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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17972 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 293 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (April 22).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

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

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Randy Brecker w. SNJO and Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh May 25.


Randy Brecker (tpt) w. SNJO - Ryan Quigley, Tom MacNiven, Cameron Jay, Lorne Cowieson (tpts); Chris Greive, Phil O'Malley, Kevin Garrity, Michael Owers (tmbs); Martin Kershaw, Paul Towndrow (alt); Tommy Smith (MD), Konrad Wiszniewski (ten); Bill Fleming (bar); Steve Hamilton (pno/keys); Kevin Glasgow (bs); Kevin Mackenzie (gtr); Alyn Cosker (dms).
This was an incredible evening - a living legend in the form of Randy Brecker, arguably the world's best big band and a youthful ensemble that may one day be playing with them.
The big picture was a tribute to the late Michael Brecker, younger brother of tonight's headliner. All compositions were by Michael Brecker and the variety and the authoritativeness of his writing showed just why he'd won so many Grammys. Big brother Randy displayed an awesome technique both open horned and muted as well as by occasionally incorporating various effects units. Not that this was a case of USA 5 Scotland 1.
Far from it.

In Ryan Quigley Scotland have a trumpet player who can hold his own with anyone - even Randy Brecker. Tom MacNiven also impressed on flugel whilst among the reeds MD Tommy Smith's tenor fitted well into the role of Brecker jr. as did Konrad W. with altoists Towndrow and Kershaw too having their chance to put the boot in. Kevin Mackenzie had some tasty moments on guitar but, great as the soloists are with SNJO, it is the power and the depth, the light and the shade of the band that is their strength. If this band were allowed to go under because of funding problems it would be the biggest Scottish disaster since Culloden.
Earlier, Brecker had made an appearance with the Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dan Hallam.
With a three girl vocal group (The St. Andrew's Sisters?) they gave a spirited work out to The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B. America's own bugle boy blew on the next number giving the young players something to add to their CV.
A pre-show talk between Brecker and Tommy Smith revealed much about the brothers early musical lives and, in answer to my question, Randy said he had a couple of projects in the offing one of which was a Brecker Brothers alumni reunion with such as David Sanborn and Mike Stern. Another mouthwatering prospect but, for the moment, I'll savour for eternity tonight's gig.
Incidentally, should you visit the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh (Carol Kidd's on next week with Brian Kellock) then go early. There's a host of book shops, record shops, charity shops, pubs nearby - Princes Street? Forget it - this is the real Edinburgh.
Lance.
Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra: Dan Hallam (MD); Florence Clark, Manon Davis,  Cameron Sanderson, Fergus Kelly (alt); Michael Tai, Max Clee (ten); Jarvan Herman (bar). Aaron Akugbo, Magnus Westwell, Michael Watson, David Watson, Michaila Mark (tpts); Rory Hand, Euan Fraser, Conor Joss, Leon Ballin, Adam Crighton (tmbs); Ali Gray, Stephen Jack, Gus Cassie, Jack Westwell, James Paul (rhythm); Anna Kaye, Rushee Morton, Anna McLuckie (vcl group).

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