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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ 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. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

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.

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

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Havana Cultura Live @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Danay (vcl), Ogguere (Ulises & Edrey) (vcl), Roberto Fonseca's Band (Fonseca, piano, + alt/fl, tpt, bs, dms, congas. Gilles Peterson, Dhesi (DJs).
If I say I'm off to the travel agents in the morning to book a ticket on the first flight to Havana then you may get an idea of what an experience tonight was!
Of course I'm not going to Havana tomorrow but, after tonight's music, I certainly wish I was.
This was The Sage, Hall Two, in stripped down mode with diffused lighting patterns and smoke machines creating an ambience.
DJ Dhesi got the party under way with some Caribbean grooves that soon had the standing audience twitching in time to the beat. Close your eyes and you're on Havana's 23rd Street.
Gilles Peterson took over at the console and introduced Ogguere, Danay and Roberto Fonseca's Band. We were off.
For once words fail me - to say I was knocked out sounds like mere cliché - this was territory way beyond my comfort zone but it got my juices flowing.
Hadn't a clue what Danay or Ogguere were singing about but it was as hypnotic as the Cuban rhythms.
Danay is the most enigmatic singer I've ever heard. One moment it is almost a folksy ballad - next thing you know it is Rock 'n Roll Cuban style.
Ogguere comprises Edrey and Ulises who are a Cuban Hip-Hop version of the Blues Brothers. When they perform I defy anyone's heart to drop below a zillion beats a minute.
Down on the floor and up in the seated gallery there was a whole lot of shakin' going on
Fonseca played some jazzy Cuban sounds whilst the flautist whose name was lost in the musical maelstrom had a superb feature. Trumpet too blew in that fine old Cuban tradition.
Rhythm section cooked up a musical gumbo that melted your toenails.
Afterwards, the party spilled out on to the Concourse where the DJs were stoking up the Cuban Fire and the dancers gave out with the appropriate movements. How I wish I'd learn't to Cha-Cha!
It was all in all a rather beautiful night - I think my pulse is just about back to normal.
"Hello, is that Thomas Cook? I'd like a flight to Havana - that's right, the one in Cuba..."
Lance.
at

1 comment :

. said...

It's their rainy season now.
I hav-ana idea for a 'toon shimmying and zapateadoing to the rhythm à la lance del monte.

zapateado - Latin-American dance with rhythmic tapping of the feet.

Sunday, July 04, 2010 10:16:00 am

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