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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ 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: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month 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: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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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