Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 2026)

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

18469 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 333 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 27 ) 67

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

From This Moment On

April

Thu 30: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: International Jazz Day & JANE AGM.
Thu 30: Duke Junction @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Nadim Teimoori (tenor sax); Jeff Hewer (guitar); Martin Longhawn (organ); Steve Hanley (drums). An International Jazz Day event & the 12th anniversary of Newcastle Jazz Co-op acquiring the Globe!

May

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 01: Bede Wind Band + East Coast Swing Band @ Cullercoats Methodist Church. 7:30pm. £10.00. Tickets from: www.ticketsource.com, members of Bede Wind Band & at the door. Memorial concert for Anne-Marie Purvis, who was a member of both ensembles. All proceeds to Tiny Lives Trust.
Fri 01: Louis Louis Louis @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only).
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thursday, August 01, 2024

David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band livestreaming from Birdland, NYC - July 31

Joe Boga (trumpet); Jim Fryer (trombone, tuba, vocals); Nathan Tokunaga (clarinet, alto sax); Arnt 'Arnie' Arntzen (banjo, guitar, vocals); David Ostwald (tuba); Alex Roderman (drums) 

David Ostwald has lead his Louis Armstrong Eternity Band for twenty four years. Every Wednesday, without fail, for many a year here at Birdland, NYC, the band's midweek, late afternoon slot is invariably a sell out. Thanks to NYC debutant Nathan Tokunaga, this week's performance was no exception. At seventeen, the Californian schoolboy is a star in the making. Tokunaga, clarinet and alto sax, small in stature, looks somewhat younger than he is and standing alongside seasoned musicians the generation gap was there for all to see.     

From the set opener, When it's Sleepy Time Down South, to the set closer, Swing That Music, this was a hugely enjoyable 75 minutes. Bandleader David Ostwald has a nice line in patter: a dry wit, casually engaging with his audience, a stock of well-honed one-liners at his fingertips. The jazz? Top drawer. Would Joe Boga nail Armstrong's imperious trumpet playing on West End Blues? You bet! Great! 

Classy banjo player Arnt 'Arnie' Arntzen sang one or two numbers, Stardust a particular highlight. Jim Fryer, once of the Classic Jazz Party, is what you could call 'good value', an excellent trombonist, a handy tuba payer (a fun tuba duet with Ostwald on Ice Cream) and occasional vocalist. Swinging drummer Alex Roderman is frequently on this Birdland gig and this afternoon's session illustrated his all-rounder status. 

NYC debutant Nathan Tokunaga was the focus of attention. For the duration, playing clarinet and occasionally alto sax, the teenager's mature sound and sound technique beggared belief. Already gigging across California, this visit to the Big Apple has seen Tokunaga sitting-in at Jon-Erik Kellso's Ear Inn gig, livestreaming with Rossano Sportiello and participating in JALC's Summer Jazz Academy. And now, Birdland! Check out Tokunaga playing alto sax on Jubilee Stomp! Russell                 

Set list: When it's Sleepy Time Down South; Indiana; West End Blues; Sweet Sue*; The Weary Blues; Black and Blue; Stomping at the Savoy; Ice Cream; Stardust*; Jubilee Stomp; Home*; Swing That Music**.

* Arntzen voc.; ** Arntzen & Fryer vocs.

YouTube (starts about 3:30 mins in). 
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive