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, August 30, 2012

Natalie Williams Trio @ Cadogan Hall

Natalie Williams (vcl); Phil Peskett (pno); Robin Mullarkey (bs).
(Review by Lance)
Cadogan Hall is one of the nicest concert halls and, even the smaller Culford Room was an impressive setting with its pillars and celtic knotted ceiling. It made for an intimate, yet very well attended lunchtime gig.
This was the first time I'd heard Ms Williams and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. From the opening bars of Falling in love With Love I felt the disappointment of having the plug pulled on tonight's Seth McFarlane gig at Ronnie's quickly ebb away. This girl is the biz!
Skylark, Come Rain or Come Shine (where she paused mid-chorus to admonish a member of the audience for allowing their mobile to ring in the wrong key!) Sleeping Bee and The Old Country from the well known lp by Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley all served to rubber stamp her credentials as she swooped and soared, taking liberties with the lyric and the melody but always getting home on time!
Lazy Afternoon was just that - relaxed and laid back. Nobody Out There Like You - an original of Natalie's - was an absolute gem leading us into Stevie Wonder's Love's in Need of Love Today.
Interval time and, although some left, there were plenty others to take their place.
Throughout all this, Phil Peskett was outstanding on the Yamaha Grand with solos that must surely have spurred Ms Williams to reach the heights she did. Mullarkey on bass guitar was also a vital element both in support and solo.
The shorter second set was more contemporary with numbers by Metheny, The Bee Gees and a couple of originals that showed her to be no mean composer either.
Seth McFarlane? - Never heard of him!
Lance.

3 comments :

Liz said...

I love that number "sleepin' bee" remember Barbra Streisand singing it in "Funny girl"not an easy number to sing either. Sounds as though you were as thrilled with Cadogan Hall as I was earlier in the year Lance
Liz

Anonymous said...

Anyone help me with the name of the Metheny track so beautifully delivered? Think the Bee Gees one was "Emotions" originally relaesed by Samantha Sang in 1978. Great gig, outstandingly entertaining.

Lance said...

The Metheny tune was "James". Don't ask me who James was!

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