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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17838 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 159of them this year alone and, so far, 6 this month (March 3).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club.

Tues 11: Solea @ Earthlings, the Healing Café, 94 Buckingham St., Newcastle, NE4 5QR. 7:00-8:45pm. Food available if ordered before 6:30pm. New band: Johannes Dalhuijsen (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Richard Herdman (guitar); Nick Bagnall (bass guitar); John Hirst (drums).
Tue 11: Giles Strong Quartet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: The Exu + Matt Cliffe @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 13: Oh La La! @ Allendale Village Hall, Northumberland. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child. Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Thu 13: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 14: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Taylor @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00-2:00pm. £5.00. at the door. Second Friday in the month lunchtime concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Brass Funkeys + Dilutey Juice @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Oh La La! @ Edmundbyers Village Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £10.00. (additional £5.00. supper option, ordered in advance). Fifi La Mer (accordion, vocals), Oliver Wilby (reeds).
Fri 14: The Collective @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £8.50.
Fri 14: Bridget Metcalfe Quintet @ St George’s Venue, Park Road, Hartlepool. 7:30pm.

Sat 15: Hot Teapots @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm.
Sat 15: Creakin’ Bones @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: Is This Jazz? @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Performances by Mu Quintet, Jinjé, A Brief Utopia, John Pope & Co + André Marmot (author of Unapologetic Expression: The Inside Story of the UK Jazz Explosion) in conversation + DJ sets ‘til 3:00am. ‘A Festival of New Jazz’.
Sat 15: Vintage Explosion @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 15: Alligator Gumbo @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Sat 15: One Night Standards @ The White Room, Stanley. 8:00pm. £8.67 (inc. bf). Note - previously advertised Salty Dogs cancelled.
Sat 15: Howlin’ Mat @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Blues guitar.

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

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Album review: Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra - Tenor Madness (Ear Up Records)

Ryan Middagh (MD/baritone sax); Alex Graham, Jovan Quallo (alto sax); Jeff Coffin, Don Aliquo, Joel Frahm (tenor sax); Kevin Shinskie (alto/tenor sax); Jimmy Bowland (baritone sax); Steve Patrick, Tyler Jaeger, Jeff Bailey, Olivia Achcet (trumpets); Jonathan Salcedo, Roy Agee, Sarah Morrow, Jeremy Wilson (trombones); Martin McCain, Liam Barron (bass trombones); Lindsey Miller (guitar), Pat Coil (piano), Jake Jezioro (bass); Marc Widenhofer (drums) + Jenna McLean (vocal on tks. 2 & 4)

Leader Middagh is a native of Nashville but on the strength of this album you wouldn't have thought so until you realise there's more to Tennessee's capital city than the music that Buddy Rich allegedly claimed to be allergic to! 

The RMJO is a great post-Basie big band blowing on some fine charts by the leader. Only 36 minutes  but what a wham, bang 36 minutes!

Wiley Roots: composed and arranged by Middagh has both Aliquo and Coffin taking tenor solos. Contrasting styles - one big and beefy the other lighter and cooler. Agee shatters the crystal chandelier (if there was one) with a blistering 'bone blast.

Waiter, Make Mine Blues: Jenna McLean takes the vocal on this Bessie Brown number and Aliquo again cuts lose on tenor. The band is in true Basie mode before Jenna takes it out in style. The girl can sing, no doubt about it.

Tenor Madness: The tenors live up to the title with Frahm reminding me of a magical night at Seven Arts earlier this year. Coffin also nails it. Perhaps he's the less sane of the two. As well as the soloists working out, it's another fine arrangement by Middagh.

Cry me a River: This song is probably the most overused item in any female singer's repertoire ever since Julie London set down the benchmark way back in the day. Ms London remains undefeated. Wisely, Jenna McLean doesn't try to out-seduce Julie but takes a different tack - she ups the tempo so that it swings like it has never done before. As well as the vocal, there's some nice piano from Coil and knockout alto from Quallo ensuring that the tenors don't get all of the glory.

This Time the Dream's on me: When a song has been composed by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer the odds are pretty short on it being a winner. When the chart's by Middagh, who also plays tasty, melodic and lyrical baritone, then all bets are off. Jeremy Wilson's trombone solo doesn't hurt either.

Wired: Composed by Alex Graham who wails on alto on another killer track that culminates with some fancy stickwork from Widenhofer.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes a swinging big band. Release date is January 10.

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