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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

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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