Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18482 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 346 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 30 ) 80

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

May

Sat 02: Midnite Follies Orchestra @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £20.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. All-star line-up.
Sat 02: Knats Masterclass & Jam II @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 1:00-3:00pm. £15.00.
Sat 02: Shannon Pearl + John Pope & John Garner @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00. + £1.50. bf. ‘Witch-pop’ + Pope & Garner.
Sat 02: Knats + Nauta @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.
Sat 02: Midnite Special @ Station East, Gateshead. 7:30pm. Free. A Lonnie Donegan ‘King of Skiffle’ celebration.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 03: Chilcott Jazz Mass @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 9:30am. Free. Sung communion with Parish Choir (featuring Bob Chilcott’s music). A Jesmond Community Festival event.
Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Feat. guest Mark Toomey (alto sax).
Sun 03: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tom Waits for No Man @ Oxygenic, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm (2:30pm doors). Neckties and Boxing Gloves album launch. £14.00 (gig & a CD); £8.00 (gig only). SOLD OUT!
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 03: John Pope & John Garner @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.

Mon 04: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ The Library, South Parade, Whitley Bay. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 05: Leah Kirk (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:30pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jenny Baker (voice): Final Year Music Recital @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 4:20pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Tue 05: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 07: Robert Finley @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50. Excellent US falsetto soul/blues voice.
Thu 07: ALT @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker. Thu 07: Liam & Shayo @ The Globe , Newcastle. 8:00pm. £5.00. Liam Oliver (guitar), Shayo Oshodi (vocals).
Thu 07: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 08: Alan Law Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Law, Mick Shoulder, John Bradford.
Fri 08: Giles Strong & Richard Herdman @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Guitar duo.
Fri 08: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 08: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 08: Milne Glendinning Band @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 6:00pm . Free. A Late Shows event.
Fri 08: Nigel Kennedy @ The Hippodrome, Darlington. 7:30pm. Line-up inc. Alec Dankworth.

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.

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive