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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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 05: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ 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

Thursday, June 07, 2012

CD Review: Gan Canny - The Blaydon Aces

Roly Veitch (vocals, guitar, banjo)  James Birkett (guitar, banjo).
(Review by Ann Alex).
This delightful cd couldn’t have been re-issued at a better time.  The great Geordie anthem, George Ridley’s Blaydon Races is one of the featured songs, and this Saturday, June 9, is the song’s 150th anniversary.  There is expected to be music in Newcastle city centre and at Blaydon itself, in celebration.  Then next Wednesday, June 13, you should get along to the Lit and Phil at 7.30pm to see Jim and Roly doing their stuff.  Grab a CD then if you can, as I predict that these will go fast.

The Blaydon Aces have given us a varied selection of mostly traditional Geordie songs, but with their own special take, including jazzy riffs, lovely guitar and banjo work, and Roly’s light-toned singing, which is relaxingly easy to listen to. And two of the songs are Roly originals – this man is a poet.  So here is a quick rundown of what you will hear:
Wor Geordie’s Lost His Penker – I couldn’t believe it, a Latin version of this amusing song, it made me smile from ear to ear.  Wherever Ye Gan, You’re Sure to Find a Geordie also had a Latin feel, and a Jim Birkett guitar solo followed, the lullaby Bonnie At Morn, beautifully played with tenderness.  Jim also did justice to Water of Tyne.  Roly sang and played banjo on Sair Fyeld Hinny, a moving song about getting older.  Other traditional local material included Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny; When This Aad Hat Was New; Bobby Shaftoe; Billy Boy; The Lambton Worm; and The Row Between The Cages, featuring an original tune.
Blaydon Races itself rolled along with a smooth fast accompaniment which sounded like a journey. The Roly originals were Canny Old Blaydon, a tribute to the buildings and sights of Blaydon which have now disappeared, and Gan Canny, a sort of feelgood love song wishing everyone well.  The CD is nicely rounded off with contemporary material, Jimmy Nail’s Big River, which gives the history of the river Tyne; and Alan Hull’s tribute to the North East, Fog on the Tyne.
Just for good measure, the CD insert shows a photo of the Tyne Bridge and The Sage, and there is a history of the Blaydon Race itself.  This music will certainly go down well in folk clubs and among many jazzers as well.  But I predict that the general Geordie public will love this too.  Any takers for a bet?
Ann Alex.

1 comment :

Liz said...

so enjoyed this CD,and an excellent review from Ann. I knew many of the tunes but not the words.Roly's voice is warm & soothing and these two fine musicians blend beautifully and sympathetically.
Liz

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