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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

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

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.

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, September 25, 2010

Scarborough Jazz Festival Day One

The sea was in an unforgiving mood and the waves pounded the barriers and across the Promenade. Access to The Spa looked to be fraught with danger and I felt like one of those guys who seek the epicentre of a hurricane.
Fortunately, a kindly native attired in the fluorescent yellow beloved of his tribe guided me to the sanctuary of the Ocean Room.
On stage a different storm blew up in the form of the Nigel Price Organ Trio - Nigel Price (gtr), Pete Whittaker (Hammond C3), Matt Home (dms).
Opening with a bluesy number that got the feet tapping they moved into a Body and Soul variation that demonstrated just how good a guitarist Nigel Price is. The Trio won this year's Parliamentary Jazz Awards - at least they got that one right now if only the economy...
Another delight was Blossom Dearie's Sweet Georgie Fame - the first time I'd heard it without a vocal - it's a great tune on its own. Love For Sale done a la Stanley Turrentine/Grant Green was a lollapalooza - as Larry Hart once wrote and, apart from Nigel, had Pete taking the Hammond to the brink before handing over to Matt who displayed imagination and exquisite timing in his drum solo. A great way to start the festival and the question was - could one man follow this? Possibly only one man could and that was Ian Shaw (pno/vcl). Ian is more than a singer, more than a pianist, more than a stand-up (or in this case, sit-down) comic he is the epitome of all three and then some. The most unique voice I've ever encountered - some nights I hate it but other nights, and this was one of them, I love it. He held the audience from bar one of Stuck In The Middle With You, via such beauties as The Lady's In Love With You, Makin' Whoopee (with the immortal line Picture a little love nest - Goole! ) Then there was the song taught him by George Melly - Take Out Your False Teeth Baby - a hoot! Too many highlights to mention in detail and once again, after a Tom Waits encore, we said - follow that! Stan Tracey Trio w. Bobby Wellins (ten), Guy Barker (tpt) + Andy Cleyndert (bs), Clark Tracey (dms). This is how I like to hear Stan - in a blowing session. I love his extended works for groups of all sizes but most of all the relaxed atmosphere of a trio with two top horn men out front. It had been many years since I heard Bobby Wellins and I'm pleased to say he has lost none of his skills blowing good hard bop tenor. Guy, as ever, excelled not least on his ballad feature Old Folks. Stan too played well soloing fluently with the inevitable Monkish touches and I'm trying to recall the tune he played that's on the Monk's Dream album. It will drive me mad until I remember the title it goes 'dum, dum, dum - dum-dum, dum-dum, dum' then it's repeated maybe a third higher. Autumn Leaves had a fantastic piano intro before the horns went for it. Andy Cleyndert played great - does he ever do otherwise and Tracey fils soloed and supported soundly. A great opening day - even without Alan Barnes compering! Lance.

1 comment :

Rob M said...

The Monk tune was Bright Mississippi.
Rob M.

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