Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

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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