Total Pageviews

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.

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Wokitoki @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Tom Atkinson (drums, guitar); Sue Ferris (sax, flute); Jude Murphy (bass guitar, flute). Jazz standards, bebop, free jazz, Latin & more. Upstairs.
Sun 09: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Downstairs.
Sun 09: Zhenya Strigalev’s 2025 Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Press release: Exceleration Music Announces Acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group, Expanding Exceleration’s Commitment to Jazz

Nashville, Jan 31, 2025  Exceleration Music, the prominent global music company dedicated to advancing the future of independent music proudly announces the acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group, the globally celebrated collection of jazz labels known for its exceptional roster of artists and award-winning catalogs.

This deal strengthens Exceleration Music’s commitment to both legacy and new jazz artists, as it already owns the legendary, multiple Grammy® award-winning, Candid Records. Post acquisition, Mack Avenue’s operations will be integrated with Candid Records to form Exceleration’s overall jazz group and will be led by current Mack Avenue President, Denny Stilwell. This collective jazz group will also feature a team of other key executives from both Mack Avenue and Candid Records.

Founded in 1999 by Gretchen Carhartt Valade, a passionate jazz fan and former chair of the American apparel brand Cathartt, Mack Avenue has been a driving force in the jazz world, delivering high-caliber releases from an esteemed lineup of artists. Key artists include Christian McBrideCécile McLorin Salvant, and Kenny Garrett. Mack Avenue’s labels have earned several dozen Grammy® nominations and awards, making the company a hallmark of excellence within the music industry.

We’re thrilled to welcome Denny, his team, and the incredible Mack Avenue artist roster into the Exceleration family,” said John Burk, Partner at Exceleration Music. “The combining of Mack Avenue and Candid Records represents an important step in our mission to build the ultimate independent label home for today’s greatest jazz artists. Together, we will continue to honor the labels’ remarkable heritages while providing the resources and expertise to help our artists reach new heights.

Joining forces with Glen, John and the like-minded team at Exceleration is a
transformative opportunity for Mack Avenue and our unique artist roster,” said Denny Stilwell, President of Mack Avenue Music Group. “With Exceleration’s support, knowledge and enthusiasm, we are confident our special brand as artist advocates will thrive as we continue to bring this fantastic music to the world.

The acquisition includes Mack Avenue’s extensive catalog and its active roster of artists, ensuring their music reaches an even wider audience while retaining the unique essence that has made the label a standout in the industry. Exceleration Music plans to leverage its robust distribution, marketing, and technological resources to enhance Mack Avenue’s global impact.

This acquisition exemplifies Exceleration Music’s unwavering commitment to preserving and advancing independent music culture, ensuring that iconic labels like Mack Avenue continue to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

About Mack Avenue:
Mack Avenue Music Group is a Detroit-based independent jazz label founded in 1999 by businesswoman and philanthropist Gretchen Valade. For over 25 years, Mack Avenue has been a leader in the global music community, committed to artistic excellence and innovation while expanding its family of imprints to include Rendezvous MusicArtistry MusicMaxJazzBrother Mister Productions, and, most recently, the historic Strata-East Records. The label has also partnered with esteemed organizations, including the estate of Oscar Peterson/Two Lions Records and the Erroll Garner Project/Octave Music, to preserve and celebrate the legacy of music from the past 70 years.

Mack Avenue and its roster of world-class artists have received dozens of GRAMMY® Awards and nominations, reflecting the label’s commitment and dedication to pushing the boundaries of jazz and contemporary music with high-quality recordings, artistic integrity, and creative freedom, ensuring its artists’ voices are heard around the globe.


About Candid Records:
Candid Records was founded by arranger and bandleader Archie Bleyer as an offshoot of Cadence Records. Bleyer tapped the legendary Nat Hentoff as A&R man and producer of the first 30 records designed to capture the vibrant and creative jazz scene in New York in 1960 and ‘61. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid then sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer Alan Bates bought the label in 1989 and relaunched another highly successful era, recording another 300 titles and breaking stalwart artists such as Jamie Cullum and Stacey Kent. To continue the legacy, Bates sold the company to Glen Barros and Candid became the foundational label of the newly formed Exceleration Music Partners. Since its relaunch with Exceleration in 2021, the label has faithfully reissued its historic catalog and released a slate of highly celebrated new recordings from Eliane EliasWayne ShorterTerri Lyne Carrington and more. The
Exceleration era of Candid has earned nine GRAMMY® nominations and five GRAMMY® awards to date. 

Learn more at www.candidrecords.com

About Exceleration Music:
Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, John Burk, Amy Dietz, Charles Caldas, and Dave Hansen, to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Established in 2020 with the core founding values of integrity, fairness, openness, humility and excellence, Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales, and marketing experts, enhanced by the acquisition of leading digital and physical distribution and music services company Redeye Worldwide, works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has acquired or formed strategic relationships with leading independents including:  
+1 RecordsAlligatorAzadiBloodshotCandidDown The RoadHeroicKill Rock Stars, Mom+PopSideOneDummyThe Ray Charles Foundation / Tangerine Records and Yep Roc Records. Learn more at www.excelerationmusic.com

No comments :

Blog Archive