Bebop Spoken There

Joe Alterman: ''All I wanted to do growing up was to sound like Erroll Garner playing "Poor Butterfly." I thought that was the coolest sound I'd ever heard.'' (DownBeat November, 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

19,105 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 969 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Nov. 14) 39.

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

November

Sun 15: Lianne Carroll: Jazz Vocal Weekend Workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 9:30am-5:00pm. Day 2/2. SOLD OUT!
Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe. 7:00pm. £48.18 (to include dinner); £17.43 (concert only).
Sun 15: Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sun 15: Liane Carroll @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Solo performance. SOLD OUT!

Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Jacob Egglestone, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.
Tue 17: Grammy Season (Laubrock/Seabrook/Lovato/Rainey) @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 8:00pm. JNE.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 19: Papa G’s Troves @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 19: Marina Josephina @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £10.60; £10.60.; £8.50 Early Bird.

Fri 20: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: The Music of Duke Ellington @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: Customs House Big Band @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.

Sat 21: Pete Tanton Duo @ Awesome Frank’s, West Jesmond Metro Station, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Sat 21: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Westovian Theatre, South Shields. 7:30pm. £18.00.

Tuesday, January 02, 2024

Album review: The Forest Hill Owls - The Debut Owlbum

The Forest Hill Owls: Harry Evans (trumpet, cornet); Michael McQuaid (clarinet, alto sax); Chris Lowe (trombone, vocals); Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar); David Horniblow (bass sax); Nicholas D. Ball (drums) 

Yes, that’s ‘Owlbum’! Recorded in London as recently as September last year, trombonist Chris Lowes’ sextet, comprising some of the finest early or classic jazz specialists working on the British jazz scene, likely as not takes inspiration from the New Orleans Owls, a band active in the Crescent City during the 1920s. Forest Hill in south east London is home to several members of the band, hence the name Forest Hill Owls. 


It’s an all-star band featuring Lowes’s trombone and occasional vocals, Harry Evans (trumpet, cornet), Michael McQuaid (clarinet, alto sax), Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar), David Horniblow (bass sax) and Nicholas D. Ball (drums). The CDs’ fourteen tracks span some 43 minutes’ playing time. From King Porter Stomp to White Ghost Shivers to Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider, the album (owlbum?) of classic jazz numbers performed with panache and verve should be considered a ‘must’ for fans of the music. Details from: chrislowejazz.co.uk. Russell


Track listing: King Porter Stomp; Royal Garden Blues; Snakes' Hips; Feelin' No Pain; Bass Ales Blues; My Sweetie Went Away; White Ghost Shivers; You Understand; Loose Feet; Hot Lips; When You dunk a Doughnut, Don't it Make it Nice?; Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider; Indiana Stomp; Tuck in Kentucky and Smile.          

No comments :

Blog Archive