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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

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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, November 08, 2011

Jazz Singers in the Making at The Sage.

This is another article in my occasional series of pieces about the jazz singing classes at the Sage.  Lance refers to the class as The Factory, but let me tell you, Lance, that the course is meeting with some success.  Past graduates include Claire Kelly, (She does a superb version of I’ve Grown Accustomed To His Face) and Gabi Heller (she can scat for England, or rather Germany).  These two have already started on their jazz careers – watch for them in the listings.
There are about 20 students in the class, including 5 men.  (Why are most jazz vocalists women?  Traditional I suppose).  About half of us have been involved previously, and we have various backgrounds, including a man who has been a drummer, and someone else who works as an actor.  And that’s just the people that I know about.  Last week’s warm up exercise was a spot of flamenco, more difficult than it sounds.  Just you try counting 1 2: then 1, 2, 3 etc up to 10, whilst stamping and also clapping on some of the numbers as well, it gets very confusing, but it quickens your wits.
There are various types of voice, all interesting to listen to, and lots of different interpretations of the songs.  Listening to what other people make of the songs is part of the  delight of jazz singing.  For example, a sad song such as Every Time We Say Goodbye doesn’t have to be soft and gentle but can be sung passionately and louder, like a cry for help.
We have a lovely selection of songs for this term:- It’s Alright with Me;  Don’t Get Around Much Any More;  A Foggy Day; Every Time We Say Goodbye; and Girl from Ipanema.  This last song has given rise to much post class discussion about whether it makes much sense if you substitute ‘Boy’ for ‘Girl’.  Joy of joys, we’ve been supplied with the actual verse part for Foggy Day, a challenge indeed, which I may take up.  I was amazed to learn that some people in the group didn’t already know Foggy Day and Every time We Say Goodbye, but then I remembered that I was, er, shall we say, a little older than some of the group, who were too young to have been hearing these songs as they grew up.  Ah well!  And Ipanema is interesting because we can ‘vamp’, which means that the band plays a groove and we start the song when we feel ready, and the same for the ending.  Lyndsay our leader warns us not to get too carried away with power, 16 bars is enough time to wait!
I must thank our tutor Lyndsay Hannon for instructing us each week so ably, and also Alan Law on the piano, who has also produced a useful tape for us to sing along to at home.  
During the next 2 weeks we’ll be working with ‘our’ band, the lovely Blue Jazz Quintet, to prepare for our end of term gigs at the Newcastle Jazz Cafe, when we each sing about 3 songs, for an audience of family and friends.
And then what happens to us?  And Who knows Where or When?
Ann Alex. 

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