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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

Monday, April 08, 2013

GIJF: Day 2: The Concourse. April 6.

(Review by Ann Alex)
You could actually have yourself a free festival by watching the concourse performances, and you’d get lots of variety, interest and good music.  On Saturday I heard:
The Grace Ellen Band
This singer is new to me and she did some of the songs which featured in her recent performance at one of the Jazz co-op gigs which take place at the Star pub in Newcastle on Wednesdays.  We heard versions of rock songs such as Sweet Dreams and New Day and standards such as Black Coffee, Fever and Georgia.  The instrumentalists are brimming with talent, I believe some of them are from one of the Sage’s music degrees, so I would have liked to hear more solos from them, to complement the singing.
Dropping Bombs
This is the band from the Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music Degree, who gave a very good account of themselves.  The talent of these young people is quite frightening, which means that the future of jazz is in very capable hands.  They were straight in with a blues, no messing, repeated riffs and short solos, then came a woman singer with Lance’s (un)favourite song Summertime, a gutsy voice, and a skilled trombone solo from David Grey.  Well You Needn’t was exceptional, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, James Harrison on keys took us for a journey on the A Train, then came another song, and the finale with Caravan.  The sax man swopped alto for flute, a staccato breathy sound well suited to a train of camels, certainly not caravan holidays at Haggerston Castle.  Some good long solos were included to finish a very satisfying set.
The GIJF Scratch Choir
It must be the drink, I’m not certain if these people were on Saturday or Sunday, but anyway here they are.  I guess it was about 40 people, who treated us to 2 songs.  The first was, I think, the title track from Guys and Dolls and contains the line “you can bet that  he’s doing it for some doll”.  The next song, Let It Snow, was almost topical as, outside it certainly was cold enough for it. However, on the concourse, the heat was quite delightful and both songs were performed well with rich lively harmonies and a lovely solo from one of the men.  The style of singing was interesting, closer to the way these songs would have been sung in the original musicals rather than an individual jazz singer’s style. I could have listened to them for far longer, so I wish they’d done more, but what we had was good.
Djangologie
I’ve long wanted to hear this quartet but never been around at the right time, and this is what festivals are for, lots of bands you want to see, all in one place.  Emma Fisk was an absolute whizz on violin, waiting her turn during some of the long introductions, then straight in when James Birkett (guitar) wagged his head towards her, with her lovely high gypsy inspired music, almost like a descant to the others.  This is wonderful, easy, accessible listening, with Giles Strong on guitar as well, and Mick Shoulder on bass to keep them steady.  Tunes played included Minor Swing, Belleville, an original The Autumn Leaf, with pizzicato violin, presumably that was the leaf falling, Sam’s Bounce, another original, a very fast Sheik Of Araby, and the Russian song Dark Eyes a.k.a Ochi Chornya, which sounded like a folk dance and had thrilling runs and phrases by violinist Emma.  Bravo Les Tout Ensemble!
Ann Alex

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