Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

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

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Tue 20: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Joe Deans.

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

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 26, 2012

Jazz Café Sunday

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Elliott Lewis (gtr); Dan Reed (dms).
Pete and Paul kicked it off with The Nearness of You and the two PGs gave plenty tips to the listeners on just how to play their instruments (PG Tips - get it?) meanwhile, during the bass solo, Pete took time out to phone a drummer. These two guys rank high in my ratings.
It was the usual audience mix at The Café by which I mean the unusual!
A contingent from the RSC were in and I'm told that later, after I'd left for the Splinter @ The Bridge gig, one of their number sat in on piano and impressed Peter Gilligan - no mean feat for a pianist.
Also in the audience was a party from Nottingham one of whom was guitarist Elliott Lewis who,  armed with his Maccaferri sat in and drew the first round of applause for his chorus on Take The A Train.
Elliott is with a gypsy style band - Maniere des Bohemiens who are supporting the Tea Pad Orchestra at The Cumberland Arms in April. If his fellow Bohemiens are of similar calibre it should be un formidable gigue.
Back to today. Next up was There Will Never Be Another You with all three guns blazing. Sweet Georgia Brown and I'll See You In My Dreams had Daniel Reed on drums - this really was the business.
Sadly, the young Djangologist had to leave at this point - he had about 8 minutes left to catch his train!
Hope he made it! Then again, if he didn't - Nottingham's loss would have been Newcastle's gain!
Lance.

2 comments :

Kaveh said...

Last night was wonderful at the Cafe' . There were two male singers for the first time, one was from Malaysia! I did not take that many shots, but have attached a couple just in case.
Kaveh

Lance said...

Thanks Kav, photos added to Jazz Café album

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