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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

Friday, December 02, 2011

Get your kicks on Elkie 66! - Elkie Brooks @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Elkie Brooks (vcl); Stevie Jones (ten); Melvin Duffy (gtr); Brian Badham (bs); Andrew Murray (keys); Lee Noble (keys/perc/vcl); Michael Richardson (dms).
This was AWESOME!. It had been 30 years since I'd last heard Elkie live. What would she be like? Had the voice held out? Was she now a frail old lady of 66? Would anyone turn up?
They turned up - boy did they turn up! Hall One was packed up to the rafters - this seems to be the norm for this tour - Sold Out notices everywhere.
Deservedly so. The voice, like Lilac Wine, has matured, ripened with age.
Age? What's that? This chick looked younger now than she did all those years ago (at least from Row P she did!)
And the agility! Elkie strutted and moved like a teenager before giving out with that rusty nail edged voice.
The old faves were here, Lilac Wine, Pearl's a Singer, Sunshine After The Rain, Fool if you Think it's Over etc plus belters like Gasoline Alley, Nights in White Satin and tender moments such as Perry Como's first hit Till The End of Time. Elkie explained that it was number one the year she was born - 1945. I think Perry would have liked Elkie's version - maybe even been a little jealous! If Billie Holiday had been around today she may have sounded like Elkie!
There were also selections from her latest CD - Powerless.. (Xmas hint here...)
Our girl looked stunning. A diva style gown for the first set, and, let's face it, she's a diva's diva, contrasted with  the slinky black number (see CD cover) she wore for the second set. She looked good in both.
The band provided great backing with Stevie Jones blowing some outstanding jazz/rock tenor.
This was some gig - I fell in love with Elkie back in 1980 doggone it but here I am in love again with the same sweet you!
Lance.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with every word written. Elkie is looking great and sounding great.Love her doing Freddie Kings "Tore Down" Her new "Powerless",cd is sooooo good. Her version of "To Make You Feel My Love" is just the best. I heard a French person say " if Elkie Brooks was French she be be made a national treasure" sounds good to me.

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