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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

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.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

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

Monday, February 06, 2023

Album review: Marina Pacowski - Inner Urge.

Marina Pacowski (vocal) + (see graphic).

Born and raised in Biarritz (described in the blurb as "a lovely seaside resort in southwestern France" which makes it sound like Blackpool to those of us who aren't jet setters) Pacowski eventually made it to Los Angeles where she soon became established as both a singer and pianist on the local jazz scene.

For this, her debut album, it is her amazing vocalising that is featured. To describe the wordless flights of improvisation as mere scatting would be a grave disservice - any horn player would love to have them transcribed for their instrument to the extent that they would probably be projected into the DownBeat polls. In fact they could well do the same for Mam'selle Pacowski - listen to the vocal blast on Donna Lee.

On the more straight forward readings her delightful accent adds an additional piquancy - Dijon Mustard does the same on a hot dog, both a meeting of two continents and two cultures.

As the graphic shows, la crème de la crème of California's jazz aristocracy are, in various combinations, adding to the occasion. Joel Frahm only shows up on Joe Henderson's Inner Urge but it's a real belter only matched by Pacowski's a thousand sounds a minute solo. Up Jumped Spring has Carl Saunders on trumpet, Peter Erskine on drums and Larry Koonse or guitar and, of course, Marina goes for it keeping everyone on their toes.

East of the Sun features, along with Marina, the "G-jammers" who simply blow the roof off!

The final number, What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? (qu'est-ce que tu fais le reste de ta vie?) was a question easily answered - I'll be eagerly awaiting her next album and a UK tour. Lance

Inner Urge; Pensativa; Solar; My Foolish Heart; Donna Lee; On Green Dolphin Street; I'm Old Fashioned; Moon and Sand; East of the Sun; La Vie\En Rose; Up Jumped Spring; Taking a Chance on Love; What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 

Available on March 10 (day after my birthday - what a present!) on Summit Records DCD807.

3 comments :

Hugh said...

Ah, but, Dijon mustard and the hot dog both probably originate from the same continent! 😉

Anonymous said...

Voice too high and little girlish. Doesn’t swing.

Lance said...

To each his own be it mustard or vocal range.

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