Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

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

August

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 21: Andrzej Baranek Trio @ The Lit & Phil. 1:00pm. £8.00. Andrzej Baranek (piano); Josh Cavanagh-Brierley (double bass); Dave Walsh (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: David Gray Flextet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 21: Errol Linton & His Band + Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. Excellent blues double bill.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Album review: Paul Higgs and Pavane - Summer Lullaby

Paul Higgs (trumpet); Natalie Rozario (cello); Chris Ingham (piano); Andy Watson (guitar); Jerome Davies (bass); George Double (drums); Graham Cuttill (percussion)

If you were looking for this in a 'proper' record shop you'd be wondering where to start. Jazz? Classical? Easy Listening?  It could be in any one of those browsers and wouldn't be out of place.

At various times there are suggestions of early Miles, Chris Botti, even Herb Alpert. Higgs' plaintive sound evokes aural images of all three.

With the exception of the Bacharach/Hal David number This Guy's in Love With You (a sixties hit for Alpert) all numbers are compositions by Higgs. All are beautifully played, the guitar and the percussionist providing an occasional Latin touch and the cello adding a sonorous quality rarely heard in jazz which may be a bonus for some if not for all.

It's music aimed more at the head and the heart than at the feet. That it does this successfully suggests that yet another tributary to the mainstream of jazz is opening up.

One to try before you buy. Lance 

Available March 1 via the various online outlets.

Lights of Canary Wharf; Samba Baroque; This Guy's in Love With You; Irresistible Touch; Berceuse d'été; Icicles; Seville; Nocturne in Blue; Whisper of Spring; Solstice; Reflections of You.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive