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

18878 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 742 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 4.) 21.

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.

Fri 11: Esther Bennett @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £10.00. Esther Bennett (vocals); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass).
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £14.09 (inc. bf).

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Saturday, February 20, 2010

WJRK @ Trinity Church, Gosforth.

Mike Durham (tpt/vcl), Derek Fleck (clt.alt/vcl), Brian Chester (pno), Keith Stephen (bjo), Phil Rutherford (sousa), Kenny Milne (dms).
One thing about WJRK is their repertoire - I think Mike Durham once told me they had over 600 - maybe even 720 (tunes) - in the book. If so, it is no surprise that they are able to avoid the flogged to death numbers so beloved of many trad bands.
Indeed, tonight, the only numbers that could be said to have suffered from over-exposure were Savoy Blues and Tiger Rag. However, some creativity from Brian Chester and Keith Stephen, the world's least baddest banjoist, respectively, gave validity to the old warhouses.
Other tunes included Egyptian Ella, Bimbo on a Bamboo Island, Let's Misbehave - this was quite unique as it had a scattish vocal from Derek Fleck - Buddy's Habits, Jackass Blues, Cake-walking Babies - there were other quite obscure numbers too which made for a pleasant albeit not earth-shattering night.
On sousaphone Phil Richardson, on occasion, had the agility of a string bass and his tone on solos was positively sonorous.
The drum stool was occupied by Kenny Milne, all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland. Unfamiliar with much of the material Kenny kept a low-profile whilst doing everything that was asked.
Mike Durham, these days, sounds more like Humph than Humph both playing and announcing.
Vocalwise the mic system didn't do him justice likewise the lighting system didn't help Brian.
The band wore ties with red peppers on them - I kid you not! -and in many ways they sounded like Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers without Jelly Roll Morton.
Despite a few gliches here and there which emphasised the fact that this is a band that isn't playing together as frequently as it deservedly should be I enjoyed the evening and the reasonably sized audience trotted home contentedly.
Next month, March 13, is the big one - Daryl Sherman with the Digby Fairweather Quartet. I can't wait even if it is just to see how Daryl finds the transition from the Waldorf Astoria, New York, to Trinity Centre, Gosforth.
No I'm looking forward to them both - See and hear her from the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel, New York City in this YouTube clip..
Lance.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive