Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise 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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

September.

Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
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: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Sun 27: Salty Dog @ The Cluny. 12:30pm (doors). Free (donations).
Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Zach Sewell-Lara Hopper Quintet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free. Ruth Lambert (vocals); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Sun 27: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Alex Hitchcock Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £16.00., £14.00. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Anna Luca and her band, Library Theatre, South Shields, Wednesday July 18.

Anna Luca (vocals/keys); Christian Moorhen (percussion); Johans ? (electric bass guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex.)
This gig was a real bargain at £7.50 per ticket, which included a finger buffet, wine and the company of the Mayor of South Tyneside (Eileen Leask, my cousin, I couldn’t help mentioning that), and also a raffle ticket for an extra £1. The event was in aid of the Mayor’s charities so we were supporting good causes as well. The music was very enjoyable, not really jazz, but mostly sweet-voiced original songs from this very talented singer.
The content and singing style were somewhat reminiscent of Madeleine Peroux or Janis Ian. The guitarist was well skilled and the percussionist was fascinating to watch. It was a cut-down version of the conventional jazz kit, with ethnic instruments added. So we had the large wooden box which the player slaps and beats, and this also doubled as a bass drum. There were bells, shakey eggs, handclapping, and lots of brush work on the cymbals and snare drum. The latter was covered with a tea towel to dampen the sound. And the communication between drummer and singer was superb, presumably because they are married to each other. Nice work if you can get it.
That song was not on the menu, but we were treated to many love songs, such as Beautiful Love (not the Victor Young song from 1931 nor the 2006 song by "The Afters" but an original by Anna); songs about the singer’s fears and experiences, such as Listen and Wait (Anna said she is a person who acts too impulsively); The Harbour; Blue Hour (a beautiful song in German about twilight in Cologne). Promised Land included a delicate piano break and skilled work on the bass drum. Berlin, Berlin gave us an articulate pen picture of that city. We had a version of the Oasis song Wonderwall, with a skilfully adapted tune; Dark Thoughts with a Happy Mind had been written recently since the band had been at South Shields, as part of the exchange with South Shields twin town, Wuppertal, in Germany. The gig ended with an amusing encore, which Anna had written just before she and Christian married, You Can Keep What’s Yours and I Can Keep What’s Mine, about hanging on to your individuality, which seems like good advice.
Ann Alex

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