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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

Friday, March 02, 2012

PG3 plus guests @ Jazz Café (Thursday 1 March)

Peter Gilligan (pno), Paul Grainger (bs), Daniel Reed (dms) plus Dai Pritchard (alto sax), Marizio Minardi (sop. sax, piano), Richard Henry (bass tmb), Lindsay Hannon (vcl), Adrian Lukis (vcl), ?(vcl), ??(vcl)
Alan Law once began an item on this blog (about Lennart Anderson dropping into the Jazz Café and blowing up a storm) with the words “hope you don’t mind me breaking convention, but I need to review my own gig!!!, but its not about me!”.  I suspect that Alan’s writing is of a higher quality (as is his playing) but I’m driven by similar feelings to do the same.
Last night at the Café, Gilligan was displaying a deft touch during a first set of soft, tender ballads with sensitive support from drummer Dan Reid (whose playing seems to unveil ever more depth and colour each time he sits behind the kit).  During the break the company and musicians of the RSC arrived and the roof came off during the next set.  The thespians in the audience were up for a good time and everyone who took the stand responded.
Richard Henry (Back to Basie Orchestra/ Carla Bley/ Julian Joseph big bands) and Marizio Minardi (Brandon Allen/Quentin Collins) weaved magic over How Insensitive Dai Pritchard (formerly Loose Tubes, currently Pasadena Roof Orchestra) unleashed his funky side over Summertime and Cantaloupe Island.  The personnel changed – and tunes came – thick and fast, all anchored by Pete Gilligan's solid playing.  At one point the three horns together delivered a very spirited All the Things You Are (I seem to recall) in which their lines were so together it sounded like one musician.  
Lindsay Hannon arrived at around 11 (“I just called in for five minutes on my way home”) and sang – amongst others – My Funny Valentine.  During Marizio’s solo Richard and Pete picked up on rhythmic changes in each others playing and the rhythm section followed into a couple of choruses on a ska beat before returning to the original feel for Lindsay’s last chorus.  A number of singers from the assembled company (sorry my hands were full of double bass so I couldn’t note names) sang lovely versions of a number of standards, including a great swinging/shuffle around God Bless the Child.  
Later Adrian Lukis sang Satin Doll with a delivery that Rex Harrison would have been proud of.
If I’ve forgotten anything or anyone, please accept my apologies. It was a blistering, lively, exciting night that ended with an appropriate finale that involved the entire audience dancing whilst the horns, Lindsay (whose five minutes had extended to about four and a half hours) and the rhythm section, traded on a funk jam.  Some days I just feel very lucky to be in the right place at the right time – and this was one of them.
Photos by Kaveh.
Paul Grainger.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Kav's photo absolutely captures the atmosphere. The photo of Dietrich looking down just rounds it off - wish I'd been there.

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