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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

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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.
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: 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.

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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