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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

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Dave Sayer’s albums of the year

Well, here it is Mary Christmas and it’s that time of year when I have to sit and decide which were my favourites out of 2022’s releases. It’s easier choosing your favourite son or daughter, (thankfully I have one of each, an heir and a spare).

This year has seen more incorporation of music from around the world into, mainly British, jazz and has probably had the Jazz Police working overtime as the American tradition is further diluted and musicians look to tell the stories of their own families in the UK of the 2020s.

In no particular order and just missing out on the coveted 3rd spot are:

Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam: The Comet is Coming.  An album that continues the Impulse tradition of challenging, exciting music that goes back to its foundation. This one hits like a hammer and to mix metaphors, just runs you over with its energy.

In These Times; Makaya McCraven. Another thrilling album of many dimensions and complex rhythms.

Where I’m Meant To Be: Ezra Collective.  EEEH! These young people. Ezra Collective hoover up influences and collate them into a mash up of different styles to create something that reaches back and stretches forward.

A View With A Room: Trish Clowes. A very accomplished quartet of top British artists creating subtle, intense music. The added miracle was seeing the band touring this album.

Marram: Matt Carmichael. Matt Carmichael follows his bandmate Fergus McCreadie onto Edition Records and releases this folk jazz opus celebrating the Scottish coastline. Equally applicable to thoughts of the Northumberland coast.

Four: Bill Frisell. Proof, if any were needed, that Blue Note still produces cutting edge music. I’m not sure if the 13 tracks on here are tunes or studies but it’s worth hearing for the interplay between Frisell’s guitar and Gregory Tardy’s reeds.

Ubunye: Ubunye. A front line of three South African vocalists and four British musicians creates a driving blend of two traditions. Some have asked if this is jazz whilst others just enjoy the effect it has on their feet.

The top three in this house are: 

3. Could We Be More: Kokoroko. A long awaited debut album featuring Cassie Kinoshi and Sheila Maurice-Grey who have featured on other good London based albums. This is only, (marginally) let down by poor production that means the music sometimes thuds when it should crack. Rough Trade were selling this packaged with an EP of earlier tracks from the band which occasionally outshines the album.

2. The Trondheim Concert: Espen Berg. An album that walks the tightrope of solo piano across 10 pieces over 2 CDs. Just marvellous. Intense, immersive. Worthy of the highest praise that had Berg talked about as the new Jarrett. We’ll see, but I wouldn’t rule him out.

1. Forest Floor: Fergus McCreadie. McCreadie followed the astounding Cairn with another album in the same league. Forest Floor was nominated for the Mercury Prize which helped raise its profile outside of the jazz world. McCreadie’s Trio are at Sage Gateshead on March 3rd for what promises to be one of the gigs of the year. Dave Sayer

1 comment :

Lance said...

The Comet Are Coming actually are coming to Newcastle's Boiler Sop on March 1.

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