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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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: Michael Moore/John Pope/Johnny Hunter - Something Happened

Michael Moore (alto sax, clarinet); John Pope (double bass); Johnny Hunter (drums, percussion).

And so John Pope’s bid to officially become the ‘Hardest Working Man in Show Business’ acquires another piece of evidence. Hot upon the heels of the release of his group’s Citrinitas album here he is again, this time in a collaboration with saxophonist and clarinet player Michael Moore. Ever reliable drummer Johnny Hunter, also a member of Pope’s quintet, makes up the trio.

I’ll be honest, I was expecting something very abrasive from the off with this one, but, in fact it strikes a lovely balance in just being free enough to excite and restrained enough for the unsure amongst us not to lose our sense of security.

Providence is the classic case in point. It opens with a lovely, mellifluous sax from Moore before the rhythm section join in and start pulling it in different directions with Hunter’s rattling drums and a bass solo that sounds rooted in the earth. Having lured you in with Providence, A Simple Change is all about the trio listening to each other and reacting to what’s going on. It’s fractured in places and unified in others. Undulation takes us just that little further step out but First Half of May, an unexpected lullaby with soft clarinet over a mellow bass solo pulls us back. Anything Can Happen opens with a sax solo that suggests 'Round Midnight and that theme is hinted at several times during the tune, but there's upheaval going on below with rattling, rolling drums punching below a solid bass solo. To disconnect further Moore reaches into the higher register with his sax. It’s like the swan with all the activity below the waterline, but, having said that, Moore is happy enough at certain points to join in the excitement.

The big beast at the heart of the album is Some Moore/Middle of the Road, which title perfectly illustrates my so far out/so far in theory. The opening bars suggest Love for Sale but it breaks down into the three component parts. A metronomic bass line from Pope supports a strangled wail from Moore. It’s a very delicate, desolate piece with atmospheric bowed bass and thin cries from Moore which builds a tension and anticipation that remains unresolved. It fades away as if blown on the wind. It’s immersive and frustrating at the same time as if the joke is on us.

May-Ting is as predictable as they come if you expected a western hoedown to be mixed in with some deconstructed free jazz and an elegant be bop ballad over a bass and drum shuffle. If you saw that coming I’ll have Saturday’s lottery numbers off you with thanks. Half way though it becomes an exercise in different levels of languid. Moore is the most relaxed, playing elegant lines and, at the other end of the scale, Hunter is the most energetic. Pope seems to move between the two, at one moment relaxed in his accompanying Moore, at others falling in with Hunter’s energetic displays.

Closer, Bug Music, opens with a statement toot and a crash of cymbal that develops, after more languid  tenor playing from Moore, and a sudden stop/turn on a dime moment, into a rolling squall, full of sound and fury. Delicate moments follow between the outbreaks when regular rhythms are interposed. It demands the attention and, moment by moment, gives no hint at what will follow.

The whole album is lightning in a bottle, captured with great separation so that you can hear every note, every rattle and hum that’s played. Points to John Martindale (listed on the sleeve as responsible for recording, mixing and mastering the album) for that. I’m not sure yet, whether I like this more or less than Citrinitas but in any case it’s a joyous way to pass the time!

The album was released on October 20 and is available HERE on Bandcamp. Dave Sayer

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