Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 08: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones of 1976.

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 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

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Corner House, Heaton - "What's the Big Idea?" - Read on...

...it's a beat-up Continental headin' for the Motor City, a 64 wheel rig out on Highway 61. A Greyhound bus, maybe somewhere in the Ozarks, it's a souped-up black, Pontiac Sedan.
Just a few of the images conjured up by the musical juggernaut that is Gerry Richardson's Big Idea. Nine pieces of funky soul that manage to sound like twenty-nine and counting.
Gerry leads from the front on a Hammond B3 (is it?) out-smokin' just about every organist around - he makes Brother Jack McDuff sound like Jack McDuff's brother. He throws in a few Mose Allisonic vocals - Tom Waits with class.
The pot is kept on the boil by Rod Sinclair's guitar blasts and the relentless drive of Paul Smith on drums - his solo in the final number was something else.
The horns all hit the right groove. Sue Ferris on bari, tenor and flute, Stuart Johnson, tenor/soprano, Gary Linsley, alto, Mark Webb & Dave Highnote (Hignett) trumpets and Keith Norris trombone.
Although it is unfair to signal anyone out, I do think Sue's flute playing deserves a special mention for the tonal contrast it brings to the section and because she's prettier than the rest.
Great night. Photos.
Enjoyed meeting up with some old friends in the form of the portly Andy Hudson and the ever elegant Germaine Stanger.
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance

I couldn't agree more about Sue's flute playing.She can find her way around the baritone,too.

Stuart Johnson continues to impress taking a scorching soprano solo and later on he added a similar contribution on tenor.

Agreed,a great night.

Russell

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