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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ 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

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Dropping Bombs @ Sage Gateshead June 28.

James Harrison (pno/Hammonds); Ian Simpson (gtr); James Robson (bs); Dave Donnelly (dms); Belinda Voshtina (vcl); Ray Dales (alt).
(Review by Lance, photo by Elaine Harrison)
Dropping Bombs continue to explode - can anyone tell me how long it is since such a young north east band could play with such feeling and respect  for the music that is the backbone of modern jazz?
The material is unbeatable - Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas lays waste to most of the 'originals' that roll off the conveyer belt. The secret? - its simplicity! Ray Dales took it to the Caribbean and back via 52nd St.and made it sound as if it were written yesterday! James Harrison and Ian Simpson kicked it along beautifully and Dave Donnelly knocked seven shades out of the kit.
These kids (exclude Ray from 'kids' although he is still one at heart) know where they're going and even if it is down Route 66 it's still better than the A1(M).. I don't know why some people knock standards, the  Gasbook is the greatest collection of music ever written and, idiom wise, comparable with the best of European classical music.
There were gems galore tonight - Ray Dales playing Just Friends, Now's The Time, Belinda singing Why Don't You Do Right? Slower than Peggy but just as effective. Moondance, Frim Fram Sauce and Every Day I Have the Blues showed her off to great advantage. Harrison laid down some funky Hammond grooves on this one
Take the A Train had Ray swinging like Bird and the two James, Ian and Dave travelled along in the First Class carriage.
From the bowels of the concourse musicians emerged carrying instrument cases - they'd obviously been rehearsing - yet not one of them stopped to listen to what was going on on stage.
It was their loss.
Two people who did appreciate the music were a couple of swing dancers moving in perfect synchronization to the music. Later when the tempo slowed for Lover Man the dancing became elegant and graceful - well as elegant and graceful as you can be wearing jeans and trainers!
Move It On featured some intriguing interplay between the Hammond and guitar and James Robson gave further evidence of his jazz chops. Then, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, Belinda sang Summertime. In her defence, she sang it better than most. St James Infirmary Blues showed that these young guys have an eye on the past as well as the future which in my eyes is commendable.
It was a splendid evening (free) and I'm grateful to Elaine and Terry for supplying the photos taken under impossible lighting conditions.
Lance.

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