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.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Album review: Vasilis Xenopoulos/Paul Edis Quartet - Feels Like Home

Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor sax, soprano sax, flute); Paul Edis (piano); Adam King (double bass); Joel Barford (drums)

The latest album by Vasilis Xenopoulos and Paul Edis, comprising eight tracks (five written by pianist Edis, two by tenor saxophonist Xenopoulos plus Antonin Dvořák’s Going Home), features original music inspired by the many places they’ve called home over the years. In turn lyrical (Going Home), by way of an Edis bossa and the pianist's Lockdown London with its John Coltrane-McCoy Tyner vamp (Xenopoulos playing soprano sax), the two principals are joined by the excellent bass and drums pairing of Adam King and Joel Barford. 

Wistful and longing, Dvořák’s Going Home sets the tone, the very essence of places past. Edis' The Coast features a playful, light exchange between its composer and Xenopoulos, in contrast, the very title of Edis' Lockdown London hints at something more rigorous and it delivers, full of fury. A gospel-like intro to Coming Home to You develops into a feature for the assured bassist Adam King, Memories of Home with its Latin feel is Xenopoulos reflecting on home, perhaps his Greek homeland. Xenopoulos' Get Off My Lawn is the album's 'burner', swaggering tenor sax with Joel Barford's crisp drumming topping it off. A lyrical From Something to Somewhere precedes the closing track, Edis' Mikey's Samba showcasing Barford's fine drumming.              


Feels Like Home was produced by Vasilis Xenopoulos and Paul Edis. The album's eye-catching cover design is by Rumney Design. Feels Like Home is available from Ubuntu Music label (cat. no. UBU0154). Russell

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