Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).
Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

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

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Album review: Sean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro - The New Jersey Sessions (Jazz Note)

Sean Hong Wei (tenor sax); Jeremy Monteiro (piano); Jay Anderson (bass); Evan Sherman (drums) + Alex Sipiagin (trumpet tks 1 & 8); Houston Person (tenor sax on tks 5 & 7).

I'm a bit behind on this one, it came out on May 31 and marks Monteiro's 48th album in a career that has seen him teamed up with a host of jazz luminaries including James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker and Ernie Watts which suggests he has a particular affinity with saxophone players, an affinity testified to by this particular album.

He originally teamed up with Hong Wei in their native Singapore and, after the tenor player settled in NYC, frequently met up  and eventually recorded The New Jersey Sessions in ex Dizzy Gillespie bassist John Lee's Alleycat studio.

It's not a groundbreaking album (thank goodness!) but a nice laid back session that breathes new life into the tried and tested plus a Monteiro original.

The old Charlie Parker number Dewey Square has Sipiagin guesting on trumpet giving the quintet a boppy groove that puts both band and (this) listener at ease. A Weaver of Dreams is ballad playing par excellence with warm and gentle solos by tenor, piano and bass that entwine themselves around your heartstrings.

More balladic beauty with I Want to Talk About You, Nothing Ever Changes my Love For You and When Sunny Gets Blue. The latter tune features Person on tenor, his fuller sound offers a contrast to Hong Wei's drier, more modern sound. There's room for both of them when they combine on Bag's Groove.

Out of Nowhere has a relaxed Latin feel to it and the heartstrings are tugged at once more on Monteiro's tribute to his late father, Life Goes On. Sipiagin helps out with an effective trumpet solo.

Saving the best till last, the two leaders duet on Sophisticated Lady. This is as good as it gets this side of the Cotton Club. Although blowing tenor, Hong Wei brings Hodges' alto to mind in feel if not in sound. For his part Monteiro adds just enough Duke to almost fool the listener that it is the real McCoy - almost!

Well worth checking out. Lance.

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive