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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, August 26, 2023

Album review: The Bix Centennial All Stars - Celebrating Bix!

In 2003 Bix Beiderbecke enthusiast Doug LaPasta assembled an all star line-up to play and record the music of cornetist and icon of the golden age of jazz, Leon Bismark 'Bix' Beiderbecke. The year - 2003 - marked the centenary of the birth of Bix and the recording, from all of twenty years ago, was released on one disc. Now, two decades on, Turtle Bay Records present an expanded package extending across two discs which includes some previously unreleased material. 

The best part of ninety minutes' playing time, Celebrating Bix! is truly a celebration of the music of Bix Beiderbecke. The musicians' loving recreation and twenty first century interpretation of Bix's music radiates from each and every one of the album's twenty two tracks. Peter Ecklund's arrangements and scoring of Bix's solos must have been a labour of love and the all star ensemble, including the three cornetists - Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart and Randy Sandke - no doubt marvelled at Ecklund's craft. The rhythm section, variously pianist Mark Shane, guitarists Howard Alden and Matt Munisteri, bassist Greg Cohen, bassist and bass saxophonist Vince Giordano and drummer Joe Ascione, A-listers all, make this two-disc recording a swinging affair.      

Doug LaPasta and Peter Ecklund died in 2020 and it was down to Dan Levinson to take the reins, thus ensuring this new release would see the light of day. Levinson's essay in the accompanying booklet Still Celebrating, Twenty Years On does just that - celebrating Bix and recalling the session all of twenty years ago. A detailed discography guides the listener from track to track, noting cornet solos, cornet leads, the three C-melody saxophones of Levinson, Scott Robinson and Pete Martinez, China Boy is broken down into who plays which 4 bars and when. Yes, Celebrating Bix! is an amazing homage to the man, Bix Beiderbecke. The BSH reader familiar with Mike Durham's International Class Jazz Party on North Tyneside, England (Nov. 3 -5 this year!) will want to acquire a copy of this album. Highly recommended.                   
        
On San Scott Robinson plays the 'clariNOT', that's clarinet sans mouthpiece! Russell

Collective personnel: Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Randy Sandke (cornet); Dan Barrett (trombone, cornet); Harvey Tibbs (trombone); Dan Levinson (clarinet, alto sax, C-melody sax); Pete Martinez (clarinet, C-melody sax); Scott Robinson (clarinet, tenor, C-melody sax, clariNOT*); Jack Stuckey (clarinet, alto sax); Dick Hyman (piano - Clementine only); Mark Shane (piano); Howard Alden, Matt Munisteri (guitar); Greg Cohen (bass); Vince Giordano (bass, bass sax); Joe Ascione (drums); James Langton, Barbara Rosene (vocals); The Manhattan Rhythm Kings: Marc Kessler, Brian Nalepka, Hal Shane (vocals); Peter Ecklund (arrangements, scoring of Bix's cornet solos); Dan Levinson (arrangements); The Bix Centennial All Stars (arrangements - China Boy & Borneo); Pete Martinez & The Manhattan Rhythm Kings (vocal arrangement - San)

CD 1: At the Jazz Band BallProud (of a Baby Like You); Deep HarlemRiverboat ShuffleDavenport BluesThe Jazz Me BluesBlue RiverI Need Some Pettin'I'm Coming VirginiaLonely MelodyClementine (from New Orleans)

CD 2: TrumbologyFrom Monday OnSingin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)There'll Come a Time (Wait and See)China BoyJust an Hour of LoveBorneoClarinet MarmaladeWay Down Yonder in New OrleansSanDeep Down South

The Bix Centennial All Stars - Celebrating Bix! is available from September 1st on Turtle Bay Records (cat. no. TBR-22-005-CD) as a double album on CD and vinyl.  

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