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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Album review: Dameronia's Legacy Al-Stars - Live at Audi Forum Ingolstadt

Jim Rotundi (trumpet - USA); Dick Oatts (alto sax - USA); Jon Boutellier (tenor sax - FR); Rik van den Bergh (baritone sax - NL); Johannes Herrlich (trombone - DE); Andrea Pozza (piano - IT); Aldo Zunino (bass - IT);  Bernd Reiter (drums - AT).

One of my favourite LPs is Tadd Dameron’s  1962 Riverside album The Magic Touch and I am pleased to note that on this excellent CD, recorded live at the Audi Forum, Ingolstadt, Bavaria, there are three tunes from The Magic Touch album - On a Misty Night, If You Could See Me Now and Look, Stop and Listen.

On the original recording Dameron used at least fourteen musicians and the result was outstanding with incredible solos from guys like Johnny Griffin, Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Bill Evans, and Philly Joe Jones. If my memory serves me correctly, when this record was reviewed in Downbeat magazine it was only given three and a half stars which was crazy as if any record merited the top rating of five stars it was this one!

Parisian based drummer Bernd Reiter, the man behind the project, brought together an interesting group of international musicians from various backgrounds and presented them with the challenging task of interpreting the arrangements of some of Tadd’s lesser known tunes in front of a live audience. 

I've seen Bernd Reiter live on a few occasions. At the Band On The Wall with Eric Alexander’s Quartet and two years ago when I went to Frankfurt’s Jazz Keller to hear Don Menza. His powerful drumming is highly influenced by the great Art Blakey and he drives things along nicely during this CD.


 Regarding Jim Rotundi, I remember being very impressed with his playing on one of the Jazz Cruises when he was with Eric Alexander's One For All Quintet. He has a major role in the All Stars and he gets plenty of solo space. 


Dick Oatts I have never seen live but he sounds good and no doubt his years playing in the Vanguard Orchestra made him an ideal choice for this venture.  


Pianist Pozza I saw a couple of times at Malcolm Fraser's house with Harry Allen and Alan Barnes and I am sure listeners will like his solos on this fine tribute to Tadd Dameron.


I think this is one of those albums that to get the most out of it, repeated plays are required but I have no hesitation in recommending it, especially to those who like this sort of small band bebop.
Mike Farmer

 

Choose Now; The Scene is Clean; If You Could See me Now; Philly J.J. On a Misty Night; My Foolish Heart; Flossie Lou; Look, Stop and Listen; Portrait.

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