Total Pageviews

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

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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
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.

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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Customs House Big Band @ The Customs House, South Shields. March 16, 2013.

Peter Morgan (md/bs tmb); Paul Riley-Gledhill, Mick Hill, Ken DeVere, Gordon Marshall (tpts); Don Fairley, Chris Kurgi-Smith, Michael Fletcher (tmbs); Jill Brett, Kim Webb, Alan Marshall, Amber Reeve, Chris Kaberry (reeds); Bill Brittain (pno); Roy Willis (gtr); Alan Smith (bs gtr); Barry Black (dms); Ruth Lambert (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
The CHBB's annual back to base concert once more displayed the accuracy and precision of this well drilled unit.
Buddy Rich's Love For Sale kicked things off. Although this arrangement is to big bands what Summertime is to, I quote, "The congested field of jazz singers", it nevertheless is always a crowd pleaser with good solos from Brett, Alan Marshall and Hill. Needless to say the drum breaks by Tyneside percussion legend Barry Black were spot on. The trombones were showcased on Witchcraft and alto saxist Jill also cast a spell or two - as she did throughout the evening.
Chris Kaberry baritonised Duke's Prelude to a Kiss before Ruth appeared for her first spot of the evening.
It really was S'wonderful as was Teach Me Tonight.
More instrumentals. Jim Martin's arrangement of Sweet Georgia Brown is what, in the old days would have been referred to as a Killer Diller! - It remains an apt description! Alan Marshall and Don Fairley sharing the kudos.
A dreamy Moonlight in Vermont featured Alan Marshall - cool as a west coast cucumber. I'd love to hear him in a quartet session sometime.
Ruthtime once more and Sway took us into Latin America and had the audience swaying in their seats.
Time After Time - such a great tune and so well delivered.
The set finished with Just Friends, Satin Doll and Take The A Train - a very different A Train!
Set Two and the band set to it with Basie's Straight Ahead. Way You Look Tonight, But Beautiful (Jill), Mambo Italiano (Ruth), Black Coffee (Ruth), Spirit of St. Frederick, Georgia on my Mind, I Get a Kick Out of You (Ruth), Cheek to Cheek (Ruth), C Jam Blues (nearly everyone), Sing Sang Song (Black), Mack The Knife (Ruth) made for another well-balanced program.
It was farewell to lead trumpet Paul Riley-Gledhill who is on a "Mission to Moscow" and also Elaine Francis is no longer in the saxes although it was good to see Amber Reeve and Kim Webb in the section.
MD Morgan frequently reminded us, it was a fun evening but, there were moments of poignancy at the end when Peter spoke of the late Vince Bovill who, apart from being a first class musician himself (Vic Lewis, Oscar Rabin, Eric Delaney), was also a great supporter of the band.
Lance.

No comments :

Blog Archive