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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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: 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.

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, September 17, 2024

Album review: The Paul Carlon Quintet - Blues For Vita (Deep Tone Records)

Paul Carlon (tenor sax); Eddie Allen (trumpet); Helio Alves (piano); Harvie S (bass); Willie Martinez (drums).

Well now that the fire brigade have been and gone,* it's time to listen to some jazz and what better than an album described by the blurb as 'a hip, Latin-jazz inflected mix of originals and standards'? Well it certainly did all of that to the extent that I almost rang the fire station and told them to put the crew on standby. By which you'll probably gather that the sparks were flying.

Blues For Vita is Carlon's sixth album as a leader and what you get is some contemporary hard bop over Latin percussion. Imagine a front-line of Gene Ammons and Woody Shaw backed by Tito Puente and you're heading in the right direction. 

As well as Carlon's five excellent originals there's a tremendous version of Frank Loesser's Never Will I Marry. Sung as a ballad by Anthony Perkins (honest!) in the show Greenwillow the quintet turn it on its head and do likewise to mine too.  

It Never Entered my Mind is slower but no less compelling. Isabel the Liberator was composed by Larry Willis and recorded by Woody Shaw. The title track, Blues For Vita, is dedicated to Carlon's wife Lavita whose image is part of the artwork. As well as the two horns and pianist Alves, Harvie S is heard to advantage as is Martinez whose Latinesque solo impresses on this tribute to the lady.

Blues For Vita was released on July 29 - why have I left it so long? It's a lulu! Lance


Dee Dot; Colored Paper; Isabel the Liberator; Blues For Vita; Never Will I Marry; It Never Entered my Mind; Unmute; Zooming Into the Void

*No, I wasn't rescued from a burning building - that's next week - a malfunctioning smoke alarm was the reason for the big red vehicle arriving in the street. The neighbourhood kids were all excited. I think they thought that Guy Fawkes had arrived early. Strange that we celebrate the man who tried to blow up parliament - then again, maybe not...

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