Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

From This Moment On

May

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Album Review: Ella & The Bossa Beat - In The Moment

Ella Borges (vocals, piano/keyboard, bass); Magrus Borges (drums, percussion); Jonathan Dills (cello); Kim Freitas (acoustic guitar); Alain Bradette, Rodrigo Sha (saxophone); Greg Little, Larry Williams (trumpet); Ruvit Bracho (violin); 

I'll simply quote from the publicity information which accompanies this album and sums it up neatly: 'In The Moment is an album comprised of nine original songs composed by Ella & The Bossa Beat, sung in both English and Portuguese. It features a deep resource of talented musicians from around the world, including Brazil, Canada, and the United States. The style of the album possesses a mixture of Brazilian music and rhythms, with contemporary and soulful melodies, with jazz harmonies.'

So what you get is an atmospheric Brazilian bossa feel, a pop music style of singing, lightly tinged with jazz elements, short lines of song with lots of clever instrumental playing between. Ms Borges's voice is good with a slight nasal quality and the songs are mostly about love. For instance the opening song Speak From the Heart, is mainly a repetition of the title with music in between and a very short piano solo.

Ella and Magrus Borges are actually father and daughter and this is their second album. They have a residency at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida and they play at many jazz venues and festivals. They are planning a tour to Europe, Brazil and other places abroad.

Magrus Borges hails from Belem do Para, Brazil and he has played with many international artists such as Grace Jones. He has recorded six original albums and has been nominated for a Grammy. Ella Borges, now aged just twenty -two, was born in Miami and raised in Brazil. She is a graduate of Stetson University with a degree in International Business and Music, and she writes lyrics, composes and produces with her father.

This album is very listenable if you like jazz which is veering towards a bossa/pop style. It is self-released and is available at all fine retailers. See www.ellaandthebossabeat.com Ann Alex

Speak From the Heart; Why; Dreamer; O Tempo Traz; Forever; Show me the Way; Estrelas No Ceu; Slipping Away; What Happened to Our Love.

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