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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Monday, July 08, 2024

Album review: Sarah Hanahan - Among Giants (Blue Engine Records)

Sarah Hanahan (alto sax); Marc Cary (piano); Nat Reeves (bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums); Bobby Allende (perc. tks 1,4,5,8)

A promising debut album from a graduate of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music who has toured with names such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Farnsworth and the Mingus Big Band.

Among Giants is described as a passionate declaration of Hanahan's dedication to pushing the music forward while also honouring the past. Admirable intentions which I think she may well fulfil albeit these things do take time.

Certainly her technique is up to the task. Soaring up and beyond Adolph Sax's proscribed range for the alto saxophone, these days high f# seems to be the starting point and the piccolo players have taken to wearing safety helmets, Hanahan's solos sound as logical 'up there' as they do on terra-firma.

Nevertheless, for sheer beauty, the less outré take on the standards A House is Not a Home and Stardust would have been rewarded with a nod of approval from their respective composers, Burt Bacharach and Hoagy Carmichael, and deservedly so.

Ferde Grofé's On the Trail from his Grand Canyon Suite is a number rarely played by jazz musicians these days and it was good to hear this version. Good? It's outstanding and then some!

Coltrane's Welcome initially got a qualified welcome from me. However, a second hearing after the neighbours had gone down to the pub and the volume was turned up helped me get into it a bit more. The jury's still out though.

The four originals: Resonance; NATO; Honey and We Bop capture her avowed intent and the 'in the pocket' rhythm section (dig Watts' solo on We Bop) add to the overall groove making this an album that demands to be checked out. Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

Catch Sarah Hanahan with Joe Farnsworth on Wednesday 10 July (The Yard, Manchester) & Sunday 14 July (Ronnie Scott's)!

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