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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Elaine Binney and the "Carnival of Crows." Wooden Doll, North Shields

Elaine Binney (vln); Eliza Lawson (vcl); Steve Brown (keys); Keith Mills (bs); Jae Brooks (dms).
The Jazz Rascals are now The Carnival of Crows - not a name that rolls easily off the tongue.
Elaine explained - Folk are perplexed when they see "Jazz". Is it Trad? Is it Modern? Is it way out? They are confused.
So, for the moment, it Is Carnival of Crows - albeit a work in progress..
I ordered a pint of Oxford Gold and asked the Landlord if the Sunday afternoons were regular gig? " yes" he replied, adding perhaps a little too hastily, "It isn't always jazz though." 
Maybe Elaine was right to remove 'Jazz' from the band's name!
The room was indeed crowded seemingly contradicting my claim that grass roots jazz was in crisis. However, 90% of the audience, I guess, were friends and family of the band. Indeed, as the children danced in front of the band, I began to think these Rascally Crows must have done more begatting than the twelve tribes of Israel combined!
I jest - The Music.
It was their tried and tested repertoire and it still sounded good as Elaine floated through it with ease. Vocalist Eliza added some wordless  sounds that had a really evocative effect. Eliza does them well soaring effortlessly above the ensembles - I even listened to my second Summertime in a row without cringing too much (lie!) and her chorus on Ain't Misbehavin' was bizarre but beautiful.
Elaine herself was on fire playing some sizzling choruses that made me fear thar the fiddle could soon be in flames.
Fritz Kreisler may have been turning in his grave but five will get you ten that Stephane wasn't!
This was a good afternoon. Great band, crowded room, good beer - what did the Bridge hold? Over to Russell.
Photos.
Lance.

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