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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

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

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.

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 29, 2012

DAGDA w. JEAN TOUSSAINT - Splinter @ The Bridge, Newcastle.

Jean Toussaint (ten/sop); Tom Harrison (alt); Billy Adamson (gtr);  Tom West (bs); Mike Clowes (dms).
I can count on one finger the number of times I've heard a former Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers' tenor man play the Bridge Hotel. Somehow, Benny Golson, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter etc. didn't get around to it. Fortunately, Jean Toussaint did!
And he was in good company with the London based DAGDA - who'd drove up after a lunchtime gig at 7Arts Leeds
The late Chris Yates would have described Toussaint as "a tough tenor" and he'd have got it right!
The lithe alto solos of  Tom Harrison added to this musical experience and they  represent everything that is so good about many of the young players today. Tom has a lucidity about his playing that many older players would struggle to match. He simply soars like a Bird (and I use the word advisedly) breaking through the sound barrier at the speed of light. Breathtaking!
As for Jean Toussaint, you don't get to hold down the tenor chair with Art Blakey unless you're the hottest horn on the planet which, at the time, he was and indeed still is. Body and Soul (click here to watch YouTube clip from Adrian Tilbrook) was Coleman Hawkins updated to the twenty-first century and then some. These days he's also an educator which must surely be like a writer having Billy Shakespeare or Charlie Dickens for a teacher. There was much education laid down tonight.
The rhythm guys did the necessary with Adamson's solos adding another ingredient to the mix and bass and drums providing a solid foundation.
Gig of the Year material without doubt.
C'mon Arts Council England we can't afford to lose concerts like this!
Photos by Adrian Tilbrook.
Lance.

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