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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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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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