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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

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Cherry Tree. Monday March 26.

Lewis Watson (ten); Paul Edis (pno); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms).
Photo courtesy of Jerry Edis.
The Cherrytree is evolving into a really excellent jazz venue. Somehow it has managed to combine being a very good restaurant with presenting the best of regional (and sometimes national) jazz musicians. 
For some reason,. much to its credit, it has become the favoured location in which to hear the elusive and excellent Lewis Watson and last night he was with Paul Edis, Paul Susans and Rob Walker. Although the advertising said the Lew Watson Quartet, I was very pleased to see that it was Lewis who was actually playing. I'm not sure if this was a rebranding exercise or a cunning disguise but I don't think it works. It's a bit like talking about Johnnie Coltrane...I last heard Lewis and Paul play together in an improvised session during the day long gig at the Lit and Phil last year and they really do play well together. The beauty about the Cherrytree is that for the jazz fan, you get to hear great undiluted jazz, and both Lewis and Paul were playing excellently and very well supported by Paul and Rob. While at the same time, those who are only interested in the food carry on regardless but without disrupting the music. Last night there were at least two tables where people chatted away oblivious to the music, while the rest of us feasted on some great jazz.
The other thing I like is that most of the time the musicians just play and don't engage in long conversations with the audience. In fact I think the only comment made by Lewis all night was a laconic 'No' when an innocent member of the audience asked if he played requests. Sadly, circumstances out of my control meant I had to leave before the end so I never did hear if he played Greensleeves.
JC

2 comments :

Lance said...

Just as John Dankworth was always Johnny Dankworth to me so Lewis will always be Lew.
What next - Andrew Sheppard?

Anonymous said...

Hi

professionally I prefer to be known as Lewis, but

socially Lew is ok,

Lewis Watson

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