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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Thursday, October 20, 2016

LP Review: Dexter Gordon - Fried Bananas

.Dexter Gordon (tenor); Rein De Graaff (piano); Henk Haverhook (bass); Eric Ineke (drums). Recorded November 3, 1972.
(Review by Lance).
Back in the day, in L.A., when Wardell Gray and Dexter were slugging it out on The Chase in Central Avenue bars and clubs, I'd always, on the recorded evidence, leaned towards Wardell with his lighter, more subtle approach. However, when Dex recorded those classic Blue Note Albums, I had to admit that Wardell, if he'd still been around, may well have lost the re-match!
That was Dexter at his greatest - or so I thought until I heard this album!
Long, Tall, Dexter had been living in Europe since 1962 and, ten years on, he was residing in Copenhagen, started cycling, got married, had a son named after Ben Webster and, eventually, teamed up with the Dutch rhythm section heard here. They toured Europe and recorded this live radio broadcast, for The Netherlands' station VPRO.
The playing is comparable with the Blue Note albums and, indeed, his playing is as good as any of the other tenor-slinging contenders who were around at the time. Were he alive today a lot of saxmen would take to the hills.
The title track is 14:23 mins. of Fried Bananas - I swear I'm going to cook them tomorrow whilst listening to the track! Dexter is the master of the quote. He does it logically, seamlessly incorporating it into the solo. Listen to what he does with On a Slow Boat to China in an exchange of fours on Fried Bananas! This isn't Fried Bananas, it's Chicken à la king!
Flipping the platter, taking care not to disturb the bananas, The Panther is stalking - it senses the aroma of the the Fried Bananas and blows a slow funk as it prowls around.
Dexter announces, "If you play tenor you have to play this tune".
Body and Soul.
Our man does it justice. Of course he does, but he couldn't have done it justice without the three Dutchmen on the case. They soloed, supported and slotted into every direction the great man took. There may be better jazz discs this year but I'm not taking odds on it.
I listened to it on vinyl - Gearbox vinyl which is the business.
Lance
Release date November 4, 2016.

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