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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

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.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Ron Chapman - Sand Dancer, South Shields.

Ron Chapman (solo guitar).
The waves rolled in from the sea, beating against fortified wall with the ferocity of a Buddy Rich drum solo. Not a day for swimming.
Entering the bar I hear a child crying, Sunday lunchtime chit-chat fills the air. There is much to talk about - both local soccer teams have won. Knives and forks and plates provide the rhythm to the youngster's plaintive wail. Above it all, the strains of "Moonlight in Vermont" drift gently across the room. This is what I came for. I order a drink - a lager shandy, I too am in party mode. Skilfully ignoring a couple of rug-rats I find a seat close to the music.
In a corner, perched on a high stool, Ron Chapman plays, seemingly oblivious to the surroundings.
"Vermont" segues into "Over The Rainbow" and I show my appreciation with some 'air' clapping. He nods in acknowledgment and plays "Send in the Clowns" (not I hope directed at me!). "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life", "Embraceable You" (or was it "Darn That Dream"? Whatever it's all nice tasteful stuff.
With Ron you don't get Montgomerylike runs or flashy flights of fancy. Ron's forté is the unexpected chord that turns the piece around into something new. He explained later that, because of arthritus he sometimes fingers a wrong chord.
The chords sounded good to me. "You Don't Know What Love Is", "As Time Goes By" and finally "Nuages". Later I chat with Ron. We find we have a lot of mutual acq.'s and he promises to post some guitar stuff for the blog. As I type I notice already my inbox filling up - watch this space. Lance. (Ron Chapman plays four lunchtimes every week, Mondays and Fridays in the Priory Pub in Tynemouth and Saturday and Sundays at the Sand Dancer in South Shields. He describes his playing as: "Solo chordal jazz in the syle of Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Barney Kessel etc. (I hope!)")

6 comments :

Hil said...

Lance being a native of the Tynemouth area, its strange I dont know where the Priory Pub in Tynemouth is?

Could it be the Gibraltar Rock? that one speaks of?

Lance said...

The Priory Bar, to give it its correct title, is at 2 East Street and seems to be sort of opposite the Gib. Check it out on Google Earth

Hil said...

Could it perhaps be the upstairs bar in the Gib?

Tom and Lorna Weatherly will know they live right opposite.

Ron said...

No the Priory is in the main street in Tynemouth on a corner. It used to be the Percy Arms.

Lance said...

Give the Weatherley's my regards - last time I saw them was at Zoe's Corner House gig. I thought they lived on the continent now? I worked with Lorna's brother, Ronnie McLean, for many years.

Hil said...

Thanks for that Ron. I thought it was still called the "Percy"

Lorna and Tom still have their beautiful apartment with wonderful views over the mouth of the Tyne. They do however spend quite abit of time abroad during the winter months (lucky things) I will pass on your comments Lance as I do see them quite often.

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