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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

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.

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.
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.

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

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Millstone, South Gosforth.

Graham Hardy (tpt); Barry Soulsby (clt/vcl); Lawrence McBriarty (tmb); Brian Bennett (bjo/vcl); Ian Heslop (bs); Paul Thompson (dms) + Ann Alex (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
Fred Thompson was at a funeral, Fred Rowe had teething troubles so reinforcements were called upon.
Graham Hardy is no stranger to the band easily adapting his more forward looking playing to suit the idiom. Paul Thompson, son of Fred, proved to be a chip off the old block behind the traps. However, neither of these two splendid chaps are strong in the vocal department so it was left to Barry Soulsby, with occasional assists from Bandleader Bennett and A.N. Other, to provide the words.
They stomped off with The Darktown Strutters Ball taken slightly more leisurely than the norm with Soulsby doing the vocal as well as laying on the liquorice. Hardy and McBriarty dug deep to make for a fine start.
Bennett sang Dinah followed by a 12 bar that the leader claimed Hardy had written on his way to the gig entitled I've Got Those Playing With the Vieux Carré Again Blues
The set rolled merrily along with Alexander's Ragtime Band, Roses of Picardy, Out of Nowhere and Exactly Like You. Amid it all I had a Cajun Chicken Sandwich with chips and trimmings that was almost as hot as the music.
Raffle came, Doom Bar Bitter refilled and Raffle went.
The second set got underway with My Blue Heaven which was a good way to start as outside the sun was indeed resplendent in a cloudless sky of blue. Once again the horns said their piece most eloquently. Graham Hardy, who on Sunday with Ruth Lambert was Chet Baker cool, was today Pat Halcox hot. Lawrence McBriarty slots into the ensembles with ease and emerges to solo with authority. Barry Soulsby sings, not just with his voice but with the clarinet - always telling a story.
Next up BSH woman's editor, agony aunt and reviewer Ann Alex threw that baggage away and took to the stage to chant a spirited version of All of Me - well done Ann - your salary is doubled.
Petite Fleur, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, an exquisite version of Blue Turning Grey Over You and Willie the Weeper led to the inevitable Goin' Home - which we did via 900 replacement metro bus and the good old 27.
Must also mention that the horns who have hogged this review couldn't have done it without the support of Ian Heslop on Bass, Paul, Son of Fred, on drums and of course the man with the banjo Brian Bennett.
Also good to say hello to Norma and Mary.
Lance.

2 comments :

Ann Alex said...

Lance,I'm no mathematical genius but twice nothing is still nothing, so I must be doing this writing for the thrill!

Lance said...

Well Alright, Ok, You Win - I'll triple it!

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