Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Pete Roth Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Feat. Bill Bruford.

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

Wednesday, February 05, 2025

Album review: Nick Costley-White - Poncha (Ubuntu Music)

Nick Costley-White (guitar); Julian Siegel (saxophone); Conor Chaplin (bass); James Maddren (drums)

Seven original compositions by Costley-White on this, his third album. Based around Latin rhythms from Cuba and Brazil it's a quite delightful mix of those exotic tempos and up-dated west coast jazz.

Costley-White is laid back and relaxed as is Siegel. At times the album brings to mind Stan Getz's collaborations with Johnny Smith or Charlie Byrd. Unison lines between sax and guitar executed to perfection. Having said that, this is no mere technical exercise, although in many respects it could be that for a student - providing same student could capture the emotion, the feeling, behind the notes. It would be difficult as each composition is deeply personal to the composer.
On bass and drums respectively, Chaplin and Maddren play their roles to perfection. Chaplin's bass solo on Inside Good, Outside Bad is one of the best bass solos I've heard in a long day's march - or should that be walk?

Maddren, that man for all seasons - or should that be all sessions? - captures the various rhythms with the authenticity of a Havana/Brasília Street musician.

So poignant to note that the Executive Producer of Poncha was the late Martin Hummel. He would surely have loved this album. I hope he got to hear the final product it's almost as if the four musicians had Martin in mind.

A beautiful album to be released on Feb. 28 with a listening party on Feb. 24 and an album launch at London's World Heart Beat on Feb. 22. There's also a UK tour that touches some of the major towns and cities. Lance


M-Face; Gozo; Noites No Paria; Tumbao Tree; Sputnik Sweetheart, Inside Good, Outside Bad; YouSod!

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