Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

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

18767 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 631 of them this year alone and, so far this month (July 31) 95.

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

From This Moment On

August

Thu 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 06: Wild Women of Wylam @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 06: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guest Zoë Gilby.
Thu 06: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Thu 06: Bridget Metcalfe Sextet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 07: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 07: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 08: ???

Sun 09: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Ropner Park, Stockton. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: The Gambling Janes @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 10: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.Free.

Tue 11: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Jam session @ The tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 12: Look Left @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Ruthie Henshall and The Sound of Hollywood @ The Sage, Gateshead.

A tremendous show that was thoroughly enjoyed by the three tier packed Hall One.
Ruthie Henshall is a West End legend and her tribute to the stars of those great Hollywood movies was done both brilliantly and sincerely. Close your eyes and you're listening to Streisand, Merman, Garland, Andrews yet still getting one hundred percent Henshall.
Ruthie looked good in a red gown for the first set and a slinky, figure hugging, off the shoulder, sequined topped black dress with a tantalising split up the side in the second. Keeping the star on her toes were four great singers/dancers whose names I omitted to jot down but their choreography, harmony and feature numbers were the epitome of class.
Behind it all the Manchester Concert Orchestra under Richard Balcombe handled the complex scores with apparent ease. Below is the gist of the material which also included The Aitchison, Topeko and the Sante Fe, Get Happy, We're A Couple of Swells, and Over The Rainbow - done as an encore and with great sensitivity. Surprisingly, the show stopper of the first set was The Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity with the five singers producing a contrapuntal almost Bach-like fugue effect.

There's No Business Like Show Business (overture) - Annie Get Your Gun. Everything's Coming up Roses - Gypsy. I Get a Kick Out of You, Anything Goes, You're The Top - Anything Goes Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better - Annie Get Your Gun The Carioca - Flying Down to Rio (instrumental) Hello Dolly - Hello Dolly I'm the Greatest Star, People, Don't Rain on my Parade - Funny Girl The Man That Got Away - A Star is Born The Trolley Song, The Boy Next Door - Meet me in St Louis Good mornin' - Singin' in the rain Willkommen - Cabaret Thoroughly Modern Millie - Thoroughly Modern Millie Wouldn't it be Lovely - My Fair Lady

Excellent!

Lance.

1 comment :

Liz said...

A real trouper this lass, I think "Sweet Charity" is underrated..."If they could see me now" is a great number, but then with such a wealth of Gas-book to choose from how can you go wrong!
Liz

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