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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Benny's Last Goodbye

If you are given to trawling the Pound Shops as I am you may stumble across a DVD by Benny Goodman described as "His Last Performance" filmed and recorded at the Tivoli in Sweden. Flash the cash whilst it is there - I bought it a few years back for a fiver - it is a fitting tribute to the one time King of Swing. That the tone may have become slightly thinner and the well worn standards played a thousand times before doesn't detract from the fluency of his playing. Benny even appeared to be enjoying himself - the famous ray conspicuous by its absence and replaced by, of all things, a smile! Behind him, the Swedish quartet swung sympathetically as they worked out on Lady Be Good, Poor Butterfly, The World Is Waiting for The Sunrise, Send in the Clowns, It's Easy To Remember. Jimmy Maxwell, a longtime Goodman trumpet associate played I'm Confessin tightly muted before Benny joined him for Don't Be That Way that somehow segued into Stomping At The Savoy. The guitarist, Harry Pepe, had a nice Charlie Christian feel to his solo. I Should Care was a piano solo for Don Haas who played brilliantly throughout. Maxwell was replaced by Svend Asmusen on violin who teamed up with Benny for If I Had You and a faster After You've Gone. They both went for it culminating in a blistering albeit chaotic finale. Maxwell returned to join Benny and Svend for Air Mail Special before, after demands for more, the 'king' played a few bars of his theme tune Goodbye. It's well worth a pound (I think I saw it in Wilkinsons for 99p if the recession is still hitting you) and a fitting reminder of one of jazz's all-time greats swinging off into the sunset. Benny Goodman (clt), Jimmy Maxwell (tpt), Svend Asmunssen (vln), Don Haas (pno), Harry Pepe (gtr), Charly Antolini (dms), Peter Witte (Bs).
Lance.
PS: I opted out of the Chilli tonight because of the 'Fog on the Tyne'.

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