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.

Monday, July 07, 2025

Album review: Edgar van Asselt invites Ack van Rooyen - Song for Lost Friends (self released)

Ack van Rooyen (trumpet, flugel); Edgar van Asselt (piano); Erik Robaard (bass); Wim Kegel (drums)

I first heard the Dutch trumpet/flugelhorn player Ack van Rooyen at the 1983 North Sea Jazz Festival which, back then, was held in Den Haag. He was part of a mammoth eight trumpet, piano, bass & drums line-up billed as Trumpet No End after the Ellington recording of the same name. Alongside van Rooyen were fellow trumpet giants Doc Cheatham, Wild Bill Davison, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jon Faddis, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Warren Vaché Jr.

That he could hold his own in such fast company says plenty about Ack van Rooyen and this latest album, recorded on February 20, 2020 less than two years before his death in November, 2021 at the age of 91, indicates that he was still playing as well as ever.

Dedicated to Clark Terry, a lifelong friend, van Rooyen possessed the same fullness of tone and impish sense of humour. Appropriately, three of the tunes are Ellingon related including Perdido which was always a feature for Terry when he was with the band.

However, if I had to pick out just one tune which, in all honesty, would be impossible, I'd opt for My One and Only Love. This is an absolute classic that bears comparision with any ballad by anyone from any era. The unaccompanied flugelhorn introduction - so mellow, so lyrical - gave me goosebumps which didn't go away when, with van Asselt's sympathetic piano backing, he embarked upon the theme and variations. On another day it could be any one of the other eight numbers whether ballad or bebop, trumpet or flugel all the bases were covered.

His fellow travellers are on the same wavelength. van Asselt, who I gather organised the recording which appears to have been a somewhat informal session in front of a small, invited, appreciative audience, is the perfect choice with a dazzling technique that is employed sensibly and with sensitivity. Bass and drums too couldn't be bettered they slot in seamlessly.

To get the feel of the session watch the promo video below. The release date for the album is July 11. Lance

 PROMO VIDEO.

My One And Only Love; Sometime Ago; Song For Lost Friends; Touch of Your Lips; Just Friends; Perdido; C Jam Blues; Take the A Train; Smile/My Ideal

at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive