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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

18037 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 458 of them this year alone and, so far, 36 this month (June 11).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sun 15: Lewis Watson Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:00pm.
Sun 15: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 15: Hannah Brine Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 16: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 18: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 18: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:30pm. Free. Concert performance (open to the public)..
Wed 18: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

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

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’.br/> 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.

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: Jazz from the North.

(Review by Russell).
The Jazz Lounge (aka Northern Rock Foundation Hall) sold out. This session has grown into a ‘must get’ ticket at the Sage Gateshead over the years. Four bands over four hours at a bargain price. 
First up Eyes Shut Tight led by the amiable bassist from Pontefract Paul Baxter. The trio played a set at Splinter at the Bridge a matter of weeks ago to a small but appreciative audience. To be greeted by a full room must have gladdened the heart. Baxter was joined by regular drummer Kris Wright and late dep Jamil Sherif on piano to play a forty five minutes set without a break to promote their latest CD. Sherif coped admirably with the music in front of him and the EST ambient vibe tested the stamina of the attentive crowd. The second band on stage did what one would hope they would do at a festival - they were so very different. 
The Verneri Pohjola Quartet from Finland arrived on Tyneside with a big reputation following their critically acclaimed CD Aurora. Led by trumpeter Pohjola, the young quartet played as if they knew they were good - and they were! Pohjola projected a big sound across the jazz lounge checking out melancholic Miles and flat-out Freddie Hubbard. Pianist Aki Rissanen impressed and bass and drums - Antti Lotjonen and Joonas Riipa - played with confidence. Pohjola is some player and worth travelling to hear be it in Gateshead, London or Finland. Drummer Tom Bancroft, a regular visitor to Tyneside, gave a mature performance in the company of regular Trio Red partners Tom Cawley (piano) and Norwegian double bassist Per Zanussi. Serious, accessible, fun compositions (Opportunity Lonely Woman, The Mole of History Takes a Bow then Trips).
Closing the afternoon session fell to ACV. Andy Champion’s power house five piece rocked up fresh from a triumphant headlining appearance at the Vortex with a new CD - Busk - about to hit the jazz world and beyond. Regular gigging has honed the quintet into a cohesive unit and it showed in this high profile performance. Tunes from Busk (Nutmeg State, Degree Absolute, Giant Mice) and classic earlier material (A Line Made by Walking, Without Bones) afforded solo opportunities for all the band - Paul Edis (keyboards), Graeme Wilson (reeds), Mark Williams (guitar) and drummer Adrian Tilbrook – during a storming set.   
Russell.                       

1 comment :

Dave Parker (on Facebook) said...

I completely agree with Russell. An afternoon of superb jazz at a bargain price. Now I want to visit Finland.

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