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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

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Greg Spero Trio - Splinter @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle.


Greg Spero (pno); Andy Champion (bs); Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
A truly magical evening by a charismatic young Chicagoan. Tell me another jazz musician who plays a gig in Cumbria then the following morning does a ten mile round trek to the top of Scafell - the highest peak in England? - Did Andy and Adrian go with him I wonder?
This was the the third gig of four for the trio and they have blended into an as one unit.
Mixing standards and originals from his latest CD, Acoustic, Spero mesmerised the room with his playing never more so than on the second number - Autumn Leaves.
The tune began with the leaves falling by my window but it developed logically to the point where the leaves weren't falling - the trees were being felled with a chainsaw! As the pianist's playing became more percussive drummer Tilbrook responded in kind and the tension became almost unbearable. "What a beast!" said Spero in praise of. Adrian's performance. Latin Fusion Blues saw more intensity as Greg explored the infinite permutations of the 12 bar form.
Alone Together - the melody splashed around until, once more, it built up into a fantastic Tilbrook driven climax. Amidst the magnificent musical mayhem Andy Champion stood tall cool and consistent providing the solidity and stability to the group.
There were so many highlights including Herbie Hancock's Sly with Andy switching to Bass Guitar that it's impossible to list them all. 
Zoe Gilby had a scat on one of the Kind of Blue tracks (Blue on Green)
This was an evening that will stay long in my memory. Just as ageing Canadians like saying "I heard Oscar at the Alberta Lounge in Montreal in 1947..." In years to come, after tonight, many will recall hearing Greg Spero at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle in 2012 - "I was there" they will boast even if they weren't!
Autumn Leaves. Latin Fusion Blues.
Lance.
PS: I'd intended to review Greg Spero's CD Acoustic but find I can't add anything to David Gosling's earlier review except to say that I don't care how many stars you gave it David - I'll double it!

2 comments :

Greg (on Facebook) said...

Hey Lance, thank you for the wonderful review of last night's concert. Keep in touch, and I look forward to seeing you next time I'm in England!

Anonymous said...

Just caught the second set but glad I did. Phenomenal.
Roly

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