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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

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.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

R.I.P. Paul Gamblin

The north-east jazz world was stunned to learn that top guitarist Paul Gamblin had collapsed and died at the weekend - reportedly whilst playing rugby.
A brilliant guitarist and son of another brilliant guitarist, the late Eric Gamblin, Paul was a frequent attraction on the local scene often playing at Blaydon with various musicians and singers including Ruth Lambert and Bob Caswell.
Funeral details will be announced as soon as they are known.
Sadly missed.
Lance.
(Above photo by Eddie Carson)

10 comments :

Russell said...

Hi Lance

Whenever I heard Paul play he seemed to be an unassuming sort of bloke. He was a top class player and heard all too rarely in the north east.

Russell

Roly said...

Yes Paul was an absolutely lovely person of great integrity and always that quick witted humour.
And a great player with an advanced sense of harmony, a subtle approach to accompaniment and great soloing. A master of the bebop language in fact.
Its an utter shock this has happened.
Roly

Ruth said...

I am struggling to get my head around the fact that Paul has gone. We've lost a truly great guitarist and I have lost a good friend who will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family. What a wonderful man.
Ruth.

Django Bates said...

I was lucky to work with Paul Gamblin a lot in the eighties in Dudu Pukwana's band. With really long drives across Europe in a small van full of very fiery musicians, Paul was a huge boon to the band. He was equally focused on the gig, his beloved guitar, and on the band members' well-being. He was also uniquely able to soothe troubled waters when people got tired and stressed. I remember him driving at 90 mph straight through a huge and very solid bale of hay which had fallen into the fast lane of a German motorway, then quietly explaining, 'I wasn't sure it would work but bearing in mind the speed of surrounding traffic it was the safest option'. Paul was always friendly, dependable, and a gentleman.

Django Bates

Mal Maddock said...

I knew Paul (& his dad) from when I was a young teenager coming into the business...in Whitley Bay....He was so dedicated....We played many times together both in the North East , in London and abroad......When he moved to London it was a big decision .... & when I moved down we hooked up straight away.... I have many fond & funny memories.... he was a vegetarian & I always admired him for that ... Me not having the willpower ... But one night we went for a few pints..... & afterwards went for a takeaway curry, he ordered chicken curry.. & I said hold on I thought you were veggie ...."not when I am P****d I'm not" was his reply.......A great guy that will be missed........ My love to his familly Mal Maddock

Rod Sinclair said...

I worked with Paul in the 70s before he headed off to London and didn't meet up with him again till he turned up, 30+ yrs later, at the Maggie Bank .
He was still as fired up by music, full of enthusiasm and a zest for life. The news of his death is greeted with great sadness at the loss of a great player and inspirational human being. Rod

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever-present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Eric Richards said...

I met Paul at college in Newcastle, shared a flat with him and Steve Creese in Maida Vale, toured Europe with him in Dudu Pukwana's band and did a UK tour with Gloria Gaynor with him and countless other gigs I guess. Last time I saw him was in Gelsenkirchen many, many years ago. I will always remember him for his ever present enthusiasm,which just kept on bubbling over, be it for music or just life in general. Tragic that he had to go so soon. Shame we lost touch. He will be missed by his family and friends. My thoughts are with them at this sad time. Eric Richards

Anonymous said...

Hi Lance,
I find this hard to take in, I did know Paul quite well and our paths did cross, I always used to ask his father Eric how he was doing, and I uesd to get the odd message from dad at windows, saying Paul had been in and was asking how I was doing, what a shame we lost touch, with us both working away. during our earlier years...
What very sad sad news, he must have only been around my age, maybe a bit younger, great musician, like his dad.

Colin Aitchison
Hong Kong

Anonymous said...

Paul was a great friend of mine during the years I lived in London. As a fellow Geordie, he helped me loads when I first moved there. I have just found out about this and am in a state of shock. God bless you Paul.

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