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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

Monday, February 06, 2012

Anth Purdy @ The King’s Arms, Seaton Sluice. Sunday 5th February

Anth Purdy (gtr).
Arriving at a freezing, wind-swept Seaton Sluice – to the north Blyth’s off-shore wind turbines winking and waving through the gloom, the reassuring pristine-white St Mary’s lighthouse to the south – the King’s Arms was a welcoming sight from the main road. Would there be room at the inn? Just about – snug was the word. The beer ranged from session beer Deuchar’s IPA (3.9%) to the formidable Old Peculier (5.6). I opted for a pint of the formidable. 
A beautiful f-hole Gibson in repose, an as yet unoccupied stool, things were set fair. 
Guitarist Anthony Purdy cut a figure; youthful, chiseled looks, sharp suit, braces ‘n’ all. The publicity poster for the gig – ‘Swing Jazz Guitar’ – extolled the genius of Charlie Christian and Les Paul. Perhaps we’d hear reference to Barney Kessel or our own James Birkett? Purdy, a personable character, name-checked a raft of jazz ‘n’ blues guitar greats - Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker, Les Paul and Hank Marvin. ‘Hank Marvin!’ I hear you say. Why not? This was a guitar gig by a rockabilly player digging into the history of the music. He assumed – rightly – that the audience wasn’t a bona fide jazz crowd and mixed it up to good effect. 
Almost all of the tunes were Purdy’s, drawing heavily on the styles of his guitar heroes. Furthermore, Purdy worked with his own rhythm guitar backing tracks throughout. ‘Backing tracks!’ I can hear the hoots of derision from here. Don’t knock it, I say. Each of the tunes was brief and to the point. Purdy thought this rather apt as the guitar masters of the 30’s and 40’s were restricted to little more than two minutes due to the limitations of the phonographic recording process of the era. 
Stompin’ at the Savoy opened the set followed by any number of albeit highly derivative original compositions – Swiss Miss, Jazzin’ with the 125, Paris 1939, Dustbowl and others. Another pint of the formidable in hand and a second set of more of the same went down well. The 6 O’clock Jive, Mockingbird Swing, Jitterbug Stomp and Ain’t Misbehavin’. Purdy presented an entertaining set of tunes, lovingly played with a distinct jump-jive feel and this made for a welcome change to the usual take on the period guitar styles. 
The King’s Arms’ publican is supportive of Purdy’s efforts and there is another chance to hear him on Sunday 4th March (check out Bebop Spoken Here nearer the time). Meanwhile visit Anthony Purdy’s Myspace page – www.myspace.com/swingjazzguitar.uk
Russell      

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