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Bebop Spoken There

Curtis Stigers: “I’m a jazz singer. I’m not a saxophonist. When I stand in front of a band like the Danish Radio Big Band or Ronnie Scott’s, I usually tend to leave the instrument on the stand.” – (The Northern Echo 20 July 2017)

Tamsin Austin, Director of Performance Programme, Sage Gateshead: “SummerTyne is our largest festival and we absolutely love it!” – (The Northern Echo 20 July 2017)

Today Saturday July 22

Afternoon
SummerTyne Americana Festival 2017 - Sage Gateshead. Day two of three. Details. From 12 noon all day.
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Evening
Steve Glendinning (solo guitar) - Cherry Tree, 9 Osborne Rd., Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2AE. 7:30pm. No cover charge.
The Hookahs - Billy Bootleggers, Nelson St., Newcastle NE1 5AN. 9pm. Free.
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Big Chris Barber Band - Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50/£20.50.
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To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

CD Review: Great American Music Ensemble - It's All in the Game

(Review by Lance).  
Most of my contemporaries would have shied away when they noted that In the Mood was the opening track! If it had sailed under previous titles such as Tar Paper Stomp or Hot and Anxious they may have been more welcoming - such is jazz snobbery!
Not me! When, as a callow youth, I received my first pay packet, I cycled along to our local record shop and plonked down a couple of bob (shillings) for Glenn Miller's [in]famous version of the tune. As such, it still has a place in my heart and, on my 78rpm shelf.
This version bares no resemblance to the original and is none the worse for that!
 A punchy American big band that takes standards and injects new life into them.
The guests play their part. Jon Faddis is in incredible form - West End Blues = Louis Armstrong Meets Dizzy Gillespie meets Maynard meets Cat! He does a rather special workout on Stardust too. Memories of Jon at Durham's Brass Festival.
Rene Marie has one of those voices that exude intimacy, the suggestion that she's in love with you!
Joe Kennedy Jr swings like Stephane and the band swings like Basie.
Apart from the guests, Gailes blows sop and ten as if his parents had given him them as a dummy substitute!
John D'earth ensures that Faddis doesn't collect all the trumpet points and, but what the 'eck? you don't get on this band from Amateur Hour - you need the chops.
They've got the chops!
Of course, the guy who made it all happen was composer and arranger Doug Richards. One of the relatively unsung legends of the American jazz/music scene.
Lance.
Doug Richards (md); Marty Nau, Jim Nesbit, Skip Gailes, John Winn, Rob Holmes (reeds); Roy Muth, Bob Ransom, John D'earth, Rob DeDominick (tpt/flug); Jim McFalls, Dean Englert, Lee Gause (tmb); Weldon Hill (pno); Victor Dvoskin (bs); Howard Curtis (dms) + Rene Marie (vcl); Jon Faddis (tpt); Joe Kennedy, Jr (vln).
at

2 comments :

  2. Big big band jazz by FinnyCap? Funky beats - I see they also do a number called Praying to the Plug? I don't think Glenn Miller ever recorded that one ......

    ReplyDelete

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About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.
Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.
The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.
Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)
Contact: lanceliddle@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

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