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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17923 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 244 of them this year alone and, so far, 91 this month (March 31).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE! See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Thu 03: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Women in Jazz.
Thu 03: Eva Fox & the Jazz Guys @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 03: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. First Thursday in the month.

Fri 04: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 04: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 04: Ruth Lambert Quartet @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Fri 04: Tom McGuire & the Brassholes @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £20.00.
Fri 04: Nicolas Meier’s Infinity Group + Spirit of Jeff Beck @ The Forum, Darlington. 7:30pm.

Sat 05: Tenement Jazz Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 05: Sleep Suppressor @ Head of Steam, Newcastle. 5:30-6:00pm.
Sat 05: King Bees @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Raymond MacDonald & Jer Reid @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 6:00-9:30pm. £7.72., £1.00. (minimum donation). MacDonald & Reid + Objections + Yotuns.
Sat 05: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 05: Kamasi Washington @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £33.00.
Sat 05: Vermont Big Band @ The Seahorse, Whitley Bay. 7:30pm. Tickets: £10.00 (from the venue).
Sat 05: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 06: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 06: Learning & Participation Showcase @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm (1:00pm doors). Free. Featuring participants from Play More Jazz! Play More Folk! Blue Jam Singers & more.
Sun 06: Joe Steels Group @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00. Ferg Kilsby, Joe Steels, Ben Lawrence, Paul Susans, John Hirst.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 06: Paul Skerritt @ The Hooch, Quayside, Newcastle. 6:00pm.
Sun 06: Leeway @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 07: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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 31, 2013

Paul Edis/Slowlight Quartet @ The Bridge.

Paul Edis (solo piano).
(Review by Lance).
After weeks, nay months, even years trying to pack the upper room at The Bridge tonight it happened! I don't know if it was because it was Easter and in the "upper room" but the disciples packed the place out and, judging by the applause, there wasn't a Doubting Thomas amongst them!
Because of the crowd at the downstairs bar I missed the opening number but, Paul's version of My Favourite Things (with a nod towards Billy Evans) hit the spot. Nobody does Evans better than Edis and yet it's not a pastiche - rather a respectful acknowledgement of one of his influences.
Sunrise, a moody introspective original reminded me of the day, many years ago, when I drove down to South Shields to watch the sun coming over the horizon at about 4am. I don't think I've ever been awake at 4am since but Paul's piece brought it all back to me.
An adaptation of one of the Edis Sextet numbers - It's Behind You followed before we were on 52nd St. at 'Round Midnight, Paul added a new dimension to Monk's tune with some full rich chords that sustained the mood of what is, possibly, the most atmospheric composition in jazz.
Next up was an Easter Hymn - don't ask me - and Paul didn't tell us! Well it wasn't There is a Green Hill and it wasn't the lovely Easter Hymn from Cav so my guess is possibly JSB's Easter Chorale? I'm going to get shot down on this one!
The set finished with It Ain't Necessarily So. This had been one of the best solo piano sets I'd heard for a long time.
Chapeau! Paul.
----- 
The Slowlight Quartet: Tom Quilliam (ten/sop); Paul Lorraine (keys); Ian Paterson (bs); Jonathon Marriott (dms).
These guys had it all to do after such a strong opening set. To their credit, and bearing in mind this was possibly their first gig as a unit, they played well. Quilliam blows strong tenor and Ian, who seems to have acquired the nickname "Dodge" along the way, is among the front rank of north-east bassists whilst Lorraine and Marriott, although new names to me, know what they're doing.
Not quite sure how to define it - jazz/rock? jazz/fusion? Reminded me in places of The Yellowjackets or maybe a harder version of Spyro Giro. Whatever, this is a band to be bookmarked.
Didn't catch the full set as the number 27 was on the horizon but I look forward to hearing them again.
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Paul Edis (on Facebook) said...

Thanks Lance ! The Easter hymn was 'Lord of the Dance' by Sydney Carter. Enjoyed the SLQ.

Monday, April 01, 2013 12:17:00 am

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