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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Album review: Amina Figarova & the Matsiko World Orphan Choir - Suite For Africa (AmFi)

Amina Figarova (piano, composer, arranger); Bart Platteau (flutes); Alex Pope Norris (trumpet, flugel); Wayne Escoffery (tenor sax); Yasushi Nakamura (bass); Rudy Royston (drums) + the Matsiko World Orphan Choir on Suite For Africa.

Dancing Clouds is well-named with the soloists, and Platteau in particular, flying up there where the air is rarefied. It's a lightweight track and none the worse for that, preparing  us for the heavier stuff to come on the three part Suite For Africa.

Suite For Africa incorporates the twenty-four strong Matsiko World Orphan Choir who were on the same flight as Figarova and her husband were when the couple returned from South Africa to NYC - the choir, based around orphaned and at risk children from various African countries - were to tour the United States (more about the choir HERE).

It was a fortuitous meeting for both the choir and Figarova who successfully composed the suite around choir and sextet. Her writing conveys the varied emotions explored over the three movements as does her piano improvisations and those of the horns. However, it is the choir who clinch it - if you're in Cincinnati you can catch them live tonight (June 18).

Away from the Suite for Africa there are five tracks by the sextet without the choir that continue along a similar theme.  All quite magnificent.

Once again I must apologise for playing catch-up - it was released in May - but was worth the wait. Check out this YouTube video of Forgotten Children from Part 3 of the Suite For Africa. It left me feeling uplifted and yet guilty that I was watching it in the comfort of my own home. It may well have the same effect on you. Lance

Dancing Clouds; 

Suite For Africa Part 1: Spirit Africa, Spirit Liberia. 

Suite For Africa Part 2: Fifteen as One.

Suite For Africa Part 3: Forgotten Children.

Faith is Her Name; Worldwide; Rain River; Paper Kites.

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