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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

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, March 04, 2012

A day in the life of a ...

...... Derby Day - that dreaded day in the calender when the soccer teams of Sunderland and Newcastle confront each other in a sporting fixture. The "game" had started at noon (how appropriate!) and I knew that it had ended in a 1 - 1 draw with both sets of hooligans - sorry I meant fans - claiming moral victory.
Sorry if I seem less than enthusiastic about the Beautiful Game, because it is beautiful, 'cept...the fans do  nothing to promote that image
Like I got on the bus and the driver told me to be careful where I sat as a passenger had "Spewed up". Now here I am being presumptive and it may have actually been the local Priest OD-ing on the Communion wine rather than a fan who'd been watching it in the pub.
Even in the Jazz Café drunks had infiltrated - hopefully they enjoyed the superb bebop lines that Gilligan/Forbes and Grainger laid down.
I made my way to the Bridge Hotel, thankful of a strong police presence on the street. Even here, in the bar, it was like open day at The Asylum and I was thankful for the sanctity of the upper room where the James Mainwaring Quartet (James Mainwaring (tenor sax); Nik Svarc (guitar); Michael Bardon (bass); Joost Hendricks (drums)had travelled up from Leeds to perform for another pitifully small number of enthusiasts.
However, given the conditions outside, perhaps the poor attendance can be understood.
This is a hard blowing combo that pushes the boundaries without breaking them. Mainly original material - significantly mixed with a Joe Henderson tune - Mainwaring blows paint-stripping tenor not unlike some of Henderson's work whilst Svarc's guitar playing is from the same genre perhaps tarred with a coat of Methany. For a small band they get a big sound  worthy of a bigger audience.
I only stayed for the first set but that was no reflection on the music more the desire for a safe passage home!
Photos.
Lance.

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