Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Graham Hardy Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
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: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Extreme Pleasures From Extreme Measures - Splinter @ The Bridge

Gary Turner (ten), Mark Williams (gtr), Stu Collingwood (keys), Stuart Davies (bs), David Carnegie (dms).
Another good turnout at the Bridge Hotel for Extreme Measures. As I pointed out in my previous post, in years to come you'll want to tell your grandchildren about this band. They are simply the best in their chosen genre - jazz/rock/funk.
Tonight saw the first appearance with the band of Stuart Collingwood who has taken over on piano, or 'keys', - to use the current buzz word - from Ben Gilbert.
Totally different stylistically from Ben, Stu and the band have gelled together well to bring a different dimension to the music. Stu has also added a couple of his own pieces to the library both of which were premiered tonight.
Out front, Gary and Mark sell excitement. Mark is well known on the scene - he pops up anywhere from the Cherry Tree to The Chilli and can adapt to any situation. Catch his trio at this venue in two weeks time in a Splinter/JNE co-promotion.
Gary Turner is less predictable rarely being seen with other bands. Unless I'm missing something I find this strange as he can blow modern with the best of them.
With EM they each tend to begin with laid-back, meandering, probing phrases that gently lull the listener into a false sense of security before, almost imperceptibly, building up to a wild guitar thrash or a Coltranic 'sheets of sound' tenor blast that has the heart pumping out a cardiacal rhythm faster than a David Carnegie drum solo which brings me to David Carnegie.
David is not just a powerhouse drummer, he can do subtle and often does, but it is as the driving force behind EM where he excels. Constantly urging the soloists forward he drives them to unbelievable heights before taking off on his own helter-skelter multi-rhythmic ride.
Last, and by no means least and dispelling my doubts about his availability, Stuart Davies provided the bass guitar anchor that keeps it all within the extremities of the measure.
If the Sunday nights continue at this level I guess the Bridge is here to stay.
Lance.
PS: Next week the Zoe Gilby Quintet.
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