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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
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: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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

Monday, April 12, 2010

Graham Hardy's 'Old' Quartet @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant.

Graham Hardy (tpt/flg), Mark Williams (gtr), Neil Harland (bs), Rob Walker (dms).
I never did get to visit New York's Hickory House or The Embers back in the 1950s but I imagine it was not unlike Jesmond's Cherry Tree.
In other words, Jazz For The Carriage Trade or Music to Dine For.
Tonight, the Graham Hardy Quartet's tour continued and, in contrast to last night's experiments in rhythm, it was back to the good old GASBOOK with some tasty morsels either side of the hypothetical footlights.
What better starter is there than Alone Together taken at a nice groove whilst waiting for a Crayfish Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce and Lemon?
This appetiser arrived as The Quartet went into My Romance - both seduced the appropriate taste-buds leaving them craving more.
I didn't think Mercy, Mercy, Mercy quite worked. No offence guys but it isn't a tune that lends itself easily to early evening Dinner Jazz. - it is a last-setter in these situations even though it was played well.
By Contrast, The Very Thought of You, which Graham blew on Flugel, was as tender as my Loin of Pork with  Mustard Sauce, Creamed Potatoes and Paris Brown Mushrooms - Merci! Merci! Merci! to both band and chef..
The set closed with How Insensitive which could also have applied to a party of noisy Italians (or Greeks or whatever) who made their presence known.
For dessert I opted for Crème Caramel with Pineapple and Rum Soaked Raisins - yo ho ho me hearty's I felt mellow after that!
The mellowness provided a cue for The Quartet to play some Ellington opening up with Graham, once more on Flugel for In A Mellow Tone. Then he did some effective plunger work on Mood Indigo. This was his solo of the night for my money.
Take The A Train had Mark in fine form both solo-wise and 'comping. In fact the fullness of his chords made it sound like the whole Ellington band was blowing behind the soloist!
I had to reluctantly leave at this point after an evening when the Cherry Tree blossomed again (thank you Liz for texting me that quote!)
Next week it's the Paul Edis Quartet with Roly on guitar and vocals, Mick Shoulder, bass and Adrian Sinclair, drums.
Lance.
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