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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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, August 17, 2013

Strictly Smokin' Big Band @ Tyne Bar

Michael Lamb, Tom Hill,; Gordon Marshall, Pete Tanton (tpts); Don Fairley, Peter Morgan, ? (tmb);  Steve Summers, Nadiah Killick (alt); Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); ? (pno); Ed Carr (gtr); Michael Want (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); Lindsay Hannon (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
The last time I stood in the rain listening to a big band was in San Sebastian in 1973. It was the Clark Terry Big Band. Sitting in front of me was Hugues Panassie the famous French jazz critic. He was comfortably ensconced under a golf sized umbrella - he didn't invite me to join him! I didn't care, the music drowned out the rain if you'll pardon that silly statement!
It was the same today - if it had been cricket when the heavens opened - players would have raced to the pavilion but Jazz musicians are made of sturdier stuff. Perhaps God really does think that jazz is the devils music?If this is the case then I'm afraid to say that, with a cagoule, an umbrella, and a pair of ears, the Devil won the day.
Strictly Smokin' really is a cracking band and to their credit they played as if it were a sunny, summer's day.
In a band like this packed with soloists it would be churlish to mention individuals but, being a churl, descended from a long line of churls, I must praise Pete Tanton's trumpet solos. Americans, somehow just have that edge to their playing. Perhaps it's the accent merging with the music that makes it so distinctively jazzy.
Leader Lamb's playing has developed  immensely over the years and he can hold his own in any section as either soloist or team leader. Don Fairly has been in enough big bands over the years to handle whatever comes along. Those saxes! Steve Summers, Paul Gowland, Jamie Toms and the lovely alto lady Nadiah certainly did the biz with Laurie providing the depth to the section.
Michael Lamb gave me the name of the keyboard player which, unfortunately was lost. midst the products of Wylam Breweries.
And on guitar Edd Carr! How great to again meet up with and hear Edd, who's taking a brief break from cruising the seven seas. He may have put on a pound or two but his playing has come on a ton!
Swinton on drums - why don't we hear more of him? Great to hear the Ellington/Bellson feature, Skindeep, again after many many years. Guy did it proud as indeed did the sections interpreting those tricky parts.
Lindsay Hannon sang superbly despite some early volume problems. The gal's  tops in my books and when the amplification was sorted on Too Darn Hot we just wished the weather was the same - in fact we wanted the Orange Coloured Sky that Lindsay sang about earlier!.
Smokin' or Customs House? Basie or Ellington? Newcastle or Sunderland? Who cares? let's just be thankful we have these choices to make.
Lance.

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