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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

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: ???

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

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Album review: Rebecca Kilgore - A Little Taste (Cherry Pie Records)

Rebecca Kilgore (vocal); Tim Jensen (piccolo, flute); Dick Titterington (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Moak/Dan Barrett (trombone); Randy Porter (piano); Tom Wakeling (bass); Todd Strait (drums) Nelly Kovalev, Lucia Atkinson (violins); Hillary Oseas (viola); Hamilton Cheifetz (cello)

There's good news and bad news with this long awaited album from Portland, Oregon, singer Rebecca Kilgore. The good news is that this recording is as good as, or maybe even better, than her previous fifty-plus. 'Becky' has such a beautiful voice, tailor-made for interpreting Dave Frishberg's clever lyrics. A tribute by one 'great' to another.

So what, I hear you ask, is the bad news? Well let me tell you it is very bad news indeed. Earlier this year she was diagnosed as having Dementia with Lewy Bodies and, as such, has had to withdraw from performing and recording. To Becky this must have been like losing an arm or a leg. The only consolation being that, with this album, she's going out on a high.

A Little Taste, co-written by Frishberg and Johnny Hodges, has flute by Jenson and trombone by Moak to complement the perky vocal.
Our Love Rolls on has Becky and the rhythm section doing justice to another fine Frishberg (words and music) opus.
Peel me a Grape, perhaps the most widely covered of all Frishberg's songs has a terrific accompaniment by the string quartet that puts the other cover versions in their place.
Little Did I Dream, one of three collaborations with Johnny Mandel, has Dan Barrett taking a tasty trombone solo. As on all of the tracks, Becky gets to the heart of the lyric.
Heart's Desire, this time Alan Broadbent provides the music to Dave's words with the string quartet happily sawing away alongside the rhythm section.
Snowbound. Frishberg composed both words and music for this one. It's an update on Baby It's Cold Outside. The big difference between the songs is that on this one the lady doesn't protest! Solos from piano and flute.
Brenda Starr. The second of the Frishberg/Mandel collaborations is about an ace reporter who's always first on the scene when a story breaks. Barrett's trombone solo also grabs the headlines.
Telephone Song. The flugel solo is by Becky's husband Dick Titterington and the song is one of only two on the album that wasn't composed by Frishberg. Norman Gimbel and Roberto Menescal were the original perps.
Ah, So Pure came from Flotow's opera Martha that I once saw performed by Hebburn Amateur Operatic Society back in the day when I was still in short pants. Happier memories are of hearing it on record by Connee Boswell with the Bob Crosby band. Becky Kilgore wisely goes with the Boswell version. Fine piano and some Dixie style trombone from Barrett.
You Are There and it's the Frishberg/Mandel team back, Becky again gets right into it with hubby Dick blowing flugel.
Eastwood Lane, by Frishberg and Dan Barrett, and it's Barrett on trombone and Porter on piano who help bring this rather wonderful album to a close. The last time I'll hear Rebecca Kilgore. A poignant moment. 

Although it isn't actually released until October the title track is available now as a single and can be heard HERE. Lance

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