Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

August

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Abbie Finn Trio @ Sheepfolds, Sunderland. 5:00-10:00pm. Free. A National Macken Day event. AF3 on stage at 6:30pm. Tickets (free) from: www.eventbrite.co.uk. SOLD OUT!
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 26
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Thu 13: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 13: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! Back on Aug. 27.
Thu 13: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Album review: Dara Starr Tucker - Time Wouldn't Wait (Green Hill)

Dara Starr Tucker (vocals); Gary Versace (piano, organ); Larry Goldings (piano tks 8, 9); Simon Moullier (vibes); Rod McGaha (trumpet); Vicente Archer (bass);Greg Bryant (bass tks 8, 9); Marcus Finnie (drums); Christian Euman (drums tks 8, 9)

The blurb tells me that vocalist, songwriter and cultural commentator Dara Starr Tucker returns with her most emotionally resonant album to date. The blurbist goes on to describe Time Wouldn't Wait as a soul-stirring collection exploring the passage of time, impermanence and the power of presence. I also learned that the album's blending of original compositions with cinematic reimagining of songs from classic and contemporary films have created a deeply introspective examination of the fragility and fullness of time.

It's all of those things - I think - although, despite the big hitters in the band, it's not an easy album to pigeonhole. I think 'jazz' just about covers it - just about.

Tucker has a pleasing voice that sits comfortably on top of the backing and, the more I listen, the more the jazz floats to the surface. She also composed words and music for seven of the eleven tracks. Both the voice and the songs remind me of Janis Ian which isn't a bad place to be.

Both keyboardists impress. Versace has five tracks on piano and four on organ with Goldings picking up the other two. Moullier on vibes and McGaha also have their moments.

All in all it's an album well worth checking out via the usual suspects (23 arrests - no convictions). Release date is August 15. Lance

Shining (It's my Time)*; Pure Imagination**; Tall Georgia Pines*; What Was I Made For***; Time Wouldn't Wait*; Twilight and Mist****; Happy to be Loving You*; Brick Wall*; The Space*; Waiting For the Night*; I Have Dreamed*****

    *      Comp. Dara Starr Tucker. 
   **     Comp. Newley, Bricusse.
  ***    Comp. Finneas O'Connell, Billie Eilish.
 ****   Comp.James Horner, Brock Walsh.
*****  Comp. Rodgers & Hammerstein

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

I’ve heard Dara in the States. She’s excellent. Someone should take a chance and get her into Ronnie Scott’s.

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