Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 2026)

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

18504 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 368 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 7 ) 22

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

From This Moment On

May

Fri 15: Conor Emery Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Line-up Emery (trombone); Alix Shepherd (piano); John Pope (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums). SOLD OUT!
Fri 15: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 15: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 15: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £13.01 adv., £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 15: Puppini Sisters @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!

Sat 16: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner. God Bless the Child - Lady Day!. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 16: Kaberry Big Band @ the Seahorse Pub, Hillheads Rd., Whitley Bay NE23 8HR. From 7:30pm. £15.00
Sat 16: Lady Nade @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. ‘Lady Nade sings Nina Simone’.

Sun 17: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ Forum Theatre, Billingham. 7:30pm.
Sun 17: QOW Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Spike Wells, Riley Stone-Lonergan & Eddie Myer.

Mon 18: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 18: Mark Williams Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 19: GoGo Penguin + Daudi Matsiko @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £22.00 + £4.40 bf.
Tue 19: Danny Lowndes’ Hot Club @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £5.00 bf.
Tue 19: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums).

Wed 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 20: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 20: Jordan Jackson @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.80 (inc. bf); £15.40 (inc. bf).
Wed 20: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 21: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 21: Jazz Classics with Rivkala @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Rivkala (vocals); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Thu 21: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

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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