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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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

Saturday, March 07, 2009

BBC Big Band - Sunderland Campus

Tony Fisher, Martin Shaw, Nigel Carter, Brian Rankine (tpts); Mark Nightingale, Pete North, Mike Feltham, Ashley Horton (tmbs); Howard McGill, Sammy Mayne, (altos): Paul Jones, Paul Booth, (tens); Jay Craig (bar); Graham Harvey (pno); Jeremy Brown (bs); Tom Gordon (dms); Barrie Forgie (ldr).
The annual visit to the Sunderland Festival by the BBC Big Band served to prove what we already knew - that the band, fronted by Barry Forgie, is arguably the best of its kind anywhere. With the A team players aboard how could it be anything else? Admittedly the repertoire has been tried and tested many times yet, nevertheless, manages to remain fresh. Martin Shaw has probably forgotten how long he's been playing "I Remember Clifford" yet the flugel feature still managed to tug at the emotions. Tony Fisher led the section with much power and his duet with Nigel Carter on the Ted Heath arrangement of "Stardust" brought back memories of hearing it done by Bert Ezzard and Bobby Pratt midway through the last century.
Mark Nightingale - as good a slide man as there is - arranged "The Flight of the Bumblebee" as a trombone solo and it certainly pushed those skills to the limit. Was I the only one in the hall who felt they could have been put to better use? Probably, and I do concede that it was well done.
No quibbles about the saxes; everything they blew was pure gold whether soloing or as a section.
Last night's alto star, Paul Jones, tonight played tenor as did Paul Booth. Both swung like crazy. Likewise the two altos - Howard McGill and Sammy Mayne - had a stirring battle on the opener, Buddy Rich's "The Rotten Kid".
Bari saxman Jay Craig's playing oozed sensuousness on Mulligan's "Black Nightgown", the theme from that wonderful film - "I Want To Live" (Sadly, in the film, Susan Hayward didn't get her wish although, as she was about to be strapped into the electric chair, one can understand her last request.)
As ever, out front, Barry Forgie scored high on charm, humour and much panache and, as a pre-cautionary measure, I must get the name of his tailor!
Yes, a splendid evening of foot-tapping fare. Well it would have been if the floor of the hall hadn't been coated with some sticky gunge which meant that us foot-tappers were almost a half a beat behind as our feet struggled to cope with whatever it was underfoot. Still that's one way to stop the audience walking out. As if! With the BBC Big Band walking out isn't an option!
Tomorrow - the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra with Steve Waterman. Unmissable!
Lance

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