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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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

Liverpool's First International Jazz Festival.

The Capstone Theatre is delighted to announce a new International Jazz Festival to launch from 28th February 3rd March 2013, in Liverpool - the UK’s music capital.  For a full four days the Liverpool International Jazz Festival and the Capstone Theatre will come alive to the sounds of Roller Trio, Led Bib, Robert Mitchell,Kit Downes Quintet, Denys Baptiste's Triumvirate and Courtney Pine to name a few highlights, and all under one roof.
Some of the finest names on the national and international jazz scene are set to demonstrate that the spirit of jazz is still swingin’ and jumpin’ in Liverpool and some programmed events are absolutely free.
In the short time since its opening in 2010, The Capstone Theatre has established itself as the city's leading venue for cutting edge jazz and world music.  This new festival is going all out to showcase original and innovative instrumental sounds from an array of high profile artists to satisfy the genre lovers and to introduce the fascinating world of jazz to a whole new generation of music fanatics.
The Capstone Theatre’s Neil Campbell said 'The Festival will be the first of its kind in Liverpool and will give the opportunity to bring together some of the most high profile national and international artists alongside some of the City's most creative local jazz musicians. Since beginning its ongoing series of jazz concerts two years ago, starting with a concert by sax legend Courtney Pine, The Capstone has staged concerts by some of the most interesting and excellent international jazz artists including Dennis Rollins, Neil Cowley, Zoe Rahman, Martin Taylor, Gwilym Simcock, Lighthouse, Jah Wobble, Stacey Kent, Kairos 4tet, Tigran, Eduardo Niebla, Phronesis, Portico Quartet and Tommy Smith. I think that through The Capstone's programme, Merseyside audiences are being given the opportunity to experience world class musicians who otherwise would not have performed in the City.'
Thursday 28th February will see the festival open in smooth style with Roller Trio. Described by BBC’s Radio’sGilles Peterson as “Dark, menacing, bass heavy – the new sound of UK jazzzzzzz” .On 1st March, just as the weekend arrives Led Bib, one of the original torch bearers for the revitalized young British jazz scene –a maverick jazz band and an unlikely rock quintet will be headlining the second day of the festival. The third day of the festival will not be slowing down as composer, teacher and pianist Robert Mitchell, a throwback to that powerful tradition of artistic mastery in pursuit of transcendence, takes to the stage, followed by the Kit Downes Quintet, the dark and detailed, colorful and chaotic new project from UK pianist and composer Kit Downes.
Sunday 3rd March will see London Jazz artist Denys Baptiste performing with his new trio Triumvirate. Consisting of double bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Moses Boyd, Triumvirate take quality songs of the recent past - think Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and D'Angelo's Brown Sugar - and reinterpret them in trio format to present familiar material in an unfamiliar way.
The Festival will culminate in a final concert by jazz legend Courtney Pine, who returns to The Capstone with his phenomenal House of Legends TourAn inspirational icon to many young, upcoming musicians, Courtney is known extensively for this saxophone and clarinet mastery however he is a multi-instrumentalist who is also able to play the flute, and keyboard. Awarded an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2009 Courtney’s other accolade is his appearance in a jazz quartet in an episode of Doctor Who! The jazz maestro launched The Capstone's jazz programme back in 2010 with a sell-out performance and this concert promises to be something very special.
No festival in Liverpool would be complete without the very best in native talent and the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is no exception.  Supporting these jazz supremos will also be a series of free performances by Liverpool jazz musicians, including Blind Monk Trio, Martin Smith’s The Weave, Perri and Neil Quartet, White Canvasand GORP.
Exclusive to the Liverpool International Jazz Festival, The Capstone Theatre and specialist woodwind retailer Curly Woodwind will present two free saxophone workshops and masterclasses. The first will see renowned saxophone recording artist, author and composer Pete Thomas, alongside legendary sax stars Bobby Wellins and Tony Kofi, discuss how to achieve the best sound on your instrument. The second class will see professional saxophonist, consultant and teacher Graeme Turner offer the very best advice on how to improvise effectively.
Liverpool’s newest music event, the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is set to become an annual event with the Capstone Theatre at its very heart.  More information can be found on www.thecapstonetheatre.com
Follow us on facebook @Liverpool International Jazz Festival and twitter @LpoolJazzFest
LISTING INFORMATION
Roller Trio
Thursday 28th February 2013, 7.30pm
£12.50
Martin Smith’s The Weave
Thursday 28th February 2013, 10pm
Free admission
Led Bib
Friday 1st March, 7.30pm
£12.50
GORP
Friday 1st March, 10pm
Free admission
Robert Mitchell
Saturday 2nd March, 2pm
£10
White Canvas
Saturday 2nd March, 4.30pm
Free admission
Kit Downes Quintet
Saturday 2nd March, 7.30pm
£12.50
Perri and Neil Quartet
Saturday 2nd March, 10pm
Free admission
Denys Baptiste’s Triumvirate
Sunday 3rd March, 3pm
£12.50
Blind Monk Trio
Sunday 3rd March, 5.30pm
Free admission
Courtney Pine House of Legends
Sunday 3rd March, 8pm
£17.50
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS LISTINGS
Taming the Saxophone - Tone Production
Sunday 3rd March,
11:00
How to Improvise Effectively
Sunday 3rd March,
12:30
HOW TO BOOK
In person: TicketQuarter, Queen Square, Liverpool, L1 1RG.
Ticket Quarter Box Office: 0844 8000 410*or online at www.thecapstonetheatre.com*

*Subject to booking fee.

The Capstone TheatreShaw Street,
Liverpool
L6 1HP
FESTIVAL PASSES
Available online at Liverpool Hope University’s online store at http://store.hope.ac.uk.
PASSES - £65 - As a festive treat, we are offering a 10% discount on all Festival Passes purchased before 10th January 2013.

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