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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Friday, October 26, 2012

A Gardenia for Lady Day: Cecile Mclorin Salvant Sage Hall 2 Thursday October 25

Cecile Mclorin Salvant (vocals); Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/cornet); Jean-Francois Bonnel  (ten/alt sax and clarinet);  Martin Litton (piano); Roly Veitch (guitar); Manu Hagmann (bass); Richard Pite (drums). (Review by Ann Alex).
What a good time was had by all!  Nearly every seat on all three levels of Hall 2 was occupied for this tribute to Billie Holiday, sung by Ms Mclorin Salvant, who was an attractive, elegant lady in red, with large-framed spectacles.  Her voice has many vocal colours, sweet and persuasive, pleadingly sad, then wonderfully dark and rich in the lower ranges.  The emphasis was on the songs that Billie sang in the 1930’s, a relatively happier time of her life.  Our singer brought her own style to the songs, with effective interpretations.  I felt that she could have had an alternative career as an actor.
And what of the musicians?  To say that they were well up to the job would be an understatement.  They were a great band in their own right, very entertaining and skilled, teaming well with the singer.  Outstanding solos from Bonnel, of whom one person said was the nearest thing to Lester Young he’d ever heard, and Tomasso on both trumpet and cornet, they looked as if they were really enjoying themselves – we certainly were!.
The Swiss bass player hummed along gently to his own bowing in a manner, one of my colleagues said, that was reminiscent of Slam Stewart.  Litton, a skilled pianist of many styles, Pite, a drummer who knew instinctively when to be discreet with cymbals and brushes and when to let rip for his solos. Towards the end of the concert he even juggled with the drumsticks.  I thought I’d had too much to drink, then realised it was really happening.  And of course, on guitar, our own Roly Veitch, who acquitted himself with honours, especially in the trio number featuring Cecile accompanied only by acoustic guitar and clarinet - I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me. Roly's chordal solos, I'm told, brought to mind Carl Kress or Dick McDonough. Whatever, they sounded good to me!
In a performance which was rich in evocative songs it’s difficult to pick out specials, but the first song boded well for the rest of the gig - A Sailboat in the Moonlight and You. Lover Come Back to Me opened with just voice and bass, and I wondered how on earth the singer knew when to come in!  The trumpet on this was tremendous! There were 2 lighter songs, some would call them novelty songs, Twenty Four Hours a Day and Miss Brown to You.  I wish more singers would do these little gems, as they add lightness to the more serious material. On The Sentimental Side was played with the sax following the voice and some tender trumpet.  The second half opened well with a gutsy version of I Gotta Right to Sing the BluesIf Dreams Come True was dedicated to Lester Young, and “The nearest thing to Lester Young” certainly is a “presidential candidate”.  The gig rounded off with a lively Them There Eyes. A well deserved encore, On the Sunny Side of the Street, gave band and singer a last chance to let rip.
This was a great pre-party event before the main Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party, which starts today (Friday October 26).  Fully booked now, sorry, people who missed getting tickets and, please note, already tickets are going fast for next year.  Feel sorry for me, I’m working this weekend.
Ann Alex

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