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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 25, 2012

Gateshead International Jazz Festival – Greater North Jazz Showcase Saturday March 24.

Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra & The Sharkestra
Voice of the North: John Warren (conductor), Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone), Katie Hawcutt (tenor saxophone), Andy Bennett (alto saxophone), Rod Mason (alto saxophone & flute), Niall Armstrong (baritone saxophone), Chris Hibbard, Alex Leathard, Don Fairley, Rosie Nichols (trombones), Kim Macari, Shaun Eland, Jonathan Dunn, Greg Nicholas (trumpets), Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Adrian Tilbrook (drums) (missing names from Kim Macari and Adrian Tilbrook.)
The Northern Rock Foundation Hall is the intimate performance space at the festival and as has become tradition this is the platform to hear the best north of England jazz talent. On this occasion the principals hailed from northern climes: conductor John Warren from Canada (English resident) and from north of the border, Graeme Wilson (English resident). The affable Scot is a composer of note and this was an opportunity to hear his music (much of it written and arranged for Voice of the North). 
The New Wallaw (a tune inspired by Wilson’s visit to a sadly neglected cinema in Blyth, Northumberland) opened the afternoon programme. Band warmed up, Chuck’s 400 (a nod to the great Chuck Berry), featured bass trombone ace Chris Hibbard and pocket-powerhouse trumpeter Kim Macari. Wilson’s travels have inspired a number of tunes and we departed for Kyoto and New York. Andy Bennett turned Japanese (I really think so) with some blistering work on alto and the band took a bruising on Streets of Furs. Travelling from Japan to America there was time to hear the lyrical side of Alex Leathard and Rosie Nichol (trombones) and The Sycamore featured an extended solo from the award-winning Jonathan Dunn (flugelhorn). 
The rhythm section is the foundation of the band and there is a copper-bottomed guarantee that all will be well in the hands of drummer (and fixer) Adrian Tilbrook, bassist Andy Champion, guitarist Mark Williams and Paul Edis (piano). 
Voice of the North is the band to hear and there will be precious few further opportunities to hear this stellar outfit. Shall we call it ‘funding difficulties’? Call it what you will - I call it cultural neglect, vandalism and down-right criminal – this fantastic long-term project is about to wither and die. Short of being a wealthy philanthropist do the decent thing and take the chance to hear the band in Saltburn (May 4th) and again (finally?) in the autumn back on Tyneside with a soon-to-be-revealed big band big bash blow-out.
Sharkestra
A work in progress project guarantees one thing – surprise. The Sharkestra is a constantly evolving band of highly talented emerging musicians mentored by the charismatic Chris Sharkey. Gateshead lad Sharkey is busy as a mercurial guitarist (notably trio VD) yet he has found the time to work with a pool of Sage-based musicians keen to learn and develop their skills. Weeks, months of work culminated in a performance in front of a standing-room only crowd. Think Sun Ra, think Frank Zappa, think fez, sombrero, smiles and no mean playing and you begin to get an idea what this band is about. Sharkey coaxes a performance – individually and collectively – from his charges, leaping into the sections, suggesting this, suggesting that, all the while the band blazing. The Sharkestra is an experience – try it sometime.
Attending a performance in another hall meant I missed out on Gogo Penguin and Roller Trio. I’ve heard the latter live – they’re good. The former? I have it on good authority that they were rather good too. If you were at the Greater North Jazz Showcase you are welcome to post a review…
Russell

1 comment :

John Warren (on Facebook) said...

Thanks Russell, for the kind words about the Voice of the North gig. And the plaudits for Kim. And to the other outstanding soloists in the band at that concert. But we also owe great thanks to the other gang from south of the border (as I refer to Yorkshireites) Greg
Nicholas, Rosie Nicholl, Katie Hawcutt (and our regular stalwart Rod Mason) for filling in for the regular members of the band who were unavailable.
And thank you for making the point about the criminal waste of the musical legacy that will be lost with the demise of the Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra . It is appalling to think that such a resource could be wasted. The quantity and quality of creative and challenging music that has been commissioned by Jazz Action for the band, and the committment and dedication of all the musicians in the North East who have brought it to fruition, is staggering. I cannot think of a single large ensemble in the country who can boast a library of original music by Tim Garland, Jason Yarde, Issie Barratt, Bob Mintzer, Andy Sheppard, Mark Nightingale, Steve Waterman & John Warren.

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