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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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

Friday, November 03, 2023

Album review: Royal New Zealand Air Force Jazz Orchestra - Kaiwhakatere (Navigator)

Oscar Lavën, Hayden Hockley (alto sax); Blair Latham (tenor sax, clarinet); Louisa Williamson (tenor sax, flute); Andre Paris (baritone sax); Ben Hunt, Cam Robertson, Mike Costeloe (trumpet); James Guilford (trumpet, flugel); Kaito Walley, Mike Ashton, Sarah Rathbun (trombone); Kelvin Payne or Ben Robertson bass trombone); Leonardo Coghini (piano); Seth Boy (bass); Darren Mathiassen (drums) + Stephanie Paris (vocal on 1 tk); Frank Talbot (clarinet on 2 tks)

I haven't listed the ranks of the individual musicians but, collectively they include all ranks plus one officer, Squadron Leader David Gallaher who (naturally) is the director of music.

However, as they are all part-time reservists I don't suppose they've got many flying hours in the cockpit but what they do have, on the strength of this album, is many hours practice time spent honing their musical skills.

It's not a swing band as such although it does swing in every conceivable which way possible.

Behemoth of the Bathyal Wastes features Loisa Williamson's alto and Cam Robertson on trumpet. This is what Kenton may have sounded like if he'd been born say a half a century later. He'd have loved the title! 
View to the Sea is more restrained but with great solos from Guilford and Andre Paris on baritone and this one swings by anyone's standards.
Let's Not Fall in Love features Stephanie Paris on a lovely tune that was unfamiliar to me but seemingly composed by LAC Seth Boy and is much superior to the Asian song of the same name. Absolutely delightful.
Birds of Prey, a somewhat abstract composition that brings George Russell to mind or maybe Kenton's City of Glass if, as I said earlier, he'd been born ... Listen to the brass! This is a wild explosion with Latham, Talbot and Mathiassen at the forefront. The various station bands that I played in during my National Service were never as exciting as this! In fairness, neither were the Squadronaires or the Skyrockets. How could they be? They came first!
Drifting does just that with some coordinated section work and Coghini tinkling the ivories to great effect.
Royal Blue kicks off with an explosion from Mattiassen leading into a trumpet solo as modern as tomorrow from Costeloe, followed by Walley and Lavën . This is like latter-day Basie, Herman, Rich - love it!
Pigeons - Reprise. I'm not sure what they're reprising but it's the weakest track on an exceptional album. 

As a matter of local interest, well just up the road and over the border, Alistair Isdale co-produced the album with expat drummer John Rae of the well known Scottish jazz dynasty. Lance

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