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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

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

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

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: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong 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: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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, July 05, 2013

Shafafa Trio at The Star Inn, Wednesday July 3

 Belinda Voshtina (vocals); Ian Simpson (guitar); James Robson (bass guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).
The three of them sat together, Belinda between the guitarists, giving a relaxed and intimate feel to a very enjoyable set, mostly of standards, sung in Belinda’s strong, rich voice, with adventurous, skilled instrumentation, and solos, mostly from Ian, James' powerful bass made up for the absence of drums. 
I suppose they just had to start with their namesake song, Frim Fram Sauce, which mentions the ‘shafafa’ on the side.  What is it, you ask?  Apparently no-one is sure, answers on a postcard please. Tesco didn’t even have Frim Fram Sauce on the shelf which meant I had to make do with ketchup.
We were treated to Lullaby Of Birdland; Comes Love; Agua De Beber (sung in Portuguese, very impressive, with lovely vocal harmonies from the guitarists; Dancing In The Moonlight (tricky guitar work); Choo Choo Ch’boogie (done well as a slow blues); a heartfelt version of Eric Clapton’s Leila.  The set was effectively rounded off with a song about going round in circles, (original perhaps?), again with the delightful vocal harmonies.
Sorry, I've missed mentioning 1 or 2 numbers, including a Miles Davis instrumental, through having to go to the bar, I wish I was a camel, they can store drinks for days, I'm told.
The Jam
The trio continued a bit longer with Belinda and the lads doing more singing, including a vocal by Ian, Sunny, with tricky guitar chops, then horns and a flute appeared on stage, in the shape of Al Saxon (alto sax, flute) and Arthur Higgins (tenor sax).  The Thrill Is Gone sang Belinda, but it certainly hadn’t with these two musicians doing their stuff, great playing, (I hope Al takes the flute to folk clubs as well, to knock off Irish jigs and reels, should be no problem).  Then came Belinda with Moondance, to be followed by requests for Lindsay Hannon to complete the Jam, which she did admirably with Willow Weep For Me and her fast version of Secret Love.  And no, I haven’t forgotten the welcome addition to the stage of Mark Williams on guitar, who plays as if he had more than the normal allowance of fingers.
The audience was calling out for more – need I say more than that?  
Ann Alex

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