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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

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: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ 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: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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, January 07, 2013

10th Anniversary Concerts The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Tommy Smith Glasgow, Inverness and Pitlochry: 18 – 20 January 2013

The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra are bringing their fabulous and unique big band sound to Glasgow, Inverness and Pitlochry for three final concerts to celebrate their 10th anniversary year.   The orchestra promises an exciting programme that pays tribute to great names in jazz including Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Woody Herman. Foot tapping favourites, infectious swing, mellow mood and contemporary jazz will inspire and entertain all – an opportunity not to miss!

Established in 2002 by Scotland’s leading saxophone star, Tommy Smith, the TSYJO offers big band opportunities to young players who all live or study in Scotland and can be a step towards playing with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.  The orchestra has received critical acclaim both at home and abroad and was the only Scottish Youth Jazz Orchestra to be invited to take part in the Essentially Ellington Day at the Barbican in London with Wynton Marsalis.  With all six winners of the Young Jazz Musician of the year in their ranks, they showcase endless talent, exuberance, and improvisational skills and their music sings with enthusiasm, personality and style.
The visit to Inverness will coincide with a rehearsal weekend for the Highland Youth Big Band who are delighted to be able to participate in performance and improvisation workshops given by Scotland’s leading saxophonist, Prof. Tommy Smith.  The Highland Youth Big Band is one of the eight Regional Music Groups, which run as an extension to The Highland Council’s Instrumental Tuition Service.  Members are drawn from all corners of Highland and chosen by audition.   Due to diversity of Highland geography, it is difficult to meet for regular rehearsals and therefore, a credit to the commitment of these young musicians that they are prepared to travel for residential weekend sessions throughout the year.  These meetings are intense and tiring but can provide members with memorable musical experiences and life-long friendships.  The TSYJO are delighted to invite the Highland Youth Big band to open their evening concert in Eden Court. 
Sunday afternoon’s concert in Pitlochry Festival Theatre will help raise much-needed funds to continue essential work on a Primary School in Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone.  The local Pitlochry Rotary started to help fundraise six years ago when a new classroom was required and since then, links have been maintained with the School raising funds to reroof the existing building together with providing new concrete floors, blackboards, desks, chairs and doors for the classrooms and most recently providing toilet facilities for the eight hundred pupils.  It is hoped that this concert will help finance a water supply to enable the children to wash their hands after using their new toilets as well as installing an electricity supply and enabling a level playing field.
CONCERTS:
Fri 18 January    Glasgow, Royal Conservatoire – 7.30pm
                           Box office 0141 332 5057   www.rcs.ac.uk
Sat 19 January   Inverness, Eden Court One Touch Theatre – 7.30pm
                           Box office 01463 332 5057   www.eden-court.co.uk
                           With guest appearance by The Highland Youth Big Band
Sun 20 January  Pitlochry Festival Theatre - 2.30pm
                           Box Office:  01796 484 626   www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
In aid of a primary school in Aberdeen, Freetown Sierra Leone & supported by Pitlochry Rotary
For more details, please contact Lindsay Robertson, TSYJO Manager, 07827 977735 / lr@snjo.co.ukwww.tsyjo.com
The TSYJO tour is supported by the Carntyne and Robertson Trusts and Highland Council

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