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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 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

Monday, August 16, 2010

Pizza Jazz Awards Pizza Express, London.

Barry Green (pno), Mark Hodgson (bs), Eddie Hick (dms) + Cleveland Watkiss, Norma Winstone, John Turville, Asif Sirkis, Nia Lynn, Derek Nash, Gary Husband, Perry Louis...
This was one of those nights you dream about and feel privileged to be there. The Pizza Jazz Awards attracted a host of influential jazz people - plus myself! Bebop Spoken Here was in town.
Although everyone appeared to know one another I nevertheless felt immediately at home when a voice, full of passion and wanting, (okay, I exaggerate she said 'Hi Lance') called out to me - Sarah Ellen Hughes, on review duty for LondonJazz.
The evening was to decree the vocalist worthy of the award - Norma Winstone and Cleveland Watkiss shared that particular kudos - and which instrumentalist got the nod? - pianist John Turville.
The two vocal winners duetted on Blue Monk.
There were also some poetry awards but, fortunately, the two idioms didn't intermingle on the stand.
Earlier (or was it later?), Cleve had sung No Moon At All and Norma did the business better than anyone on Joyspring. It crossed my mind that any of the lyricists of any of the songs would have swept the board in the poetry awards!
Barry Green played fine piano ably supported by Mark Hodgson and Eddie Hick - I'll Remember April, Green Dolphin Street were but two. Asif Sircus sat in on drums - a proper kit! whilst Perry Louis did some hoofin'. A great dancer but on a carpet? Nia Lynn sang It Could Happen To You. Can't remember all the highlights - too much hospitality - but one number hit the spot. Fini Bearman (not Norma!) singing I've Never Been In Love Before. Terrific! Derek Nash blew an alto solo that surely would be in running for the most melodic solo of the year - and the swingiest! The bar had been well and truly raised!
John Turville, as befitting his newly crowned status, played some good standard fare and there were other moments but - by this time I was ready to dissolve - it had been a long day but - nice to meet Yots and Simon Hipkins who sent me some superb photos, including the above one of Derek Nash, after my own machine finally gave up its life of elastic bands and blue tack.
To find out more about the multi-talented Simon visit http://www.simonhipkins.com/
Totally wasted I returned to the sanctity of Room 504 - I kid you not - why doesn't anyone sing that song anymore?.
More photos courtesy of Simon Hipkins. - and more...
Lance

3 comments :

Sarah Ellen Hughes said...

Lance, great to see you last night! I believe that the lyrics Norma sang on Joy Spring were her own - so maybe she should have left with two awards!!
You credited the terrific performance of I've never been in love before to Norma, but it was in fact nominee Fini Bearman.
I'm still hoping to see you tomorrow evening at the Bull's Head... no free wine or pizza though I'm afraid!
Sarah .x

Lance said...

Thank you for that correction - it was getting late and I was beginning to wilt.
Have a great night tomorrow - not making promises though...

Russell said...

Hi Lance

A canny line-up! Three of them are heading 'Up North East' in the coming weeks. Mark Hodgson can be heard with Killer Shrimp at Newcastle's Corner House, Eddie Hick will be with Gilad Atzmon in Hexham (Queen's Hall) and Newcastle (The Cluny) and you can get two servings of Asaf Sirkis at the Sage in Gateshead (Art of Sound and Asaf's own trio in a double bill)

Russell

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