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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.

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).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Album review: Alexis Cole and the Taipei Jazz Orchestra - Jazz Republic (Tiger Turn)

Given the political situation in the Far East, jazz may seem relatively unimportant in Taiwan but that in no way diminishes the quality of this collaboration between NYC based vocalist Alexis  Cole and the Taipei Jazz Orchestra (see graphic at the foot of this post for personnel).

The voice is cool, as befits the material, and the band swings as good as some better known American big bands. With every passing day since King Oliver left New Orleans, jazz has become more and more a universal language and here is the living proof.

Common Ground, a Paul Winter composition from his 1978 eponymous album gets things moving. According to Wikipedia, Winter brought a live, presumably muzzled, wolf on stage when performing the number in concert. Presumably Alexis and the Taiwanese cats didn't follow suit in the studio.

Begin the Beguine has a bit of ad-libbing that breaks up  what, let's be honest, is one of Porter's more boring tunes apart, that is, from Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire's dance routine in the film Broadway Melody of 1940 or when Artie Shaw played that incredible clarinet glissando a couple of years earlier.

Billy Joel's Uptown Girl is a swingy Basie type arrangement whilst the strings added to I've Grown Accustomed to his Face bring a warmth to the tune that blends well with the piano solo and Cole's interpretation of the lyric suggests that she really believes in what she's singing - lucky guy!

On Bye Bye Blackbird the singer takes quite a few liberties with the melody which is the best way to treat this tune as Miles discovered. Here's That Rainy Day has an effective trombone solo by Michael Wang and Moon River moves along faster than composers Mercer and Mancini intended. A nice clarinet solo by Tom Ranier and a fine piano solo by, er, by the pianist rubber stamp this version.

People Will Say We're in Love. Alexis implores the listener not to throw bouquets at her. What does she want throwing? Rotten tomatoes? I've already ordered a bunch of red roses from Interflora. It is that good!

The notes refer to her polyglot prowess and her poly pro is duly displayed by her Portuguese take on Corcovado.

Beyond the Sea is less in your face than the Bobby Darin version from way back and none the worse for that.

Throughout the album I had the feeling there was some uninhibited scatting just bursting to be let loose and it happens on You Make me Feel so Young. The vocal is quite amazing. Alexis' swinging away like Ella singing Oh Lady be Good then suddenly, for just a few bars, she breaks into a Deborah Kerr-like school teacher giving elocution lessons à la The King and I. Priceless.

Well worth checking out. Lance

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