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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

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.

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, February 25, 2013

Northern Spirits – Jazz Festival celebrates North East Landscape Saturday 6 April 2013

The music of two of the UK’s most distinctively original jazz composers – Tim Garland and native Tynesider Ian Carr – will be featured at Gateshead International Jazz Festival, inspired by the landscapes of the North East of England.
The Northern Spirits concert will include the world premiere performance of ‘Songs to the North Sky’ composed by Tim Garland. In addition to this new suite will be the first performance in the North East of ‘Northumbrian Sketches’ (both to be conducted by Clark Rundell) which was composed by the late musician Ian Carr. Featuring Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, both performances will offer the combined forces of jazz musicians and classical, appealing to a wide range of music lovers.
Composer Tim Garland was inspired by the North East to create the approachable, melodic and cinematic piece ‘Songs to The North Sky’. Movements within the piece include ‘Tyne Song’, ‘Shapes Over Northumberland’, ‘Storm Over Kielder’ and ‘Little Bay Blue’ (dedicated to the beach near Tim’s home in Whitley Bay).
Tim Garland said:  "The suite was inspired by the big skylines of the North East and my time travelling to and from there, it’s the most cinematic and autobiographical work I've written with a particular emphasis on melodies fitting for these big skyscapes".
The orchestrated work of ‘Northumbrian Sketches’ by trumpeter / composer Ian Carr was commissioned for the Bracknell Jazz Festival in 1986. The piece is in four movements and was a tribute to the Northumbrian author, Sid Chaplin, a North Eastern writer for novels, screenplays and poems often set in County Durham’s pit villages in the 1940s and ‘50s. The piece uses the landscape which Chaplin had known and loved and combines classical string orchestration with vibrant jazz improvisation.
John Cumming, from Serious said of the piece: “I was privileged to work with Ian Carr on many occasions over the years, including co-commissioning ‘Northumbrian Sketches’, which received its premiere at both jazz and classical music festivals at South Hill Park Bracknell in the 1980s.  I remember Ian describing the challenge of writing for strings with great excitement, and when George Foster and Serious re-discovered the piece for Ian's memorable memorial concert in 2010, it reminded me just how accomplished and absorbing this music remains.  It will be real pleasure to hear it once more and I'm sure Ian's creative spirit will watch over and inspire this first North-Eastern performance.”
The concert also includes a forty minute set by the award winning trio Lighthouse, which includes Tim Garland along with pianist Gwilym Simcock and percussionist Asaf Sirkis. Lighthouse themselves were also inspired by a North East landmark - St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay - and have now played all over the world.
Ros Rigby said: “This is a unique event celebrating two ambitious compositions for jazz ensemble and orchestra - one from the last century and one written in the last year- both inspired by the North Eastern landscape and culture. We are delighted to make it one of the highlights of the 2013 Gateshead International Jazz Festival.”
Northern Spirits is at The Sage Gateshead on Saturday 6 April 2013, as part of Gateshead International Jazz Festival which takes place on the 5 – 7 April 2013. Tickets are £19.50 and can be booked either by calling 0191 443 4661, online at www.thesagegateshead.org or in person from The Sage Gateshead’s Ticket Office. A jazz festival pass is available.

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