Bebop Spoken There
Spike Wells: " No, I didn't go to music school. I'm self taught - with a little help from Philly Joe Jones." - (Jazzwise July 2019).
Archive
Daily: July 6 - October 27
Precarity John Akomfrah’s film (2017, 46 mins) about Buddy Bolden - Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA. Tel: 0191 478 1810. Screenings at intervals during the day. part of Akomfrah's exhibition Ballasts of Memory. Exhibition (daily) July 6 - October 27. 10:00am-6:00pm. Free.
Today Tuesday July 9
Afternoon
Jazz
Precarity John Akomfrah’s film (2017, 46 mins) about Buddy Bolden - see above.
Classic Swing - The Ship Inn, Front Street, Monkseaton NE25 8DP. 0191 251 3677. 1:00pm. Free.
Evening
Jazz
Rick Laughlin's Electet - Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington DL1 1SG. Tel: 01325 363135. 7:30pm (doors 7:00pm). £5.00.
Jam Session - Black Swan, 59 Westgate Rd., Newcastle NE1 1SG. Tel. 0191 222 9882. 8:00pm. Free. Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger, Rob Walker + sitters-in.
To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.
Friday, June 07, 2019
CD Review: Coniece Washington - Shades Of Shirley Horn
Coniece Washington (vocals); Vince Evans (piano, musical direction, engineer); Wes Biles (bass); JC Jefferson Jr. (drums); Kevin Kojo Prince (percussion); Thad Wilson (trumpet); Carl Carrington (flute); David P Cole (guitar); Seth Washington (poet).
(Review by Ann Alex)
A fine singer from Trenton NJ, whose vocal life began singing in her grandmother's church. She then joined the US army but continued performing in venues in the States and Europe. She is a trained vocalist who now performs all over Washington DC, Writes songs and produces. In 2018 Ms Washington was awarded the Montgomery County Employee's Black History Show contract.
Her second CD comprises mainly Gasbook material, some of it unfamiliar, at least to me. The music is a tribute to the singing of Shirley Horn (1934-2005). But, dare I say it? after listening to some Shirley Horn, I decided in my wisdom that Ms Washington's voice lost nothing by comparision, though Ms Horn's was skilled too. I found our singer's tone appealing, slightly and pleasantly nasal, with what I can only describe as a 'cute' tone. (Think pop singer Cindy Lauper). I also decided to mention more about the instrumentalists in this review, as I believe that they deserve more attention than I usually give them by merely saying that they are 'competent'. To that end, track by track.
1/ Here's to Life: This begins surprisingly with a poem explaining the CD, recited to flowing piano, and voice over keys, bass, brushes and cymbals 'I had my share, I drank my fill', a song with optimistic words sung slowly.
2/ Get Out Of Town: A skilled keys solo enlivens this amusing Cole Porter song, with the immortal lyrics 'Why wish me harm, why not retire to a farm?’
3/ The Island: A Latin number with a rippling piano, concerning a desert island love fantasy, with tapping drums, (or percussion?)
4/ How Am I To Know? Another Latin, with wooden sounding percussion, probably clave blocks, and the voice intimate. I think the technical term for this is voice 'well forward in the mix'.
5/ Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying: A much better version than the pop song. A blues with a muted trumpet making the 'crying' sounds.
6/ Our Love Is Here To Stay: With a keys solo, as on most of the tracks.
7/ Fever: A favourite track of mine, with a low tune on the keys, and sung seductively.
8/ If You Go: A slow heartfelt ballad, using the intimate voice again.
9/ Dindi: This has to be a Latin of course, with the intimate voice and lots of good percussion on clave, congas and bongos.
10/ Once I Loved: A Latin beat with flute remarks between the vocal lines and the pleasant change of a guitar solo.
11/ A Time For Love: Our singer gives us lots of imaginative flower images, and the band does well, especially the drummer with his rhythmic brushes.
12/ I Just Found Out About Love A great way to end the album, a fast swing with clever lyrics 'Hey look, give me a clue, What's love doin' to you?
The CD is available from www.coniecewashington.com.
Ann Alex