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

18818 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 682 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 20) 51.

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

Sun 23: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free..
Sun 23: Blue Note Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00..
Sun 23: Timmy Allan Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 24: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 25: Michael Young Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 27: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 27: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 27: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 28: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 29: Brian Jackson @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm (doors). £32.00.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Album review: Mark Winkler - The Rules Don't Apply

Mark Winkler (vocals)+ (collective): John Beasley, Rich Eames, Greg Gordon-Smith, Jamieson Trotter (piano); Gabe Davis, Dan Lutz (bass); Clayton Cameron, Dan Schnell (drums); Kevin Winard (percussion); George Doering, Grant Geissman (guitar); Katisse Buckingham (tenor sax, flute); Danny Janklow (tenor/alto sax, flute); Bob Sheppard (clarinet); Scott Mayo (baritone sax); Errol Rhoden (tuba); Brian Swartz (trumpet); Scott Whitfield (trombone).

I'm confused! This delightful album was reviewed on BSH on January 24 this year by Ann Alex - read HERE. Now, as it isn't due for release until this coming Friday (June 28) it got me to thinking that our Ann has been blessed with those powers associated with Mystic Meg and maybe she could apply them to next Saturday's Northumberland Plate (two miles, 56 yards and off at 3:35pm) in horse racing, inside information is always useful.

The truth is probably more natural than supernatural as Winkler has a launch concert coming up at Pizza Express, Soho, on July 9 which features, alongside himself, Jim Watson, Laurence Cottle, Luke Tomlinson, Nigel Price and Claire Martin OBE. On the strength of the album it sounds like a good gig and it won't end with you tearing up betting slips.

Getting back to the album Ann nails it when she writes: 'a terrific swinging style, and a talent for writing effective lyrics'. I'll second that - the line from Here's to Jazz - 'Jazz is a many-splendoured thing' is the reason I'm writing this and you're reading it.

As regards the Northumberland Plate - blindfold me and hand me a pin. Lance

Sunday in LA*, IGY (What a Beautiful World), The Joy of Singing*, In Love in New York*, Got to Get You Into my Life, The Rules Don't Apply, Something so Right, Just Around the Corner*, If These Walls Could Talk (They'd Sing)*, Jazz Swings*, Mama Told me Not to Come, Lessons I've Learned*, Here's to Jazz*  

*Lyrics by Mark Winkler

2 comments :

Russell said...

Inside information can be useful in political circles...

Ann Alex said...

Lance, This gets stranger than you think because this weekend I've had an earworm going round in my head of the song Mama Told Me Not To Come and it's on this album, so what is going on?
Yes Russell, I should have had a bet on the date of the election. I would give the winnings to BSH funds, that is if BSH had any funds, which it doesn't.

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