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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Durham Alumni Big Band @ Number One Bar, Darlington. 12 noon. Free (donations).
Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: International Jazz Day @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £16.00.; £14.00. adv.. Feat. Guido Spannocchi, John Pope & Steve Hanley + Take it to the Bridge participants + Open Mic Night participants.

MAY 2025

Thu 01: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Member’s Contribution.
Thu 01: Alabaster de Plume @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm.
Thu 01: Living in Shadows + OUTRI @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Thu 01: The Shayo Experiment @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Shayo Oshodi & Liam Oliver.
Thu 01: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. 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

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Prom 22: MGM Musicals at the Albert Hall.

Although I guess it isn't strictly Jazz, I watched this program on Saturday night & it is such a good crit from Clive Davis that I thought it might be of interest. Times Review. Liz.

15 comments :

Lance said...

I enjoyed the program very much although I felt Curtis Stigers was out of his depth and I love Curtis Stigers. I liked the woman who reminded me of Anne Shelton.

Liz said...

That is Kim Criswell, a great Sondheim star & she has stood the test of time, always delivering
Liz

Lance said...

For me the big moment was when the violin section stood up and played a swinging (or should it be 'stringing'?)chorus of "I Got Rhythm"

Mal said...

Just had to mention...(Although sure everyone knows)...The conductor John Wilson is a Geordie !

Liz said...

Yes Mal & isn't he a star? The orchestrations were amazing, and the sheer size of it too. How on earth did he control all of those musicians so superbly? Note that Sir Thomas Allen is also a Geordie. I know he is an operatic singer, but he interpreted those lyrics with such feeling.This show will remain in my mind for a long time to come.
Liz

Lance said...

The most amazing thing of all was that after the original scores had been performed for the movie MGM scrapped them, considering them of no further use nor interest. In consequence, John Wilson had to re-create the originals note by note. He spent a whole day, apparently just getting 4 bars of one piece down. Like wow!

Mal said...

I work with the Brass & W/Wind sections quite regularly & all of them have so much regard & respect for John.....A true star....Mal Maddock

Lance said...

Listening to Broadway Rhythm again I just love the chord progression of the 4 bars that go:
"When I hear that happy beat
I feel like dancin' down the street"
For me, that phrase repeated frequently in this arrangement, is so catchy that when I hear it it sticks in my head for ages.
Perhaps Mal might enlighten me?

Anonymous said...

Sorry - I found this Prom really disappointing!

The singers couldn't hack it - even Stigers: the others had good voices but they were singing pop songs as if they were classical music!

It took the fun out of the tunes.

And the strings just made it all syrupy.

Lance said...

Hello "Rhythmaning" and welcome to BSH. I agree with you about Curtis Stigers - not his scene at all. However, I think we have to put the whole thing into perspective. The singers were classically trained - just as Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Jane Powell etc. were in the actual movies and, as such, I thought they did a good job.
The problem I have with the Proms is that, in their attempts to diversify, they end up pleasing no one so perhaps they should stay with the 'old masters' rather than swim in unchartered waters whether it be Jazz, Rock, or movie music.
I enjoyed it for what it was not what it wasn't or what is might have been.

Liz said...

Hi Rhythmaning, Kim Criswell though, a good all rounder who was perfectly suited to the numbers she performed, full of verve & vigour..well I thought so anyway!
Liz

Lance said...

A touch of the Ethel Merman's I thought so I googled her and, lo and behold, she's played the Merman role in "Call Me Madam".

Liz said...

Casting director for your next venture? you have the knowledge, go for it!
Liz

Lance said...

Funny you should say that - I would like to re-make "To Have Or To Have Not" with you, Liz, in the Lauren Bacall role - you know how to whistle don't you? you just put your lips together and blow..

Liz said...

You'd be pushed to find a replacement for Hoagy!

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