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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. RESCHEDULED to Sunday 4 October.
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Mon 28: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ Hepscott Parish Hall. 7:30pm. . £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Tue 29: Red Kites Jazz @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: Tenderly: The Life & Times of Nat ‘King’ Cole @ The Hearth, Horsley. 7:30pm. £15.00., £12.00. (Early Bird advance ticket), £10.00. Off-Broadway production feat. Duane Forrest.
Wed 30: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 30: New Ways of Moving in the Counterworlds + Juliana Day & Manon McCoy + Helen Anahita Wilson @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. A BBC Introducing-Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

October

Thu 01: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 01: Rivkala @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 01: Hot Club de Heaton @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 01: The Scenic Route @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 02: Alison Gill + Markrokosmos @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music (NFOJAIM).
Fri 02: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 02: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 02: Gilby & Hunter + Andy Champion @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 6:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Fri 02: Abbie Finn Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. The Abbie Finn Trio augmented by Dean Stockdale (piano).
Fri 02: Alexia Gardner Trio @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 02: Zoe Rahman Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 8:00pm. NFOJAIM. SOLD OUT!

Sat 03: New Orleans Ragtime Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. Gavin Lee & co.
Sat 03: Anemone Quartet + Jeepe Zeeburg @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Caravan. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 03: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Free. Excellent blues band.
Sat 03: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.50 (inc. bf). Two sets: 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. ‘Swing Band Dance Night’.
Sat 03: Olie Brice Quartet + Alexander Hawkins + Harper Trio @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:00pm. NFOJAIM.
Sat 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Pizza Jazz Awards Pizza Express, London.

Barry Green (pno), Mark Hodgson (bs), Eddie Hick (dms) + Cleveland Watkiss, Norma Winstone, John Turville, Asif Sirkis, Nia Lynn, Derek Nash, Gary Husband, Perry Louis...
This was one of those nights you dream about and feel privileged to be there. The Pizza Jazz Awards attracted a host of influential jazz people - plus myself! Bebop Spoken Here was in town.
Although everyone appeared to know one another I nevertheless felt immediately at home when a voice, full of passion and wanting, (okay, I exaggerate she said 'Hi Lance') called out to me - Sarah Ellen Hughes, on review duty for LondonJazz.
The evening was to decree the vocalist worthy of the award - Norma Winstone and Cleveland Watkiss shared that particular kudos - and which instrumentalist got the nod? - pianist John Turville.
The two vocal winners duetted on Blue Monk.
There were also some poetry awards but, fortunately, the two idioms didn't intermingle on the stand.
Earlier (or was it later?), Cleve had sung No Moon At All and Norma did the business better than anyone on Joyspring. It crossed my mind that any of the lyricists of any of the songs would have swept the board in the poetry awards!
Barry Green played fine piano ably supported by Mark Hodgson and Eddie Hick - I'll Remember April, Green Dolphin Street were but two. Asif Sircus sat in on drums - a proper kit! whilst Perry Louis did some hoofin'. A great dancer but on a carpet? Nia Lynn sang It Could Happen To You. Can't remember all the highlights - too much hospitality - but one number hit the spot. Fini Bearman (not Norma!) singing I've Never Been In Love Before. Terrific! Derek Nash blew an alto solo that surely would be in running for the most melodic solo of the year - and the swingiest! The bar had been well and truly raised!
John Turville, as befitting his newly crowned status, played some good standard fare and there were other moments but - by this time I was ready to dissolve - it had been a long day but - nice to meet Yots and Simon Hipkins who sent me some superb photos, including the above one of Derek Nash, after my own machine finally gave up its life of elastic bands and blue tack.
To find out more about the multi-talented Simon visit http://www.simonhipkins.com/
Totally wasted I returned to the sanctity of Room 504 - I kid you not - why doesn't anyone sing that song anymore?.
More photos courtesy of Simon Hipkins. - and more...
Lance
at

3 comments :

Sarah Ellen Hughes said...

Lance, great to see you last night! I believe that the lyrics Norma sang on Joy Spring were her own - so maybe she should have left with two awards!!
You credited the terrific performance of I've never been in love before to Norma, but it was in fact nominee Fini Bearman.
I'm still hoping to see you tomorrow evening at the Bull's Head... no free wine or pizza though I'm afraid!
Sarah .x

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 2:36:00 pm
Lance said...

Thank you for that correction - it was getting late and I was beginning to wilt.
Have a great night tomorrow - not making promises though...

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 2:45:00 pm
Russell said...

Hi Lance

A canny line-up! Three of them are heading 'Up North East' in the coming weeks. Mark Hodgson can be heard with Killer Shrimp at Newcastle's Corner House, Eddie Hick will be with Gilad Atzmon in Hexham (Queen's Hall) and Newcastle (The Cluny) and you can get two servings of Asaf Sirkis at the Sage in Gateshead (Art of Sound and Asaf's own trio in a double bill)

Russell

Tuesday, August 17, 2010 7:04:00 pm

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