Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ 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: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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

Monday, December 17, 2012

Lindsay Hannon Plus/Jam Session @ Splinter @ The Bridge. Sunday December 16.

Lindsay Hannon (vcl); James Harrison (pno); John Pope (bs); Mark Robertson (dms) + Paul Gowland (ten); Graham Hardy (tpt), Gabriele Heller, Keiran, Belinda Voshtina, Zoe Gilby, Dave Weisser (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
It was free entry for the end of season jam and, as such, the room was full although it has to be said most folk seemed  to be donating generously.
The new line-up of Lindsay Hannon Plus got the ball rolling with The Doors' I Am a Spy. After some initial hesitancy new pianist James Harrison slotted in fine. James always looks as if he is having the time of his life and he probably is.  So Long Big Time and The End of a Love Affair followed before Paul Gowland joined them for The Very Thought of You.
Paul was in good form. Lullaby of Birdland showed off all five to advantage.
Lindsay took a well-earned breather and Graham Hardy stepped up to join Paul for a blistering I'll Remember April. I may not remember April but I'll certainly remember this! Graham's trumpet solo was almost saxophonic in its long flowing lines, Paul matched him and James managed to slot in a quote from Royal Garden Blues. John Pope too had humorous moments during his prodigious bass solo whilst Mark kicked seven shades out of the kit in the exchange of 4's and 8's with Paul.
Interval time.
High Level Bitter was tonight's chosen brew and it went down well with the delights on stage.
The second set saw Gabby open up with (not so) Softly as in a Morning Sunrise complete with scat chorus. Over the past couple of years her voice and stage presence have reached a stage where she can command an audience's rapt attention. Apart from Gabby, Paul blew an emotive solo on Good Morning Heartache.
Tonight was starting to look like a late Gig of the Year contender!
A young man, Keiron, was next. Totally unaccompanied he sang the verse to a well known standard but what was it?
This day and age we’re living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like Third Dimension
Yet we get a trifle weary
Of Mr. Einstein’s theory
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension.
No matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed…
You must remember this...
As Time Goes By. Sung beautifully.
Graham and Paul worked out on Cherokee at tempo de lick then another tender moment.
Belinda Voshtina sang When Sunny Gets Blue accompanied only by James on keyboard. I prayed nobody would drop a pin - it would have been deafening.
Nobody did although the applause at the end showed the audience's approval.
Zoe did the business on You'd be so Nice to Come Home to followed by BSH's latest reviewer Dave Weisser who, sans trumpet, sang I Love The Life I Live - excellent.
As I left for the number 27, Lindsay was taking off on Caravan.
It had been quite a night!
Lance.

2 comments :

Lance said...

PS: I should have also mentioned that Lindsay was fantastic!

Bill and Maureen said...

What a great night out it was at the Bridge last night. Hope the people who organized it get a big thank you, especially Zoe.

Blog Archive