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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

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, June 12, 2023

Album review: Terry Gibbs Legacy Band - The Terry Gibbs Songbook

Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen,  tenor saxes); Danny Bacher (vocals); Mike Gurrola (bass); Gerry Gibbs (drums); Terry Gibbs (2 finger piano, vocals on tk 4).Tom Ranier (piano/ tenor sax)

Terry Gibbs will be remembered as one of the all-time great vibraphonists. Those of us who were privileged to hear him with Buddy DeFranco at Caedmon Hall will testify to that. However, one of his lesser known talents is that of a songwriter which this beautiful album puts to rights,

The 98-year-old  'youngster' has finally come up with an album showcasing 15 of his many compositions. Every track's a gem helped along by words from such lyricists as Michael Dees, Arthur Hamilton, Bobby Troup, Steve Allen and Jerry Gladstone. Move over George, Ira and co.

Danny Bacher connects the words and the music making it swing like nobody's business whilst still bringing in the romanticism of Nina or the thwarted expectations of I Can Hardly Wait For Saturday Night. Everyone has had a 'Nina' in their life and, likewise, experienced the frustrations of Saturday nights that didn't turn into Sunday mornings!

Vocals aside, the pairing of the two top mainstream tenors of today is truly the icing on the cake. Allen and Hamilton blow laid back, relaxed, tenor that is as close to perfection as you'll ever get. Gibbs played in Woody's Third Herd along with Zoot, Stan and Al so he knew exactly what he wanted. Tom Ranier also blows some tenor but his main contribution is on piano backed up by Gurrola and Gibbs, the younger.

Now's the Time to Groove is quite hilarious. It name-checks many of the great modern jazzmen with some hilarious interjections from Terry Gibbs who also plays some two-fingered piano à la Hamp. Another front runner for those of us 'who know' to check out. Lance

Available via the usual online snake oil salesmen.

Let's Go to Rio; Those Eyes. Those Lips. That Nose. That Face. That Girl; I Was Loved; The House That Might Have Been; Nina; I Can Hardly Wait For Saturday Night; If I Were You; Play and Sing; Lonely Days; And That' s Why They Call it the Blues; Say Goodbye; Stay With me Tonight; If I Knew Then; Sweet Young Song of Love.

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