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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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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