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Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18076 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 397 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (May 25).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: That’s the Blues, Dad.
Thu 29: Nova.sol + Mikoudi @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 29: Front Porch Three @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, blues etc.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Rivkala @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Middleton & Tonbridge Village Hall. 7:30pm.

Sat 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 31: Funk Soul Sista @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 31: House of the Black Gardenia @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. SOLD OUT!

JUNE 2025

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 01: Harry Keeble Quartet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Keeble, Mark Williams, Andy Champion, Abbie Finn.
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 01: Hattie Whitehead @ Cotherstone Village Hall, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. £12.00.; £6.00. child.
Sun 01: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle (8:00pm).

Mon 02: Swing Manouche @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 02: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free. CANCELLED! RESCHEDULED to JULY 7.

Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

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, October 14, 2014

CD Review - Frank Kimbrough Quartet.

Frank Kimbrough (pno); Steve Wilson (alt/sop); Jay Anderson (bs); Lewis Nash (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It says much for this blog's attempt at world domination (dream on!) that we now receive as many, if not more, discs from Europe and the USA as we do from the UK! This probably explains why we never show in the Parliamentary's - a prophet without honour and all that boogie woogie!
Still, when my state-side contacts send me a CD such as this maybe I'll do better in the Senate Jazz Awards - is there such a thing? and, if not, why not?
Kimbrough is a pianist able to communicate without bravura flourishes. Like such greats as John Lewis, Shearing and Monk, the less is more syndrome works for him. And let me say that the 'more' is indeed very much more!
Steve Wilson blows alto - cool but not frigid -  I want to hear him again and again!
Anderson and Nash hold it all together. The rhythms are contemporary but they swing - not in the old way - but in the swing of today which means, in layman's terms, they connect.
A great album, better than most, but will it get the exposure it deserves? In this day and (sav)age TV is a no no, Radio, at least in UK, offers limited exposure but albums like this must be heard - and bought!
I promise you the pet shop is fireproof!
Check Out.
Lance.

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