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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 01: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 01: Revolutionaires @ The Old Barrel (Flatties), Boldon Colliery. 3:30pm. Free. Excellent rhythm & blues.

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

Sat 04: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Square, Middlesbrough. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. 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

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Shellac (M): Gille Mellé Sextet - Four Moons/The Gears (Blue Note)

Gil Mellé (tenor sax); Eddie Bert (trombone); Joe Manning (vibes); George Wallington (piano); Max Roach (drums)

A Blue Note 78! The only one in my collection, there can't be many of them still around and even less by Gil Mellé. He recorded eight sides over four discs and this was the first.

Mellé, it appears, was quite an enigmatic character. Apart from playing tenor sax, composing and arranging, he was also an abstract painter who provided a lot of the artwork that enhances the very early Blue Note LPs.

As a player he was laid back with a coolish Warne Marsh  approach. As a composer and an arranger his skills were used in areas far beyond the jazz world writing for movies and TV.

Although these two sides were recorded in NYC in 1952 there's very much a west coast feel about them. The eight singles were, the following year, collated on a 10" LP.

The record has a faded stamp suggesting the disc was sold at Quigley's, 7 High St., Felling. Back in the day, Felling High St., had a fair number of pubs and most of them seemed to have honky-tonk pianists. It was like 52nd St. without the jazz. That turned up on a Sunday morning at the Blue Bell just around the corner.
Lance

2 comments :

Andrey Henkin said...

Also the first caucasian signed to Blue Note.

Patti said...

This must be the first and only time that Felling High Street is compared to 52nd Street in New York City!

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