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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

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.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. 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

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Alan Glen Trio/Take it to the Bridge @ The Chillingham. April 3, 2013

Alan Glen (keyboards), John Pope (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Pianist Alan Glen last played at the Chillingham in August of last year. It was good to have him back working once again with bassist John Pope and versatile drummer Paul Wight. Glen’s set list draws on the standards - It’s You or No One, How Deep Is the Ocean?, You Don’t Know What Love Is, Beautiful Love -  yet he finds something new to say every time. 
Intros are often extended (works of art in themselves), the tune cleverly disguised, slowly revealed. Pope and Wight can be left hanging, waiting their cue and then they’re off! Swinging jazz piano, a ballad, all carried off with aplomb considering Barrie Ascroft’s keyboard refused to deliver Rocket 88, more like 87, then 86, 85…! Take it to the Bridge need a new piano! JP’s bull fiddle needed a good talking to. JP did his best but it just wouldn’t co-operate – picture the scene…mid - tune, up tempo, as our bassman fought valiantly to keep it in tune without missing a note! Victor Young’s Weaver of Dreams, an all-time classic if ever there was one, followed and then a Glen original, I do believe - Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It-– stood comparison with the GASbook and Dizzy got a look in with Woody ‘n’ You .
A first class set. Don’t leave it so long before you return Mr Glen.
Take it to the Bridge: Dave Weisser (flugelhorn & vocals), Barrie Ascroft (keyboards), Paul Gowland (tenor saxophone), Ivan Scutt (electric bass), Paul Wight (drums), Deon Krishnan (electric bass) + Harley Johnson (keyboards)
The Chilli’s regular session, either side of Alan Glen’s master class, featured a slew of familiar names. Good to see Dave Weisser looking and sounding so good, mainstay Barrie Ascroft held it all together, Weisser and Paul Gowland (tenor) worked horns in unison on There is No Greater Love.and the music student himself, Ivan Scutt, turned up to play a couple of tunes. DW sang on Chick Corea’s 500 Miles High (excellent tenor from Gowland) and two highlights of the evening…one, a recurring strand in the form of five and six string bassist Deon Krishnan - first rate, sensitive playing, the other a cracking take on All Blues featured Harley Johnson (himself a music student these days), Gowland, six-string Krishnan and DW. Paul Wight played all night – strike a medal! Great playing all round. Time was up and they brought it home with Blues for Duane. What a great night!  
Russell.

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