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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 06: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Ian Bosworth (guitar); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums) & guest Mick Donnelly (tenor sax).
Sun 06: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 06: Nils Kavanagh Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 07: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 08: Seijiro Murayama & Jean-Luc Guionnet @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Warwick St., Newcastle, NE2 1BB. 7.00pm. £10.00 (advance); £12.00 (on door); £.15.00 (solidarity).
Tue 08: SH#RP Collective @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 08: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Hartlepool Cricket Club. 7:30pm. £7.00.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 09: NONUNONU @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE. Excellent trio.

Thu 10: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 10: Jacenaite All Crew @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 10: Emma Rawicz INKYRA @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.30. Sage Two. Line-up: Emma Rawicz (sax); Scottie Thompson (piano, keyboards, synth); David Preston (guitar); Kevin Glasgow (bass guitar); Jack Thomas (drums).

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

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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