Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Sunday, July 04, 2010

VOTNJO - Splinter @ The Bridge

Graham Hardy, Sean Hollis, Shaun Eland, Jud Downs (tpt/flg). Alex Leathard, Keith Norris, Caroline Norris, (tmb), Alan Bravey (bs tmb). Katie Hawcutt (fl), Rod Mason (alt/sop), Andy Bennett (alt/clt), Lewis Watson (ten/sop), Sue Ferris (ten/fl), Niall Armstrong (bar). Stu Collingwood (keys), Mark Williams (gtr), Andy Champion (bs), Adrian Tilbrook (dms). John Warren and James Hamilton (MD/Arr/Comp)
An evening of such sheer delight that the only let down lay in the failure of Roget's Thesaurus (4th edition) to provide adequate superlatives - I seem to recall Johnny Mercer finding similar shortcomings in Webster's Dictionary.
Lewis Watson as always excelled on tenor and soprano although super slim Sue Ferris also had impressive moments. Rod Mason whizzed around on alto and curved sop and Andy Bennett too let fly early on. Guesting with the reeds was flautist Katie Hawcutt who was heard to good effect on the Causeway Suite of which more later.
Both Graham Hardy and Jud Downs made their mark on trumpet and flugel but this band isn't just a collection of soloists strung together - it is a cohesive unit that, in the strength of its ensemble playing alone, must be comparable with any band anywhere. In the confines of the upper room at the Bridge Hotel it is mind-blowing (in the best possible sense).
Credit for this must be accorded the laconic, laid-back, John Warren.
His compositions and arrangements have, as ever, provided the backbone of the organisation's pad.
Tonight however, John willingly shared the limelight with James Hamilton a young, Leeds based Irishman whose arrangements and compositions were worthy of someone twice his age.
I don't know how old James is but I'd guess late teens early twenties - it is irrelevant - his music bears the mark of experience and maturity, an amazing achievement at any age.
Tonight's second set was built around the aforementioned Causeway Suite inspired by the stone pillared natural wonder in Antrim (I think). This suite may well be considered one of the natural wonders of the musical world.
Adrian Tilbrook, drummer and driving force behind this amazing organisation, enthused about James Hamilton prior to the concert - as is his wont - and his plaudits weren't misplaced as the six movements unfolded in a tapestry of colour and contrast, excitement and evolution - musical mastery.
A fitting way to bring the first Splinter season to a close.
Lance

1 comment :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

What a place to hear the Voice of the North! Small room, loud big band! It shouldn't work but it does - here's to the next time.

Russell

Blog Archive