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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

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

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: 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.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

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, October 05, 2013

Bill Harper Remembers - Part One.

Hi Lance, I'd never looked at the fact that I'd set some sort of record for supporting some of the world's greatest jazz soloists but, as you say, it is an era which regrettably has gone, so maybe I have a record which will never be broken. Looking back through my diaries, I was amazed to find that I had worked with more than 80 world class players, many at the Corner House and also many other venues organised by Jazz NE, plus my time working with Frank Brooker at Festivals throughout the UK, NI & Belgium. I will always be grateful to Jazz NE  who, in 1983, gave me the opportunity to be in the company of a veritable "treasure chest" of great US stars, the first one being Art Farmer.
Of course it wasn't all down to me-- I was surrounded by great local players like Sid Warren, Willie Payne, Mike Gilby, Derek Dixon, all sadly no longer with us, & a little later the power house engine room of Adrian Tilbrook & Peter Stuart, without whose support I would at times have been struggling badly & I will always be in their debt.
Art Farmer was a lovely man with a quiet sense of humour who was surprised to see that I had the changes, introduction & ending for 'I Remember Clifford" & he smiled when I told him that I had taken them down from his original recording with Benny Golson. I worked with him later at the Rosehill Theatre (Whitehaven) which was in the middle of nowhere, out in the sticks. After playing to a packed house, the trio was preparing for the long trip back to the NE when he popped his head through the dressing room door & said "Come on you guys-- lets hit the jazz spots in town". A great sense of humour!!!
Of the many trumpeters that I have supported, Warren Vache is my personal favourite. For tone, technique & musical invention, he is unsurpassed for me & in spite of a fearsome reputation, I found him to be a likeable intelligent man. He could be extremely aggressive & abrasive & didn't tolerate fools gladly but Anne & I spent a couple of days with him on a gig at Ulverston & I have to say we enjoyed his company immensely. His recollections on his career plus the hilarious events that took place at the gig would fill a small book--- maybe later!!! Of course I can't talk "trumpets" without mentioning the gentle giant Bruce Adams who is without doubt the most extrovert player I've ever worked with. Blessed with a phenomenal technique & a sense of humour to match, he is as easy as an old shoe & an absolute joy to work with. He is a good friend & we do see him from time to time over here as he has a summer residence 80 kilos away.
(end part one).
Bill Harper.
(In the photo above Bill is far right with Dennis Healey (dms); Sid Warren (ten); Al Grey (tmb); Derek Dixon (bs) and Willie Payne (gtr) - Lance).

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