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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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

Tue 21: ???

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

Sunday, August 14, 2022

Album review: The Yellowjackets - Parallel Motion

Russell Ferrante (piano/keys); Bob Mintzer (tenor/soprano sax); Will Kennedy (drums/keys); Dane Alderson (elec. bass/MIDI sequencing); Jean Baylor (vocals on tk 8)

I'm never quite sure where The Yellowjackets stand in the jazz pantheon these days. For over 40 years they've been at the forefront of the jazz/fusion scene and I recall being impressed by them at Ronnie's a few years back. Perhaps such longevity breeds the contempt associated with familiarity. 

Certainly the critics in this year's DownBeat Annual Critics Poll didn't do them any favours although last year, 335 of DB's readers did tick the Yellowjackets in the Jazz Group section. This earned them 15th place behind the trio of the late Chick Corea who went to meet his maker with 1605 of the electorate ensuring his place in DownBeat Heaven.

The critics didn't do right by the individuals either. Bob Mintzer, who can hold his own in any saxophone playing company, was completely overlooked as were the other members of the group.

This particular album is fine and, if I heard it in an elevator I'd stay on until the top floor even if I was only going to Menswear on the second. It has that sort of appeal. However, I also got the feeling that once I'd exited and returned to the second floor I probably wouldn't buy a yellow jacket although I'd certainly try one or two on which is what I'd suggest the readers do - who knows you could maybe prove those pesky critics to be wrong! Lance

Intrigue; Challenging Times; Parallel Motion; Onyx Manor; Samaritan; Il Mio Amico; Resilience; If You Believe; Early.

LISTEN/BUY

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Critical consensus is as rare as snow in August. Jazz-rock isn’t fashionable in the same way that heavy metal is absented from mainly by the likes of even great rock writers such as Alexis Petridis

Critics often go for avant as default so that needs to be moderated which it isn’t in the NPR or Downbeat lists. Just because there are dozens of names does not mean bigger consensus if they think similarly. Their prejudices need to be examined which would illuminate their thinking reading between the lines.

Lance said...

Good point but, please don't be shy, tell us who you are. New blood is always welcome as Count Basie (or was it Count Dracula?) once said.

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