Total Pageviews

7368520

Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Mark McKnight Quartet @ The Cluny. September 27.

Mark McKnight (guitar), Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone), Ross Stanley (organ) & James Maddren (drums).
Schmazz @ The Cluny and Jazz North East pooled resources to secure the Newcastle booking of Mark McKnight's band during an extensive tour of the UK. Irishman McKnight made a considerable impression last year at the Corner House in the company of alto star Paul Towndrow. The Cluny date was keenly anticipated and a large turn-out greeted the quartet with much enthusiasm. The guitarist's latest CD - Do or Die - is most accomplished and hearing the material live proved to be a real treat. 
The tunes strong, musicianship of the highest order, it all seemed so effortless. McKnight the composer is one to watch and all four musicians developed extended solos; Nightcap, a new tune - Ballad of Lee Murgatroyd - and the one non-original number - Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - were quite exceptional. McKnight's fluency was something to behold, Seamus Blake's tenor the perfectly pitched foil, organist Ross Stanley the master of his instrument and young drummer James Maddren had it all at his fingertips. The first set concluded with Overnight the eponymous number from McKnight's acclaimed debut recording as a bandleader. The consensus of the interval chatter gave a unanimous thumbs up to a great first set. 
Another pint of Harviestoun's IPA was called for as future gigs were discussed...Ray Chester, Charles Gayle, Enrico Tomasso (the Tyneside audience is nothing if not catholic in taste) and before we knew it we were served a second helping of McKnight & co.. Pieces, with perhaps a hint of Mingus' Goodbye Pork Pie Hat and McLaughlin's Extrapolation period, featured Maddren's languid yet tight drumming with McKnight's bell-like tones ringing out across the Cluny. Do or Die had to feature and it did. It sounds good on CD and it sounded rather good live!  McKnight's very first composition - Contemplate - a ballad at that, proved to be a highlight with Blake playing some assured old school tenor. The closing number (We'll) Just Disappear upped the ante featuring outrageously good solos all round with Seamus Blake's tenor playing catching everyone by surprise as he rattled-off phrase after sanctifying phrase. Was this a prayer meeting? Thrilling stuff! A contender for gig of the year.
Russell     
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive