Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18395 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 259 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 30 ), 69

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

March

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). Free. Chicago blues.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Album review: Eunmi Lee - Introspection

Lee, a South Korean composer, pianist, educator, now living in NYC, makes her recording debut with this delightful album. It's gentle and appropriately titled, aiming at the heart and the mind rather than going all-out for the jugular and, with the help of co-producer Ferber, succeeds quite magnificently.

It was Ferber who chose the musicians - all first call players in the jazz capital of the world and they handle Lee's compositions effectively expressing the thoughts that inspired each one (follow the Bandcamp link below to pick up on those thoughts as well as to check out the music).

Gimmick: Solos by Ellis on tenor, contemporary cool. Fine piano from Lee. Hoenig on drums, a modern post-bop sound.

Suspicion: A chamber music setting featuring the string quartet with some interjections on bass clarinet from Ellis. Lee sits this one out.

5.19: More strings, delicate piano, almost Bill Evans, Ellis moves to Bb clarinet.

Narcissism: Ferber on trombone, Le Boeuf on alto and the composer on piano who remarks in her notes that whilst people who post on social media seem happy the ones she sees on the subway don't look happy at all!

Mr Weird: A swingy Basie/Woody type number based around people Eunmi observes in Washington Square Park. Le Boeuf flying high.

Wavelength: Is a quartet track that has the pianist at her most sensitive.

Azure: Described as the colour of her heart. Gomes on guitar paints his own picture with horns and strings adding further pastel shades.

Check it out on BANDCAMP  Lance

 Eunmi Lee (piano); Vinicius Gomes (guitar); Matt Clohesy (bass); Ari Hoenig (drums) + Tony Kadleck (trumpet tk 5); Alan Ferber (trombone tks 1,4,5,7); Jon Gordon (sop/alto sax tks 5,7); Remy Le Boeuf (alto/bari sax tks 4,5,7); John Ellis (tenor sax/clarinet/bass clarinet tks 1,2,3,5,7); Joyce Hammann (violin tks 2,3,7); Meg Okura (violin tk 3); Lois Martin (viola tks 2,3,7); Maria Jeffers (cello tk 2), Jody Redhage (cello tk 3)

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