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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

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Jazz Esquires @ The Porthole

Miles Watson (tpt/vcl); Tony Winder (ten/sop/clt); Terry Dalton (tmb); Roy Gibson (pno); Robin Douthwaite (gtr); Stan Nicholson (bs); Laurie Brown (dms) + Ann Alex (vcl); Neville (comedy).
(Review by Lance).
It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing saw the Jazz Esquires hit the ground running. On their day they are reminiscent of one of the later Lyttleton bands and, I'm pleased to say, this was one of those days. Miles threw in the vocal on this and most numbers and there were good solos all round. Miles took the vocal again on Undecided - that Charlie Shavers classic with it's triple rhymed middle eight - 
I've been sitting on a fence/And it doesn't make much sense/'Cause you keep me in suspense/And you know it.

On drums, ex Squadronaire, Laurie Brown - surely the 'Last of The Few' - drove things along culminating with an idiomatic solo.
Moonglow, 9-20 Special and Bernie's Tune, taken faster than the Mulligan version with a cracking solo from Roy and crisp brushwork a la Chico from Laurie. followed before a well-earned break..
The rhythm section stayed on stage for Laura and Fascinating Rhythm then  BSH 's Women's Editor, Ann Alex, sang A Foggy Day and Bye Bye Blackbird. In the absence of Teresa the only thing that could follow this was a stand-up routine from a guy called Neville who drew some hearty guffaws from the audience.
The second set opened with Tiger Rag and it occurred to me that, back in 1918, this was probably the equivalent of today's Improv Music!
Blues March saw Tony Winder and Terry Dalton playing some stirring solos. Robin and Bill also "Told the Truth" in their solos. Tony,  incidentally, has acquired a 1924 Conn soprano sax - a very tasty horn indeed. 
The White Cliffs of Dover, Buena Sera and Angel Eyes finished off the session for those of us catching the 3pm ferry for South Shields leaving us with the knowledge that mainstream jazz/swing is alive and well on Tyneside.
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

laurie brown said...

Thanks once again for your comments Lance.
I just want to say that after something like
twenty years at the Porthole I couldn,t play
with a happier swinging bunch of guys. In my
old age (79 next month) I look forward to the
session every week. If anyone wants to smile
and tap their feet with us please visit:
THE PORTHOLE FERRY LANDING NORTH SHIELDS.

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