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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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Zach Okonkwo's Hypothetical: Works inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement @ King's Hall, Newcastle University - Oct. 13

Zach Okonkwo (drums); Jimmy Jefford (tenor sax); Daniel Vildósola (guitar); Will Hobson (piano); Harry Gould (bass guitar)

It was a homecoming of sorts for two of the quintet performing in King's Hall this afternoon: bandleader Zach Okonkwo and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Jefford are alumni of Newcastle University. Drummer Okonkwo remarked that it seemed like a long time ago when he and Jefford graduated way back in 2018. Guitarist Daniel Vildósola, pianist Will Hobson and five-string bassist Harry Gould were the unknown quantities. The set, all-too-brief at thirty minutes, would feature two of Okonkwo's compositions and two modern jazz standards. 

Okonkwo's Ndubisi is named after his father (Mr Ndubisi was present in King's Hall) and tells of their father and son relationship. Okonkwo led from the front, his band mates reading their charts. An all round solid opening, one sensed there was more to come. The two standards in the set - Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage and Joshua Redman's Hide and Seek - encouraged the quintet to stretch out a little. Okonkwo's arrangement of Hancock's familiar tune was given, as indicated by the band leader, a 'modern twist'. Jefford stepped up on the Redman number, Okonkwo's programme notes stating the one-time Bold Big Band leader would replicate 'the unique extended techniques of Joshua Redman while still making the tune his own'. Jefford's tenor playing reminded the Newcastle audience, if anyone had forgotten, just what he could do. Excellent.

To conclude the performance, Okonkwo spoke eloquently of his disbelief at the unfolding events of January 6, 2021 (the failed insurrection in Washington DC). His response was to compose Hypothetical, in so doing incorporating elements relating to the murder of George Floyd. As the quintet dug into the material (Jefford, Vildósola, Hobson and Gould making decisive contributions) segments of Dave Chappelle's '8:46' powerful speech detailing the death of George Floyd were introduced into the sound mix, and for a moment, Okonkwo took the handbrake off. Sometimes music speaks louder than words. Russell
                     
Set list: NdubisiMaiden VoyageHide and SeekHypothetical.

1 comment :

Unknown said...

Thank you for coming, it’s a shame I didn’t catch you before you left! Also a shame that I clearly can’t tell the time as 30 minutes is very brief you are right! It was my first outing as a band leader/playing my own material and it was a pleasure to do it in front of such a caring audience. As a ‘hired gun’ of sorts I under estimated how exposed you are when playing your own music but as I said it was a pleasure to do it in a safe environment. I hope to return and do it again...just a bit longer the next time!

All the best
Zach Okonkwo

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