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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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: 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: ???

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, November 16, 2012

Swing City Quartet @ The Customs House, South Shields

Steve Andrews (ten/clt/whistle); Paul Edis (pno/fl); Roly Veitch (gtr/vcl); Roy Cansdale (bs).
(Review by Lance.)
In the big picture, I suppose I could be excused for referring to this as a low-profile gig although the 60.or so paying customers, myself included might disagree.
I'm not going to go out on a limb and vote it as my gig of the year but, tell you what, it's up there in a photo finish!
I can't begin to tell you - those of you who chickened out of visiting South Shields on a rainy Friday evening -  just what a delightful session this was.
I knew they were playing for keeps when they tuned up before going into Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.
Steve has acquired a new Conn tenor - 1928 I think he said which is new for him. It had a nice sound but, by the end of the tune he was back on the old faithful pre Adolphe Sax model. He sounded good on both instruments - Steve would sound good on a penny whistle. what am I saying? later on he did just that!
I Wished on the Moon - is there a better tune? and Roly sang it beautifully in that light jazz tenor voice that is so compelling. Compelling because Roly's vocals always convey the impression that he is going to miss the note and you hold your breath.
He never does.
Apart from the vocal and Steve's switch to clarinet the number brought Paul Edis into the forefront. Paul's fill ins behind the vocal were absolutely spot on and his solo reminded me, not of Bill Evans, but John Lewis with MJQ. Just some little chromatic phrases that stuck. And I speak with authority as I've just received 5 MJQ CDs to review! Which reminds me - anyone want to review Mile's last 5 discs?
Back to tonight.
Steve cut loose on clarinet on Struttin' With Some Barbecue moving over to tenor after Paul's solo. When the Mafia hear that Paul Edis has been playing Struttin' With Some Barbecue he'll probably be excommunicated. Moonlight in Vermont was as beautiful as that tune always is before Paul had a solo feature on Tatum's version of Tea for Two - awesome! The set finished off with Nuages and Tangerine.
Let me also mention Steve's patter - tonight it was really good and, if he ever hangs up his saxophones, a career in stand-up awaits - if vaudeville was still around he wouldn't be bottom of the bill.
The tin whistle emerged for a spirited version of All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (if only!).
The show rolled on and I didn't see anyone leave - how could they?
Roly sang The Touch of Your Lips (Paul on flute) and Fine and Dandy was just that!
Paul played Bix's In A Mist. He played it beautifully but, for me, it needed to be quieter, more subtle. This may have been the sound engineer cranking up the volume but I felt it lost the tenderness of the original or, say, Marian McPartland's interpretation. After all it is In a Mist, not Hurricane Sandy
Still, a minor quibble - Paul was brilliant throughout not least in Lester Leaps In when he threw in 8 bars of stride on the release - magic.
Steve superb Hawkins/Webster tenor, Goodmaneseque clarinet.
Roly a tower of strength on rhythm guitar and occasional inspired solos and vocals.
I haven't mentioned him until now but Roy Cansdale was on the money. Soloing only sporadicallyally he, nevertheless, ensured the rhythmic pulse was there and, who cares if there wasn't a drummer - nasty smelly things!
Take a bow guys.
My God I've never wrote a review of this length - it must have been good!
Photos.
Lance.




1 comment :

Jean Hogg said...

I enjoyed your review on Roly Veitch & Co (A damn good read)
I have always found his wistful voice so well matched to the intimate songs he chooses and his guitar style is bliss to my ears. Just bought the CD"Wrap your troubles in dreams"

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