Bebop Spoken There

Melissa Aldana: ''Having to play a ballads album, which is something very revealing for a saxophone player, would help me to question some new aspects of how to go deeper into sound." (DownBeat May, 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

18656 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 520 of them this year alone and, so far this month (June 25) 72

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

June

Tue 30: Alan Law Trio @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free.
Tue 30: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

July

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 02: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 02: De’Sean Jones & Blaque Dynamite feat. Urban Art Orchestra @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). De’Sean Jones (MD, tenor sax); Blaque Dynamite (Mike Mitchell, drums); Jamie Murray (drums) with UAO horns & strings.
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.
Thu 02: Howlin’ Mat @ Newcastle Arts centre. 7:30pm. Free. Acoustic

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Paul Donnelly Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Fri 03: Martin Taylor @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Taylor (solo guitar).

Sat 04: Spats Langham’s Hot Fingers @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 04: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:00-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sat 04: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Take the ‘A’ Train to Summertime: From Melody to Masterclass. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 05: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Kevin Eland (trumpet).
Sun 05: Michael Woods @ Cycle Hub, Quayside, Ouseburn. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:15-4:00pm. Free. Acoustic blues guitar. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Lydia Rae Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Rae (vocals); Sam Lightwing (alto sax, tenor sax); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 05: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 05: Storytellers Street Band @ Ouseburn Woodland, Ouseburn. 5:00-6:00pm. Free. An Ouseburn Festival event.
Sun 05: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 05: Jambone @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:15-9:45pm. Free but ticketed.

Mon 06: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 06: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Album Review: Dan Olivo – Day By Day

Dan Olivo (vocals); Ian Robbins (guitar, arr.); Lyman Medeiros (bass/ukulele/vocal);  Joe Bagg (piano/B3); Kevin Winard (drums/perc); Kyle O'Donnell (tenor sax/flute); Jamelle Adisa (trumpet); Garrett Smith (trombone); Renee Myara Cibelli (vocal)

Something a bit different to review from the field of vocal jazz. The aim of the album is to create a 'big band sound' from the small combo listed above, and that aim is achieved admirably, and adds to my jazz education as I noted the difference between big band jazz and other groupings. So we get shorter solos and many duets, snappy precision, and of course a much fuller sound on most tracks. The general feel of the album is cheerful, danceable, an album to play at your next party.

Dan Olivo has a pleasant lightish tone, excellent diction, and, since he is also an actor, he gets his meaning across well. More has a Latin beat with light, playful drumming; It's Only a Paper Moon is introduced 1920s style with Ms Cibelli singing with ukulele accompaniment, then harmony singing, a fun track; then comes an unusual song, This Guy's In Love With You (Bacharach/David) as a heartfelt ballad. The CD is rounded off quite movingly by All the Way, from voice and piano only.

Dan Olivo is a regular performer on the Southern California jazz scene who appears at such venues as The Beverley Hills Hotel and the Frank Sinatra House in Palm Springs. He is an experienced actor from an acting family but he has always liked music and he plays saxophone. This is his debut CD which comprises mainly jazz standards. Check out his website  where you can watch/hear the album's title track. Ann Alex

Available now on Ava Maria Records.

Day By Day; I'm Walkin'; It Had To Be You; More; Time After Time; It's Only a Paper Moon; Sway; How Come You Do Me Like You Do?; L.O.V.E.; This Guy's In Love With You; Come By Me; All the Way

4 comments :

Jim B said...

The worst track is by far... "This Guys In Love With You"I mean how many flat off-key notes can there be in one song??? It is pathetic... Hal David is rolling and Burt is weeping

Lance said...

I seem to recall that Herb Alpert's version had similar imperfections although, no doubt, Hal and Burt rolled and wept all the way to the bank!

Ann Alex said...

i've always prided myself on my sense of pitch so it's probable that I've heard so many off key versions of this song in the past that I cannot tell any more! Thanks for the feedback anyway

Dan said...

"This Guy Is In Love With You" was my favorite track to record. Thank you all for your comments. - Dan Olivo

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