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: Midnite Special @ Station East, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Free. A Lonnie Donegan ‘King of Skiffle’ celebration.
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). SOLD OUT!
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.

Friday, September 06, 2024

Album review: Joel Frahm Trio - Lumination (Anzic Records)

Joel Frahm (tenor sax); Dan Loomis (bass); Ernesto Cervini (drums)

When the word got out that the Joel Frahm Trio was embarking on a European tour with stops off in the UK at Eastleigh, London and Leeds I knew this would be worth dusting off my Senior Railcard for.

However, first things first, the raison d'être for the tour is Joel Frahm's latest album, Lumination, due for release next month. I'm listening to it as I type and it's an exhilarating experience.


Sonny Rollins set the benchmark by which pianoless, tenor sax led trios are judged and since then there seems to have been one on every block. However, few have met the criteria with as much aplomb as the Frahm Trio. At times, particularly on the uptempo numbers, the tenor player has a sound vaguely reminiscent of Dexter Gordon and, like Dexter, Frahm is not averse to slotting in a quote or two without losing momentum. A fast thinking, fast fingered player I got the impression that no matter how many notes he plays, and he usually plays plenty, each one is important.

Of course, although playing without chordal support gives you unfettered freedom it also takes away your safety net. This is the musical equivalent  of walking across Niagara on a tightrope. He doesn't get wet!

On bass Loomis is equally important. His solos offer contrast, picking up from Frahm without loss of tension. He is something else!

Meanwhile, à la batterie, Ernesto Cervini is, as always, the life and soul of the party. Driving with the sticks, simpatico with the brushes, Ernesto also composed the opener, The Nurse is in, designed the cover and, via his PR company Orange Grove Publicity, organised the tour. Some of the bass and drums exchanges are master classes for any rhythm section although in this trio, rhythm section, implying a them and us scenario, isn't really correct. This is a one for all, all for one, unit.

Now I'm going to listen again and count the days until I hear them live at Seven Arts, Leeds on Thursday Oct. 3. Lance   

The Nurse is in; Disco Nern; Loomie Nation; Moonface Lament; Loo-Lee; False Spring; Kern You Dig It; Na Estrada; Vesper Flights; Catch 22

European Tour
Saturday, September 28 - Herr Nilsen (Oslo, Norway)
Sunday, September 29 - Bimhuis (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Monday, September 30 - Masterclass @ the Guildhall School (London, UK)
Monday, September 30 - Pizza Express (London, UK)
Tuesday, October 1 - The Moldy Fig (Eastleigh, UK)
Thursday, October 3 - Seven Arts Leeds (Leeds, UK)
Friday, October 4 - Salon de Jazz (Cologne, Germany)
Saturday, October 5 - Jazz in der Mitte (Reutlingen, Germany)
Sunday, October 6 - Neimënster (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg)
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1 comment :

Anonymous said...

If the jazz is as good as the album cover it'll be worth buying!

Friday, September 06, 2024 9:40:00 PM

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