Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 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

18246 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 100 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 31), 100

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 06: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 06: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 06: Durham Alumni Big Band & Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Theatre. 7:30pm. £12.00. Two big bands on stage together!
Fri 06: Nauta + Littlewood Trio @ Little Buildings, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Double bill + jam session.
Fri 06: FILM: Made in America @ Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Ornette Coleman.
Fri 06: Deep Six Blues @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, 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

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Gilad Atzmon and Strings - The Sage, Gateshead.

Gilad Atzmon (alt/sop/clt), Frank Harrison (pno), Yaron Stavi (bs), Eddie Hick (dms). Sigamos String Quartet. This was more than just a re-creation of the legendary Bird with Strings albums from the 1950s - it was much much more. Admittedly Gilad paid lip-service to Charlie Parker inasmuch as he faithfully re-produced the themes and the string voicing was more or less as per the original but in-between he was very much his own man. He soared with Birdlike fluency on numbers such as "Just Friends", ""Everything Happens To Me", "I Didn't Know What Time It Was", "What Is This Thing Called Love" and "April In Paris" or "April In Gateshead" as he re-titled the Vernon Duke classic. However, there was also the other trademarks we have come to expect from Gilad - the World Music blasts on soprano and clarinet, the ethnic chanting and the humour. Let's not forget the humour. His laid back delivery was worthy of any stand-up comic. "Charlie Parker was born in Hartlepool." Pause for the audience to digest this preposterous statement then, "He wasn't born in Hartlepool, he actually came from Kansas City but it doesn't matter. Hartlepool, Kansas City, they're both the same!" The inevitable political edges also crept in but what counted above all else was the music and his fantastic alto playing. The Sigamos Strings - 2 violins, viola and cello - led by Ros Stephen did what was asked of them expertly and professionally joining in the spirit of things by adding their voices to some of Gilad's Turkish incantations. Drummer, Eddie Hick, was superb and piano and bass filled in the cracks. It was one grand evening. Earlier, in the Barbour Room, a jam session saw Claude Werner, Ben Gilbert, Lawrence Blackadder and some students from the afternoon workshop with Gilad strut their stuff. Harley Johnson played "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise", Fiona Littlewood and Nicola Weaver did "Doxy" and my good friend Ann Alexander, making a rare departure from the world of Folk, sang "Summertime". Photos from Jam Session.
Lance.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive