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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: Some Highlights A personal view from Ann Alex

First things first –food.  I like the new arrangements in the cafe, where you can order your meal, then sit down with a number till it comes.  I had Aracini – risotto in breadcrumbs – delicious.  Why not try the posset, a dessert from the new bar at the west door?  A delicious milk pudding with fruit compote which I believe they ate in Medieval times.  And the only time in the year that I get to eat caviare is with the nibbles provided at the press reception which opens the festival.  No, I haven’t become a food writer, so what about the music?
I loved the enthusiasm of the band ‘Dropping Bombs’, made up of students from the Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music degree, who played on the concourse on Saturday, especially their version of Monk’s Well You Needn't, with the usual Monk quirkiness, stops and starts, and delightful trombone and sax solos.  Then there was the fun of our vocal improvisation workshop, when we sang repeated riffs in 3 groups, quite beautiful, and encouraging for singers.  The Bireli Lagrene Quartet was enjoyable, and from my seat on level 2 of hall 2, I had an excellent view of the drummer.   These musicians are fascinating to watch (yes, drummers ARE musicians) as they have so much to do at once, cymbals crashing or tinkling, drums being struck or brushed, then there’s stuff to do with your feet as well, and sometimes extra percussion to shake, how do they do it?
Then there was the best dressed man of the festival, as nominated by Lance, John Taylor, who could be seen on the concourse on Saturday, sporting startling red trousers and a pinkish shirt.  I understand that a prize for you may well be in the post.  Half the fun of the festival is meeting people that you don’t usually see, and you could certainly see John, no doubt about that.
But the highlight of highlights was definitely the ‘Saxophone Massive’, lead by Andy Sheppard and Chris Sharkey, on Sunday teatime on the concourse.  This is reviewed elsewhere, but I just had to mention it, what a fitting end to the festival!  The Sage became a cathedral when it started, it sounded quite spiritually inspiring, then the jazz came on.  Wonderful stuff!  I want a saxophone!
Ann Alex

3 comments :

The LondonJazz site said...

Nice piece!

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I wonder if by any chance you're a drummer? Ann Alex

The LondonJazz site said...

No Ann, sorry to disappoint!

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