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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far,23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 13: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 13: Raymond MacDonald & Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. 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: 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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