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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

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs 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.

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

Sunday, October 06, 2013

Bill Harper Remembers Part 2.

I actually got to play with Bruce Adams at a Festival in Nantes 2008. Lockjaw Davis was probably the first major saxophonist for me at the Corner House. Sid's sextet was playing & I could see Lockjaw standing at the bar with his glass of milk & brandy, listening to the band. When we came off I went over to him & politely asked what he wished to play for his opener to which he replied "I'll think of something when we get up there" to which I raised the possibility that I might not know it,& he replied "So you don't know it--- what the hell-- there's 1000's of tunes, we'll play something else-- now don't you give me a hard time & put me off my drink-- I heard you play, we'll be OK. The gig was fine which had a nice moment when he called Bye Bye Blackbird to which I asked "usual key of F? No! Eb he said. Derek Dixon said "Eh!" not hearing clearly & Lockjaw said "you got a problem in Eb?" "No said Dicker, which of course he hadn't. OK  said Lockjaw, but if I hear any wrong notes I'll have you back in the office in the morning!"
I always enjoyed working with Buddy Tate who was a real gentleman & Spike Robinson, in spite of failing health always had different & interesting material but gave you a free hand to interpret his tunes which were never mundane or hackneyed. But is there a better reed man than Alan Barnes anywhere on the planet? I'd never heard him play tenor before but he does so on Spike Heatley's "One for Clifford"(2004) & is absolutely astounding. Anne & I have worked with him on numerous occasions & find him to be the most accommodating of musicians who loves a challenge. He would play on Anne's arrangements with no rehearsal, note perfect, great solos on material he couldn't possibly have even heard before. A world class musician!!! That's not to take away anything away from my all time fave tenor Scott Hamilton, plus Harry Allen & the superb Ken Peplowski on clarinet all of whom were a delight to work with on many occasions.
I have fond memories of the mini tour I did with Ken & Mark Nightingale which was fabulous but boy did they keep you on your toes. Mark kept arriving at each gig with new arrangements & compositions that he had done over night & with no opportunity to rehearse you had to be on your mettle. Ken pulled out an Al Cohn original based on the changes of Limehouse Blues & gave a lead sheet to Mark & asked "will this be OK"? Mark gave it a quick glance & said "Yes it's fine". I glanced over Mark's shoulder at his chart & couldn't believe my eyes-- it wasn't a trombone part at all & had to be transposed on site-- but also the notation was incredibly difficult to read, particularly at the breakneck speed required. I was given a private recording of the gig & the two front line were in perfect unison. Mark never missed a note on a tune he had never seen or heard before & when I asked him how difficult it had been to play, he said, "well, it wasn't very  trombone friendly"--the biggest understatement I've ever heard in my life. Also Ken did a feature on All This & Heaven Too which was absolutely gorgeous !! It confirmed for me that his tone & technique were pure perfection!(end part 2)
Bill Harper.
(Photo shows Bill Harper accompanying Red Rodney.)

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Any info on Derek Dixon were was he from

Anne DeVere said...

Derek Dixon lived in South Shields - Westoe Road.

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