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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, February 08, 2011

Bill Harper on Joe Young.

So sad to hear of Joe's problems although I was aware that he was starting to show signs of deterioration in 2004, just before Anne & I left for France,when he used to come to my gig at the Ninepins in Gateshead, accompanied by Jack Denton & Marshall Walker.
He was lacking his sparkle & sharp repartee & his memory was starting to fail.
I recall Joe from the mid 50's with his first band in the Arcade Jazz Club in Pilgrim St where he had good players like clarinetist Colin Beale,pianist Johnny Handel & trombonist Norman Healey-Creed in a very lively & popular outfit. I was halfway through my Nat. Service in the RAF (1958) & stationed at Acklington when I was contacted by Joe who told me he was breaking up his band to form a new one & would I like the piano chair?
When he told me the line up I could hardly refuse as these guys were the top players at the time - Hugh Aitchison (Tpt), Trevor Johnson & Brian Clarke (clt/sax),Ron McLean (trombone),Brian Fisher (bass) & Jack Denton (drums). Joe had been persuaded to ditch his banjo & bought a guitar (4 strings) tuned "banjo style" a la Eddie Condon,which gave the band a much smoother Dixieland feel than his previous rough & ready "trad"band.
Joe & I became good friends & in 1961, he was my best man at my marriage to the late Emily & has remained a friend ever since. He never pushed himself to the front musically, preferring to stay in the background but he could certainly handle the audiences with his good humour or sarcastic repartee & we were never short of gigs & residencies & who could forget those NY eve gigs at Carlisle Jazz Club organised by his friend the late Mick Potts who was a superb trumpeter & pianist.
Joe has never been averse to musical change & with the introduction of new blood in the personnel the band moved away from Dixieland format & became a highly successful Basie /Ellington mainstream "jump" band, actually opening the show at the City Hall for the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
This was a really exciting period with the emergence of Leo Harwood, Barry Robinson, Fred McBeth (saxes) & the influential John (JB) Walters on trumpet with his University colleagues Lou Townsen (bass) & a young drummer who's name escapes me for the moment. Also during this period we also had various top players in the band - bass players Dave Murphy & Al Collins - Drummers Ian Forbes & Jimmy Scaife & last but not least the indomitable Eric Burden whom Joe used on several occasions on concerts as guest vocalist although several members of the band were unhappy with his intonation but with his future success, the old saying "what did we know"?
About this time the band took on a major change of direction when JB Walters & the un-named drummer left to go on tour with the Alan Price Set & with the introduction of saxophonist Geoff Hedley the band began to experiment with "free form" & consisted of Bill Shield (Dms), Alan Collins (bass), myself on piano & Joe on guitar. To be honest I don't think any of us really knew what was going on but it was fun & allowed us to write our own material but I was never convinced that this was where my future lay & I left the band in the early 70's. I don't think Joe kept the band together for much longer & he eventually returned to his roots & first "love" N.Orleans jazz where he surfaced as a stalwart bassist.
I know that he experienced bad luck in his first marriage, terrible tragedy in his second but when I last spoke to him his life seemed to be quite settled & it's such a shame that he should see out his remaining years like this.
Joe is a lovely guy who was a major figure & contributor to the scene & I am proud to call him my friend. Our thoughts are with Joe & Diane, getting old is no fun if you are in poor health.
Bill Harper.

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