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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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 27, 2022

Album review: Petra Van Nuis & Andy Brown - Lonely Girl - I Remember Julie

Petra Van Nuis (vocals); Andy Brown (guitar).

There are some albums that, even before listening, you automatically sense that, going on past form, you're on a winner. Of course, going on past form doesn't always work out as expected - ask any punter!

However, when you have a vocalist and guitarist such as Petra and Andy performing songs associated with Julie London then you can rest assured that you're on the musical equivalent of an odds-on favourite.

It's an album that is just so beautiful. Petra doesn't attempt to copy Julie - who could? Instead she puts her own interpretation on Julie's songs. It's a two-way street and no one loses.

Husband Andy slots nicely into the Barney Kessel/Al Viola role both as accompanist and tasteful soloist. Some of his chords give you goosebumps making you wish you were a guitarist or, if you are a guitarist making you wish you weren't! Listen to the guitar intro and the subsequent backing on It Never Entered my Mind and you'll see what I mean.

Every track's a gem and, if you thought you'd never ever want to hear Cry me a River again - this may cause a rethink!

There may be better vocal albums this year but I'm not holding my breath. Lance

Preview. PURCHASE

Lonely Girl; Trav'lin Light; You've Changed; The End of the World; Something Cool; Here's That Rainy Day; The Meaning of the Blues; Blues in the Night; It Never Entered my Mind; I Should Care; Baby Won't You Please Come Home; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; Cry me a River.

2 comments :

Patti said...

Ah, great to see this review. I remember seeing Andy and Petra for the first time in 2017, on a Chicago visit - I was hugely impressed by Andy's lyrical playing and Petra's lovely voice. This new album sounds terrific - I'm wondering if Lance has any information about its release, and how we can purchase it here in the UK?

Patti said...

Doh! I just went to Petra's website - petrasings.com - and ordered it from there. Easy peasy!

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