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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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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.

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

Monday, January 04, 2010

MAMA MIA! It's Lauren Housley and the Tom Dibb Trio with Natasha Seale @ The Cherry Tree.

Lauren Housley (vcl), Tom Dibb (gtr), John Pope (bs), David Carnegie (dms) + Natasha Seale (vcl).
Having missed a couple of Mondays at the Cherry Tree due to inclement weather I was determined not to miss tonight come hell or high water or, in this case, cold, icy roads.
I was absolutely perishing when I reached the restaurant's welcoming portals. This was a night so cold that only a double shot of Jack Daniels could adequately combat. However, as my Jack Daniels' days are long gone, plus I was driving, I opted for the softer option of a bowl of Roast Tomato Soup with Sour Cream. This hit the spot and after a couple of slugs, sorry spoonfuls, I felt the circulation returning and I was able to turn my attention to the music.
The trio opened up with what sounded like a Bud Powell number - was it "Bud's Bubble"? whatever they played it well with Tom Dibb getting his fingers working. Lauren Housley did "I've Got You Under My Skin" - the girl was in good voice tonight. "Night and Day" had David Carnegie giving the 'beat beat of the tom toms' so essential to Cole Porter's immortal classic whilst Lauren took a few chances that came off.
"Embraceable You", "Quiet Nights", "Walk on By", "Georgia on my Mind" all combined to create some perfect 'Dinner Jazz'.
Talking dinner jazz - I highly recommend the Leg of Lamb with Lentils and Potato - the chef here should have an Oscar or whatever it is they award chefs - a Delia perhaps?
I ordered my sweet to coincide with the start of the second set - little did I know I would get two sweets!
My chosen delicacy was Peanut Parfait in a caramelised sauce that was pure Ecstasy. The unexpected sweet arrived in the form of Natasha Seale, currently playing the alternate lead in 'Mama Mia' at the Metro Arena, Newcastle. Natasha (click here for photos), who is a jazz lady at heart, sang "Love For Sale" giving us a hint of the quality that must abound in the hit show which has commenced its international tour at The Arena. Thank you 'Tash' enjoyed your singing and our brief chat.
Lauren returned and indicated that she too is an okay singer with "Cheek to Cheek".
I've heard them do "The Way You Look Tonight" several times and whilst I marvel at the intricacy of the arrangement - it is constantly changing time signatures and rhythm - I sometimes wonder if it isn't just too complex. Whether it is or it isn't they do do it very well.
The rest of the set also had some of their trickier stuff which suffered slightly by a little distortion that wasn't there in the first set.
Nevertheless, yet another enjoyable evening at the Cherry.
Lance.
PS: Must also mention John Pope's bass solo on "Angel Eyes".
PPS: Check the Cherry Tree out in the current issue of "North-East Life Style".

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