Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 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

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Saturday, April 29, 2023

CD Review: Joanie Pallatto – Accidental Melody featuring Fareed Haque

Joanie Pallatto (vocals); Fareed Haque (classical, electric, steel string guitars); John Christensen (acoustic bass); Eric Hines, Juan Pastor (percussion); Bradley Parker-Sparrow (piano tracks 6,10)

This CD provides a feast of Latin jazz, original songs sung in a pleasing delicately-toned voice, to skilled accompaniment, including of course the typical Latin percussion. The music and lyrics are mostly the work of our singer with some input from her husband Bradley Parker-Sparrow and also Fareed Haque. The lyrics are philosophical, romantic and quite clever.

For instance the opening track Surrender is all about going with the flow, a relaxed song with some spoken lines, some wordless singing and superb guitar; Accidental Melody is a salsa; Apart comments on the pandemic and is slower and reflective; A Shooting Star has a tango feel, with high speed guitar and a bass solo.

The Melody of You is a love song with just voice and piano; The Cuckoo Clock is a duet with guitar, the latter amusingly imitating a cuckoo clock; Sound is a cleverly improvised track sung to random instrumental sounds; Lafayette concerns a journey and the album is neatly rounded off with a slower Latin song about the pandemic, which fades out gradually with wordless singing.

This is actually the thirteenth CD by Ms Pallatto and the fourth album of all original music. She has been a mainstay on the Chicago music scene for more than 44 years and has run a recording studio with her husband for almost 40 years so has expertise in music production. She is a versatile singer who has also sung jingles for commercials and does voice-over work. She hails from a musical family and  has performed as a jazz vocalist in Chicago and New York City.

The album will be released on May 19 on the Southport Records label and will be available via most sources. Ann Alex

Surrender; Accidental Melody; Apart; You Think You Know; A Shooting Star; The Melody of You; Don't Ever Look For Love; The Cuckoo Clock; In the Middle Of Life; Sound; Lafayette; Keeping Track of Time; The Lost Year

5 comments :

Joanie Pallatto said...

Thanks a million for the review of my new CD, Accidental Melody! I'm thrilled to be in such good company! With Music and Appreciation, Joanie Pallatto

Lance said...

Well Joanie, I can't, in honesty, take the credit as it was written by one of my colleagues - Ann Alex. Still, I respect and agree with Ann's judgement so thank you.

Joanie Pallatto said...

Lance, I'm glad you agree with Ann Alex! Yes, I saw her name in the review. Please pass along my sincere thanks.

Ann Alex said...

Pleased to be of service. I enjoyed the CD very much

Joanie Pallatto said...

Ann, it's so nice to hear from you. Thank you so much for your beautiful words!

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