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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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, May 17, 2011

Paul Edis Trio at The Cherry Tree, Monday 16th. May 2011

Paul Edis (piano/ flute), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Roly Veitch (guitar/ vocals).
We arrived at The Cherry Tree ravenous and caught only hints and fragments of the first two numbers from the bar area while being tormented by delicious hints and fragrances from the kitchen opposite. These “soundbites” whetted the appetite for jazz and food alike.
           Tonight’s unusual line-up (Crook revisited!) saw Roly Veitch’s guitar and vocals replacing drums at short notice (and very ably indeed).
We were at table and up to speed by Nature Boy with Roly’s vocals as smooth as the tarragon and truffle oil which garnished my Gratin of asparagus and salsify – wonderful! After Paul gave the flute its first outing of the evening (sorry, I missed more titles than I heard!) we had Darn that Dream and a dreamy Crab linguine with chilli, garlic and lemon – a Cherry Tree favourite. Chef on victuals, Roly on vocals: what can I say? The boy's darn good!
Then it was Montego Bay to Osborne Road (via Crook) with Calypso Jim – a Roly Veitch gem – with infectiously sunny solos on both flute and guitar, swiftly followed by All the Things You Are which, accompanied by Crème brulée with rhubarb compote and vanilla shortbread (All the Things You Like?) took us to the break.
The restaurant was gradually filling, now, having been quieter yet, thanks to one couple (utterly oblivious to the musicians), noisier than usual! This pair apart, everyone was visibly enjoying the food and the music.
Set two opened with a lively, rhythmical number (sorry, missed that title, too!) followed by more vocals from Roly on 100 Years from Today. The next “untitled” featured melodic flute, a fine bass solo (with flute “long-notes” thrown in) and flute/guitar fours too!. In this number and throughout the evening, Mick Shoulder’s steady bass was the band’s pulse.
At this point Roly got vocally romantic with My Romance but, unfortunately, “Dumb and Dumber” on a nearby table (and on their third bottle of red in double-quick time!) got Loud and Louder! In which company the Chopin-inspired How Insensitive, seemed remarkably appropriate!
Things quietened then as Roly did a beautiful version of In the Wee Small Hours and another young couple (God bless them for restoring my faith!) showed how to react to romantic music by doing a spontaneous two minutes of “Strictly Ballroom” on the landing above, seemingly unaware that they could be seen from below!
The set ended with a choo-choo-boogie blues (not the title – another train I missed!) featuring some great picking and piano, a bowed-bass solo and a whimsical flute flourish at the close. That sounds a bit like tasting notes for a flavoursome wine: this was a vintage performance full of subtlety and variety – and that goes for the food, too!
Jerry.

1 comment :

Liz said...

Really enjoyed reading that, loved the dumb & dumber bit!
Liz

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