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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).
Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

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

Thursday, October 22, 2009

LCD mindblowing @ Corner House.

Mornington Lockett (ten), Lawrence Cottle (bs.gtr), Martin Drew (dms).
My first thought when I saw the name of the band - LCD - was that this was going to be one of those "This next composition is one I wrote whilst running for the bus..." type nights.
I couldn't have been further from the truth!
I should have picked up the clue from Mornington's tee shirt - it had 'Blue Note' printed across front and rear and this was what it was - a contemporary Blue Note style blowing session.
All 3 musicians have technique to spare and woe betide anyone who crosses their path in a jam!
The last time I heard Martin Drew was at York when he was with Simon Spillett. Tonight, at Corner House, he was with another hardblowing hit 'em where it hurts tenorman in Mornington Lockett.
Apart from a couple of Pat Metheny tunes most were well known standards that provided the sax man with the perfect launching pad.
"My One and Only Love", "Autumn Leaves", "It Could Happen To You", "Yesterdays", "Donna Lee" were some of the tunes that the pianoless trio took to the cleaners and hung out to dry.
Michel Petrucciani's "My Bebop Tune" had an amazing cadenza-like intro from ML that was breathtaking. The same tune also saw some clever interplay between bass and drums.
The finale - "Just in Time" - was taken at tempo di Jenson (Button) which meant it was fast.
No prisoners and no pit stops.
Apart from ML there were some incredible happenings from Cottle. Playing a five string bass guitar he played chord patterns and intricate runs as if he were playing a fast action lead guitar. Martin Drew - is there anything left to say about Martin? The man is rock steady, he's deservedly regarded as one of the best kitmen around and tonight he didn't put a beat wrong.
A good night was had by all which wasn't as big an all as they deserved.
I'm not going to start preaching again save to ask the so-called moderns why miss an evening like this?
Having said that, the audience may have been small but it oozed quality in the form of bassists, drummers and a few saxy persons.
Lance.

2 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Yet another memorable gig at the Corner House.

Russell

Mornington Lockett said...

Thanks for the great review Lance!
Mornington

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