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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

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: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Friday, January 06, 2023

Album Review: Hanka G – Universal Ancestry

Never mind the singing, Hanka G has a most interesting biography. She was born in Slovakia and raised in the Mongolian desert where her parents were geologists, so she learned Mongolian melodies. After the end of communism in 1989, Hanka became fond of Motown music and worked as a singing waitress in Washington DC.

Recording her first album with some of the best Slovakian musicians, Hanka became friends with Cassandra Wilson, moved to NYC, performed in Europe with many jazz legends, such as drummer Taru Alexander and bassist Michael Bowie, and won many awards including the jazz category of the prestigious Slovak lifetime achievement awards.

The album is not simply jazz but also includes R&B, gospel, and Slovak folk music. Pieces range from McCoy Tyner's In Search of my Heart, Pharoah Sanders' As You Are and Abbey Lincoln's Throw it Away. Our singer's voice is a rich alto, well adapted to the various styles, from the heartfelt R&B of the opening track to the passionate plea about equality on Someday We'll All be Free, right through to the swinging Them There Eyes.

I liked some tracks more than others, for instance the folk song  Dance Dance didn't quite work when sung sensuously. You'll be wondering what a fujara is, as listed below. Well I'd love to have a go on this instrument, which is a Slovakian flute used by shepherds. It is quite large and allows for overtones, with a deep meditative timbre, and it is featured on the final track, a doleful folk song about hiding your sadness.

This is an enjoyable, varied album, well enhanced by excellent musicians, especially effective drumming on Through the Fire and clever piano and sax solos on many tracks and of course the fujara. The album is available
on Culture Bridge Records. See hankag.comAnn Alex

Hanka G (lead vocal) + (collective) Keesha Gumbs, Terelle Tipton, (background vocals); Shedrick Mitchell (organ, piano); James Hurt (piano, Fender Rhodes); Rodney Kendrick (piano); David Ginyard (electric bass); Rashaan Carter (electric/double bass); Taru Alexander, Nathaniel Townsley (drums); Sisa Michalidesova (flute); Veronika Vitazkova (fujara); Marvin Sewell (guitars); Sherrod Barnes (electric guitar); Antoine Roney (tenor/sop sax) 

All the Man That I Need; Be Grateful; Through the Fire; As You Are; Dance Dance; Someday We'll All be Free; Throw it Away; Them There Eyes; In Search of my Heart; I am Such a Pretty Girl; Bird Has Started Singing.

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