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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

Friday, May 24, 2013

Dropping Bombs @ Hoochie Coochie May 23.

Danny Allan (alt/clt); David Gray (tpt/tmb); James Harrison (keys); Ian Simpson (gtr); James Robson (bs/bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms); Belinda Voshinta (vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
Jazz is dead? Nah! I'm hearing so many fantastic young musicians these days that I'm sure it is very much alive!
Tonight was quite amazing. Tell me the last time you heard a boisterous traddy version of Bourbon Street Parade followed by All Blues? You heard it tonight!
Yes, Dropping Bombs came on like Katrina with jaw-dropping ferocity when they hit us with Bourbon Street. David Gray demonstrated his ever increasing prowess slidewise with a sort of modern tailgate that blew the cobwebs out of the cobwebs! This guy - like the other bombers - is on a roll. Danny Allan on clarinet kept the spirit of New Orleans alive and Tom Chapman had some breaks the late Lennie Hastings would have been proud of.
All Blues also featured young Gray although this time he was on trumpet doing Miles! Allan switched to alto and Harrison as he did all evening directed and soloed with panache.
Up stepped Belinda Voshtina and knocked us sideways with the Frim Fram Sauce - love this song. I was less enamoured of My Funny Valentine - perhaps I've heard it once (no make that a 100 times) too often but I'm afraid it passed me by.
Back to the delta for St. James Infirmary Blues. A plaintive trumpet statement of the theme built up to a soul bursting climax with everyone having their say. When you've got to go this is the place to do it. The RVI Blues just wouldn't sound the same.
Belinda returned for a spritely Moon Dance followed by a Caravan that exceeded the motorway speed limit by plenty. One of the highlights was Gray's lengthy quote from Sweet Georgia Brown another was the keyboard/voice exchanges between Voshtina and Harrison. Oh and let's not forget Simpson on guitar, Allan's searing alto, Robson's bass solo and the skin bashing from Chapman - take a bow chaps.
This was only the first set and already the adrenalin was circulating as fast as the bar staff were shaking cocktails.
Belinda opened up with - no prizes for guessing - Summertime. If I ever meet a girl singer who doesn't sing Summertime (or Valentine) I'll probably ask her mother to marry me! However, it has to be said that this version bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Porgy and Bess original. Harrison went into Hammond mode hitting the keys with hands, fists, elbows and god knows what else! This became an almost free form free for all that had the crowd roaring their approval
There were more delights - too many to mention although the rhythm section feature did bring a little sanity into the evening. The clock was inching its way towards 11pm and the number 27 was due although if I'd been the driver I'd have stopped the bus outside Hoochie and ordered the passengers to go inside and hear the truth!
Lance.

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