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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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, March 10, 2010

A Many Splendored Thing - The Alan Glen Trio & Take It To The Bridge @ The Chilli.

Alan Glen (pno), John Pope (bs), David Carnegie (dms).
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Dave Weisser (tpt), Doug Fielder (ten), Chris Finch (pno), Barrie Ascroft (bs.gtr), Malcolm Dick (dms).
+ Dan Reed (dms), David Carnegie (pno).
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I wish the Alan Glen Trio had played Too Marvelous for Words tonight - it would have summed up their entire performance - they were, as always, just too very very etc. As it was we had...
Love is a Many Splendored Thing: taken up-tempo it got things going 'splendidly' reminding us of how much better it sounds away from the doleful dirge the balladeers favour.
My Old Flame: now that's what you call a ballad - so poignant...
Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way: a pre-curser to tomorrow's concert at Gateshead Old Town Hall, Liam Noble's the Brubeck Project. Great tune and great player - Alan Glen.
More Brubeckiana, this time from Dave Digs Disney - Alice in Wonderland - a swingy jazz waltz.
Its You or No One: Moved along nicely with lots of tingling melodic flurries taking in the whole keyboard.
I Can't Get Started: gorgeous harmonies as Alan explored the seemingly endless possibilities of Vernon Duke's classic.
Just in Time: The inevitable big blast finale with David Carnegie as usual soloing to great effect.
Great set with especial mention of John Pope's bass-playing - The Pope has incorporated all the essential elements of the bass players armoury including humour and a welcome degree of showmanship.
Earlier, the Take It To The Bridge crew with Malcolm Dick on drums, - Eric has left to tend to his many other gigs i.e. Budvivar, Jazz Café, grandpaternal duties etc. - Chris Finch on an unexploding piano (see Big Band Festival report from Russell!) and Barry doing bass guitar whet our appetite for the delights to come.
Dan Reed, a young drummer from Prudhoe, had a blast on Hubbard's (Freddie not Mother) Up Jumped Spring and Wayne's (Shorter not John) Lester Left Town. The boy did good - jazz waltzes (Spring) aren't the easiest numbers to kick off on but he came through head held high - likewise on Lester he dug in and played confidently.
David C sat in on piano for the inevitable Blues (in F) for Duane and sent the room into orbit - nice one David.
Out front Dave W and Doug F added their own distinctive touches to Weaver of Dreams, Masquerade, Whisper Not and others.
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Liz said...

I love Mel Tormé singing "Whisper not"
Liz

Thursday, March 11, 2010 5:52:00 pm

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