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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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, June 30, 2012

Strictly Smokin' Big Band - Blowing Up a Storm whilst Blowing in the Wind!


(Review by Lance).
Michael Lamb (md), Kevin Eland,Tom Hill, Joe Taylor (tpts); Michael Ferris, Peter Lavery, John flood, Pez Peres (tmbs); Alan Marshall, Nadiah Killick, (altos); Paul Gowland, Claude Werner (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Chris Finch (pno.) Pav (gtr); Michael Want (bs); Guy Swinton (dms). Angela Lyons James Hedley (vcl).
When Angela, depping for Steph, sang Too Darn Hot I couldn't help but think that this was the most inappropriate number for today! This was Newcastle in June - not Memphis. Nevertheless she sang it good and for a few brief moments the sun came out and it was at least warm.
The SSBB defied the winds which threatened to sweep the music sheets from the stands off into the unknown to play a couple of great sets. 
Set up beneath the arches of Byker Bridge in the pub smoking area - how appropriate was that?, the opening Night in Tunisia told us that they were up for it. Lady Be Good had a very well executed sax section chorus. The dynamics of this band are spot on and Big Dipper - is that a Jones/Lewis arrangement? - found a nice groove.
Leader Lamb took most of the trumpet solos playing very effectively within his comfort zone.
Paul Gowland is an awesome tenor player but so is Claude (and Alan Marshall who was on alto today) and it would have been good to have heard a little more from Chile's Ambassador For Jazz. My wish is for a Basie/Hampton tenor tear up between Paul and Claude - this would be the musical version of Ali-Frazier.
Angela looked good and sounded good - even Russell commented which tells you that she was something else. Straighten Up and Fly Right,  Slow Boat To China, Time After Time all done well. And of course the duet with James Hedley - I Won't Dance - such a great arrangement.
James did the Rat Pack thing brilliantly - Ain't That a Kick in The Head etc.
However, the instrumental number I enjoyed most was Jan Savitt's 720 in the Books. Never heard it for years - not since Alan Dell left the mortal airwaves - and, although it was, they said, their first public performance of this great number, they played it as well as the prevailing east winds would allow.
A great gig with good beer, company and great music. Get along to the Punchbowl to hear them on the last Thursday in the month - it's warmer in there!
Lance.

2 comments :

Liz said...

Ah! Alan Dell...how we all miss him, Sundays will never be quite the same again on Radio 2. The magic line up being Parky, Benny Green , Alan Dell..later on of course David Jacobs who is still on, but oh so late.I must make mention of Neil Foster who plays some great show tunes on BBC Radio York every sunday eve 7/9pm Enjoyed this review, you are so jazz rich up there
Liz

Russell said...

Chile's Ambassador For Jazz (aka Claude the Great)saved his contribution for the encore - Tito Puente's Oye Coma Va. Werner stood up and played it as only he can. I agree it would be something special to hear Claude and Paul Gowland in a blowing session. Perhaps at the Bridge or Hoochie Coochie.

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