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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Tue 24: Lindsay Hannon & Mark Williams @ Ernest, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 11:00am-1:00pm. Free.
Tue 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

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, March 11, 2013

Eyes Shut Tight @ The Bridge Hotel. March 10, 2013

Paul Baxter (double bass), Johnny Tomlinson (keyboards) & Kristoffer Wright (drums)
(Review by Russell.)
Sunday night at the Bridge. One thing was for certain - it would be snowing. It was. Another thing - there was a predictably small audience. Where would you rather be - in front of a television watching Countryfile: a Royal Appointment or perhaps Top Gear (I've just checked) or sitting with a tip-top pint in one of Newcastle’s very best pubs listening to some first rate jazz? No contest, surely?
This week’s Splinter session presented Eyes Shut Tight, a trio led by bassist Paul Baxter. The tall, relaxed  Yorkshireman has played Splinter on more than one occasion over the last year or two and this latest visit saw him in the company of Johnny Tomlinson (keyboards) and drummer Kristoffer Wright - collectively EST, sorry, Eyes Shut Tight. The temptation to draw a parallel with EST is all too easy and it is true to say that there are similarities - taut, repetitive motifs and a focus on keyboard improvisations.
Bassist Paul Baxter is the trio’s principal composer and one of his tunes - A Touch of the Charlies - referenced two double bass players (Charlie Haden and Charles Mingus) suggesting a feature for the composer. Not so. Baxter writes for the group with drummer Kristoffer Wright and Johnny Tomlinson contributing in equal measure to the group sound. Hit and Hope and Precipice couldn't restrain Tomlinson and his formidable technique shone through.
The trio arrived in Newcastle mid-tour with new tunes to play from their new CD Resonance. The title track and a ballad - T and C (comp. Wright) - owed something to the gospel sound redolent in the music of, say, Junior Mance or Dr.Billy Taylor and the gig concluded with Mr C. There is another chance to hear these tunes and more next month (April 6) when Eyes Shut Tight visit the Sage during the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Next week’s Splinter session features the excellent King Bee.                        
Russell.         

5 comments :

Brian Bennett said...

Can we keep blaming the weather for small audiences, Russell?
Just a short walk from The Bridge, Live Theatre was 'packed to the gunwales'. Same snow and bitterly cold weather, but an event which was sold out in spite of having no director, no set and an actor (Kevin Whately) who hadn't even seen the script.

Dave Parker (on Facebook) said...

I've commented before that the venue for Splinter @ The Bridge excludes people with mobility difficulties, some of whom, I know, would like to attend.

Dave Parker (on Facebook) said...

Also by hiding emerging jazz musician away in an upstairs room that you have to pay to enter you are only ever going to attract people who are 'in the know'.

Lance said...

I'm not sure if the musicians who play at the Bridge, Dave, are emerging. Most have well and truly emerged. Paul Baxter, for example, has led various bands at Festivals - including a big band at Scarborough last year. As regards to being "In The Know" I think Bebop Spoken Here, Paul Bream's Jazz Alert, The Informer, The JNE fliers, the Splinter page on Facebook ensure that those interested are indeed "In the know".
I do agree with you re mobility difficulties but also appreciate the difficulties the organisers face in finding suitable venues for jazz.
As regards having to pay, well, in the absence of suitable funding, how else are the musicians going to be paid?

Brian said...

Lance has hit the nail on the head when he says the main problem for organisers is finding a 'suitable' venue for jazz. Of the many pubs, social clubs, community centres, church halls, etc. in and around Newcastle only a small number would be suitable as a jazz venue. Support and encouragement by proprietors is essential, too.
The criteria is obvious but not always easy to find:
1. LOCATION - nearby Metro station; regular bus service, etc.
2. ACCESS - downstairs good, upstairs bad (unless there's a lift)
3. CAR PARKING - secure, free and adjacent to the venue
Recently at The Millstone, the VCJ switched from the upstairs function room to the downstairs bar lounge, at the same time moving the session from evening to afternoon. We're now playing to a full house with customers arriving before midday for seats. Food and beer sales have soared - much to the delight of the pub management.

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