Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: ''It was then that Coltrane came along and single-handedly brought this dimension of spirituality into jazz. It was a pivotal experience to me.'' (DownBeat September, 2026)

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

18957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 821 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 30.) 100.

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

From This Moment On

October.

Mon 05: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 05: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 06: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. Paul Grainger (double bass).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Murray Oak, Paul Grainger, John Bradford.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. First night of two.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 07: Black is the Color of My Voice @ Northern Stage, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman stage play inspired by Nina Simone. Second night of two.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).
Thu 08: Indigo Jazz Voices w. Little Big Band @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 09: Dean Stockdale Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Fri 09: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle.

Sat 10: Catfish Keith @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £19.00. + bf. Jumpin’ Hot Club.

Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free. Feat. guest Jack ‘Banjo’ Courtney (trumpet).
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Harry Christelis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A Jazz Co-op-JNE co-promotion.

Monday, May 07, 2012

Gabriele mit drei @ The Bridge Hotel. Sunday May 6

Gabriele Heller (vocals), Paul Beck (piano), Steve Glendinning (guitar) & Dave Parker (double bass).
(Review by Russell)
Gabriele Heller is a graduate of Lindsay Hannon’s jazz vocal class at The Sage. I first came across Gabi when she sat in at Dave Weisser’s jazz workshop at The Chillingham. 
First impressions were good; a presence, dark, low register vocal delivery, eager to play with the lyric. Since that first hearing Heller has gigged intermittently, picking up a band along the way. She combines an exploration of early or ‘classic’ jazz vocal styles, the blues, well-chosen standards and a smattering of original compositions. An invitation to perform at Splinter at The Bridge represented a significant development in her fledgling career as a jazz singer.
The set at The Bridge kicked-off with Darktown Strutters’ Ball (I’m sure I’ve heard Ms.Hannon do this one). Splinter audiences don’t get to hear material from the tumultuous twenties ‘jazz age’- the musicians studiously avoid it but I wonder…what if some of the north east’s superb young instrumentalists and vocalists took a look at this stuff? I’d be willing to bet there would be some interesting results! 
Guitarist Steve Glendinning featured on his own composition Broken Silence (lyrics Heller), pianist Paul Beck laid down a blues feel on Imagination and Heller scored top marks with her Weimar German/English lyrics on Falling in Love Again. The set drew to a close with Old Devil Moon. I love the tune and comparisons are said to be odious but, hey Gabi, this one belongs to Ruth Lambert! 
Second set. Lullaby of Birdland. Now you’re talking Gabi! This was the undoubted highlight of the evening. It swung, great vocal, piano and guitar. Inch Worm worked with Beck and Heller prominent and a Heller original – Don’t Mess Around with Me – was pure Berlin cabaret (more good guitar from Glendinning and sympathetic accompaniment from bassist Dave Parker). Heller has an obvious affinity with the vocal style of Billie Holiday and working without a drummer is a brave move (a good drummer can make anything swing). Heller’s approach is certainly different and how things will develop is anyone’s guess. Gabriele Heller is at The Jazz Café on Saturday 2 June (9:00 pm-ish).
Russell.          
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