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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Album review: Snorre Kirk - Top Dog

Stephen Riley (tenor sax on tks 1, 3, 4, 7, 10); Michael Blicher (alto/tenor sax on tks 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9); Magnus Hjorth (piano); Mads Køjlby (guitar); Anders Fjeldsted (bass); Snorre Kirk (drums)

A swinging album from Denmark influenced by the musical legacy of Count Basie. It has the feel of the original Basie band coupled with the more subtle approach of the later model. 

When critic Stanley Dance came up with the term 'mainstream' to cover the music inspired by the jazz that flourished in the pre-bebop/swing era years this is probably close to what he had in mind if he was alive today - or maybe not. 

Jazz, like most art forms, is constantly moving, forwards, sideways or backwards according to how receptive you are to change. However, the music is always one step ahead and just when you think you've caught up with it you find it has moved on again.

Nevertheless, no one other than the most devout follower of early jazz or those who think that tomorrow isn't the question but the answer and, as we all know tomorrow never comes, will be as enthralled with this as I am.

The solid four in a bar rhythm section, the All-Scandinavian Rhythm Section as the blurb describes it, lay down the kind of foundation that Basie, Page, Green and Jones did back in the '30s and '40s - providing a cushion for the front men to create.

The compositions are all by Kirk - remembering the past, looking to the future whilst thinking of the present.  They're a well-balanced mix of blues, ballads and swingers such as Swing Point that bears more than a passing resemblance to Four Brothers.

American tenor player Riley alternates with hometown boy Blicher. Their contrasting sounds add to the appeal. The leader powers it all along nicely bringing to mind a scaled down version of another great Danish combo - Fessor's Big City Band. There could be no greater praise. Lance

Available on Stunt Records (CD or vinyl) From July 7.

BANDCAMP.

Working the Night Shift; Top Dog; On Late Nights; Bring me Home; Showtime; Meditations in Blue; Swing Point; Easy Roller; Yesteryear; Boogie Rider.

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