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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

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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