Don't Have to Believe; This Time the Dream's on me ; Siren Song; Out of This World

4 comments :

Vicki Burns said...

Thank you VERY much for the review, Lance!!

All The Best,
Vicki Burns
www.vickiburnsjazz.com

Lance said...

Don't thank me Vicki - I just provided the nuts and bolts. Thanks must go to Ann Alex who provided the words!

Vicki Burns said...

Well then! Thank you SO much Ann Alex! Your review is much appreciated!

Marty Elkins said...

Congratulations on this great review. Can't wait to get my hot hands on this! (On F/b)

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