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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday, March 22, 2013

Don Forbes Safe Sextet/Septet: The Star, Newcastle: March 20

Don Forbes (trumpet); Paul Gowland (alto sax); John Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Laws (piano); Mike Papapavlou (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex).
The latest gig by the co-operative hoping to reopen the Jazz Café. The Sextet became a Septet - perhaps they were no longer taking precautions - with the welcome addition of music student Mike.  Two of Mike’s friends were playing cards in the corner which added to the bebop atmosphere.  To say that the band were great is an understatement.  This is an area of jazz that I know least about, although I am learning. I certainly couldn't sing it, but I know skilled, exciting musicians when I hear them, and I heard them on Wednesday.  Rich, fast notes tumbling over each other, shouting saxes and trumpet, piano and guitar beavering all around, underpinned by a sneaky bass and drums beating impertinently  Really, you just have to hear this, words can’t do the trick.
For instance, the first number started with a steady drumbeat, before Forbes, on trumpet, leads in the band. Extended solos for the two saxes and a guitar solo from Mike followed by a chance for Alan, beating time with his right foot as he plays, to shine. The saxes leave the stage to let the others get on with it, try doing that if you play in the Northern Sinfonia!  This stomping number ends with a wonderfully shrieking dissonant chord from everyone. ‘Aw, you are f-----g awesome’ shouted a man from the audience (pub regular I think).
And so it continued, a lone mean throaty sax, followed by guitar, this time with a harder sound, not the usual warm sound of jazz guitar, bass solo and piano, a crash from the drums, you get the idea I hope.  I’m not familiar with this repertoire, but I’m told the set included Island Birdie; a Horace Silver number Liberated Brother; The Soulful Mr Timmins; and, a beautiful calm slow tune which built to a fine climax, Peace, another Silver number.  The final item of the evening had the piano going stompingly  berserk, I thought Alan was about to go through the roof.  Yes, the band did themselves proud.
Ann Alex

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