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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Monday, June 01, 2009

Alter Ego @ Queens Hall, Hexham. May 29.

Dave Hignett (tpt/flug), Steve Summers (alt), Niall Armstrong (ten), Andy Hawking (pno), Giles Strong (gtr), Ian Paterson (bs), David Francis (dms).
So, being a sunny evening, I took myself off to visit a mate in Hexham who suggested we make an evening of it in the light and airy Queens Hall cafe, where Alter Ego (from the James Williams piece) were performing just the kind of set that lets you breath and drink beer at the same time - a perfect marriage for a summer evening: Bobby Watson, James Williams, Grant Green, Hank Mobley etc. in their orbits around Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
Described by Jazz Action as an "exciting new jazz ensemble from Newcastle" (www.jazzaction.co.uk/alterego.html) the performance was generally pretty good and certainly deserved the encore, which this night's laid-back Hexham audience failed to deliver! So it was good to get the set list - some of which can be heard on the Jazz Action page - from their enthusiastic co-leader and drummer David Francis - no coincidence with Art Blakey of course!
Must say that my man of the match award went to trumpet/flugelhorn player Dave Hignett, who worked up the the most inspiring of red-faced sweats with his chromatic prestidigitations - 1st to the bar as well! It may have been where we were stuck, on seats at the back of the low-ceilinged bar area, having arrived 10 minutes late! but I'd say that guitarist Giles Strong could do with an '11' setting on his amp at least for his Grant Green inspired solos. Definitely worth the 7 quid plus several San Migs. Set List: The Red Snapper (Bobby Shew); A Bitta Bittadose & A Wheel Within a Wheel (Bobby Watson); Alter Ego (James Williams); Hit & Run (Jay Chattaway); Compulsion (Andrew Hill); Little Man (Charles Fambrough); Grant's Tune (Grant Green); Zee Kay 30 (Doug Beach); Roll Call (Hank Mobley); The Soulful Mr Timmons (James Williams); One for Trane (Mickey Bass): Jazz Action's right - it's good to hear some of the less obvious numbers, which get you digging through the discographies. Photos (by Amanda Knight).
George Milburn.

6 comments :

Lance said...

Thanks George, always good to have new and knowledgable contributers.

David Francis said...

Great to hear that somebody else enjoyed the giog as much as we all did!

I have a few photos of the gig if you think it will add to the review Lance...

Lance said...

Sure will just send them to me.

David Francis said...

Thanks for adding the photos Lance.

Our bass player is Ian Paterson.

Ian Paterson said...

Actually, it was I who gave you the set list - bass player Ian Paterson :)

Cheers, really glad you enjoyed it!

Nice to meet you as well ;)

George Milburn said...

Sorry Ian, I was suffering from SMD - San Mig distortion - syndrome; )

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