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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Thu 19: Gareth John & the SOS Big Band @ The Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:00pm. £25.00. CANCELLED!

Fri 20: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 20: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 20: David Gray's Flextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 20: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. £21.50. ‘Time After Time’.
Fri 20: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm.
Fri 20: King Bees @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

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 29, 2013

Jazz Café at The Star Newcastle: March 27 Gabriele Mit Drei: and Jam Session

Gabi Heller (vocals); Alan Law (keys); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Dave Parker (bass)
(Review by Ann Alex).
This was a mammoth gig of one and a half hours, with no let up in the skill and enthusiasm of the performers, followed by a half hour jam session, just for good measure, and all for free.  You are mad if you missed it, that’s all I can say!
Gabi’s voice sounded stronger than ever, with a wide range, from rough-edged bluesy up to tender sweetness.  Softly As In A Morning Sunrise started us off with well expressed lyrics, then a smooth vocalese-like scat.  We were reminded that it was a full moon last night with Old Devil Moon, which had the guitar running up and down and round about and the keys being gently tricksy. This musical alchemy was followed by a Quincy Jones song, featured in the film The Colour Purple, calling on the sisterhood, supported by much whole-band soloing. 
Then came one of my favourites, Gabi’s own song Don’t Mess Around With Me, and the band certainly didn’t mess around, Steve whirling around the fretboard like a man possessed – perhaps searching for the lost chord and, in the process, finding many new ones!
Alan played a tremendous solo on Lullaby of Birdland that drew the first, and possibly the loudest, round of applause of the evening.  The benchmark had been set down. A Latin number, about the people in Argentina who were ‘disappeared’ for political reasons, with Dave beating out an exciting rhythm on the wood of the bass.  Twelve numbers, including All Or Nothing At All; Good Morning Heartache sung with real feeling; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; Wallflower which was translated from the German; and, to finish, Imagination.
The Jam Session
Lindsay Hannon (vocals); James Harrison (keys); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Dave Parker (bass); Chris Finch (keys); Jeff Smith (tenor sax).
Lindsay and James treated us to a journey on the A Train, and the journey continued with Steve and Dave joining them to tell us that There Will Never Be Another You.  Thelonious Monk got into the carriage, with his Blue Monk, which had James soloing bluesily with big chops and slides, wonderful stuff.  Chris and Jeff then stepped up to join the bass for the theme from Black Orpheus, and we finally journeyed back home to London with A Foggy Day In London Town.
The whole evening was well worth the ride! And, just in case you think Alan Laws is King of the Keyboard – well, actually he is, but James and Chris are up there with him.
The Star is developing a jazz club ambience – it’s cool, it’s friendly
Ann Alex 

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