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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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, May 20, 2023

UK Guitarist To Release Soaring Suite Of Powerful And Distinctly Lyrical Music.

(Press release) Guitarist Steve Banks and Stoney Lane Records are proud to present the international release of the brand new album Emboldened in May 2023. Emboldened is a unique collection of Steve Banks’ original compositions, taking in powerful modern jazz, deep contemporary grooves, Brazilian influences, lush harmonies and memorable melodies. This heady concoction of styles evolved and developed through years of diverse musical experience, resulting in a compelling, distinctive and personal sound, immediately recognisable as the rising star guitarist’s own work.

On Emboldened, Banks brings together  a quintet of musicians at the forefront of UK jazz scene: Sam Crockatt on saxophone, Rebecca Nash on keyboard, Henrik Jensen on bass and Mark Whitlam  on drums. The synergy between each player is palpable on the recording and provides a clear demonstration of the professionalism and vibrancy of each player, both individually and as a unit. Speaking about the band, Steve Banks remarks: “I’m excited by the scope and depth of expression this quintet is capable of reaching and am composing new music to explore this further. I want to ‘stoke the fire’”

 

Banks explains that he wrote the Emboldened suite “to reflect individuals and society's response to adversity….This also reflected values inherent to jazz music including respect, trust, listening and support and, as a jazz musician, I wanted to offer a positive and reassuring experience for the peaceful majority. The suite comprises three movements: Fear, Belief & Unity and is also inspired by the incredible music of Maria Schneider.

 

Banks’ captivating style and versatility have made him a ‘go to’ guitarist for many successful music projects, most notably playing electric, acoustic, baritone and nylon string guitars on Sara Colman’s album ‘What We’re Made Of’, co-composing several tracks and contributing his own composition ‘Open’. The album appeared in Jazzwise Magazine’s ‘Top 10 albums of 2018’ and ‘Best of Jazz on Bandcamp’ lists.. Further projects include being a vital element of the Greg Cordez Band and a 2021 UK tour with ‘What She Said’, celebrating pioneering women in music. Having lent his elite skill to a range of artistic endeavours, Steve Banks will now release his debut album Emboldened, representing his very best work to date and an anticipated elevation to the limelight.

 

Steve Banks has performed at venues across the UK including Birmingham Symphony Hall, CBSO Centre, London’s King’s Place, Mostly Jazz, Manchester Jazz and Cheltenham Jazz Festivals and Jazzahead! in Germany. The upcoming tour will include performances of the Emboldened suite alongside brand new music. Steve will also be mentoring four young Ukrainian and British musicians over the next few months to compose on the themes of Emboldened (Fear, Belief and Unity). The upcoming concert at St George's Bristol in July will also feature premier performances of these compositions by the young musicians. Emboldened is an enthralling album, destined to become one of this years’ most important releases to date.

Catalogue No: SLR1981

 

Recorded At Samson Studios, Birmingham, UK.

 

Mixed By Olly Samson At Samson Studios, Birmingham, UK.

 

Mastered By Peter Beckman At TechnologyWorks, London UK.

 

Artwork By: Enric Alberti https://www.instagram.com/enricalbertiart/ https://www.saatchiart.com/enricalberti

 

Photography by Hacker Photography / Recording Session Photography By Chris Lucas.

 

TOUR DATES:

 

14th June            The Vortex                London

27th June            The Spotted Dog      Birmingham

29th June            Spin Jazz                     Oxford

1st July                St George’s                Bristol

 

QUOTES:

 

‘Purposeful precision and smart invention . . . tightly written, long unfolding melodic structures weaving the musicians into braided soundscapes . . . deserving of a much wider audience’ - Jazzwise (2022)

 

“Steve Banks brings a crisp lyricism that mimics Colman’s flight patterns then deviates in fascinating directions” -  BANDCAMP

 

“A remarkable guitarist” – Fringe Jazz       “Skilled, flowing guitar” – Bebop Spoken Here

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