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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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, May 14, 2009

Ryan Quigley Sextet @ The Corner House

Ryan Quigley (tpt/flug), Paul Towndrow (alt), Paul Booth (ten), Steve Hamilton (pno), Mario Caribe (bs), Alyn Cosker (dms).
Not for the fainthearted! This was adrenaline pumping, yet accessible, mind blowing stuff. Six guys shooting from the hip and taking no prisoners. It was loud, possibly the loudest non-electric, six-piece band I've ever heard. Think Art Blakey, double it and then add some.
Leader Quigley is one helluva trumpet-player with a big fat Clifford Brown sound and a range capable of reaching into the stratosphere to maybe Jupiter on a clear night.
On tenor it was a welcome return to the region by local boy made good, international tenor star, Paul Booth. I'm pleased to be able to claim a small part in his success - I sold him his first sax 22 years ago and the rest is history. Part of that history was at the Black Bull, Blaydon where Paul played some of his early gigs with our man Roly Veitch.
Another fine saxist, also called Paul (Towndrow), blew some wild alto solos although possibly the wildest man of them all was drummer Alyn Cosker who could and did switch from swing to free to rock to Latin to a multitude of other rhythms and back again without missing a beat - although I guess the audience's hearts missed a few. During Alyn's final drum blast the frontline blew a riff from, I think, Louis Bellson's "Skindeep" - very appropriate.
Steve Hamilton, playing a 'real' piano excelled throughout and Brazilian bassist, Caribe, supplied a strong harmonic foundation.
The music itself varied from ultra-modern hardbop to free with some compelling group improvisation; imagine the Don Ellis Band, on a 'trip', playing Modal Dixieland and you've maybe got the picture. Supremo Extremo!
If there has to be a criticism an extra ballad wouldn't have gone amiss - Roly agreed and Roly knows a thing or two about ballads.
However, it didn't detract from an evening that kicked from start to finish - my pulse is still racing!
Lance.

3 comments :

Hil said...

I thought "Laura MacDonald" from Glasgow was billed to appear alongside Paul?
Her Dad, Don (yes Donald MacDonald) worked with Mike(Gilby)in the Glasgow Locarno 38 yrs ago, he was a very good vocalist. I became great friends with her Mum and we have kept in regular touch over the years even after they moved to USA.
Laura was married to Tommy Smith until a few years ago.

Lance said...

You're right Hil, Laura was billed to play alto but no explanation was given as to why she wasn't there. I'm sure Russell or Adrian will be able to update us.

Roly said...

It was a pleasant surprise to see altoist Paul Towndrow on the gig though. I was fortunate enough to be on a private gig with Paul a few years back and was struck by what a great young player he was. Very 'Konitz/Pepper' in style at that time. Beautiful light tone. There has recently been quite a bit publicity about him eg. Jazz UK profile/European Jazz Orchestra chair etc. and clearly his playing has moved on a lot. Yet another of a whole bunch of fantastic Scottish musicians many of whom are equally at home with contemporary jazz and contemporary folk music. Great stuff!
Roly

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