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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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 08: ???

Wed 09: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 09: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 09: Tannery jam session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm.
Wed 09: Anatole Muster Trio @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £17.50., £12.50. concs.
Wed 09: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED?

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, January 17, 2010

Paul Edis Sextet: Splinter @ The Bridge Hotel

Graham Hardy (tpt/flug), Alex Leathard (tmb), Graeme Wilson (ten), Paul Edis (pno), Mick Shoulder (bs), Adam Sinclair (dms).
Another well-attended jazz gig! Have the ears of the world, or at least the north-east finally been unfurled? Will "Blaydon Races" be replaced by "Straight No Chaser"?
The thought is enough to put one in a sentimental mood which the Paul Edis sextet did tonight. On, I think the third number, they gave the old Ellington standard a glorious workout with Graham as opposed to Graeme playing an emotional muted chorus or two. The tune may be vintage wine but the arrangement and Graham's solo were of today.
This was but one of the first set delights - there were many.
Alex Leathard, depping for Chris Hibbard on trombone, played amazingly well, and these weren't your average stock arrangements. On top of that he soloed in both a luxuriant mellow mood as well as in a 'Machine Gun' Jimmy Knepper mode.
Graeme, as opposed to Graham, not only blew tough tenor but contributed some of the arrangements too.
His playing and his writing can be awesome at times.
Tonight was one of those times.
What can one say about the rhythm section? They handle everything with apparent ease. A trio number written by Paul and dedicated to the Duke of Ellington was sensitivity personified; rich probing chords that opened your harmonic tear ducts and moved your emotions up a gear.
The hour-long first set seemed to fly by; it had been a joy.
My heart stopped fluttering and began sinking when Paul announced that the sextet were to play a four movement suite he had composed.
I shuffled in my seat and attempted to make myself comfortable and prepared for the premiere of the as yet unnamed suite. Suites are not my bag and run second to tone poems on my boredom factor lists - I looked wistfully towards the distant door. Could I make it? I wondered.
Decided I couldn't so sat back and gritted my teeth
I was wrong to doubt! From the opening sonority of Mick's bowed bass to his closing reprise 'twas excellent.
In between, all the musicians were featured to great effect in solo and in ensembles that encompassed counterpoint, a hint of atonality, some marvelous harmonies and varying tempos. I breathed a sigh of relief - nothing bitter about this suite.
The final selection, "Angular" saw Adam chip in with an imaginative solo that reminded us that the spaces are as important as the salvos.
Adam did both to great effect.
A fine gig.
Lance.

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