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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.

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: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: King Bees @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Superb blues band.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ 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: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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.

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, October 18, 2013

James Birkett & Bradley Johnston @ Lit & Phil.

James Birkett (guitar) & Bradley Johnston (guitar)
(Review by Russell/Photo by Jerry)
Bradley Johnston first came to the attention of Bebop Spoken Here at Blaydon Jazz Club  playing a couple of numbers during the interval with James Birkett. At the time Johnston was about fourteen or fifteen years of age. He made a huge impression then, now, three or four years later, something of a veteran, he continues to win plaudits for his fearless, yet sensitive approach to some challenging material. He has enrolled on the BMus degree programme at Sage Gateshead (his tutor is none other than Dr.J.Birkett) and can be heard gigging around town with Birkett or in the company of his fellow students.
This lunchtime date at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle was another marker along the way. A full house, everyone listening intently, the dynamic duo could be forgiven for having stage fright. So, what did they do? They dusted down Dick McDonough’s StageFright! Nerves settled – it looked like there were none – Birkett announced that Johnston would take Joe Venuti’s violin part on Stringing the Blues, Birkett later suggested he himself could be ‘Blind Willie’ Birkett!
The duo played acoustic or (lightly amplified) electric guitars. The material was a delight; Wave, Morris Dance/Fisco Place (Bireli Lagrene), John Lewis’ elegant waltz Skating on Central Park. Birkett, the master guitarist, made brief, informative announcements and then proceeded to play classic jazz guitar – the pioneers of the twenties and thirties, bossa, Hot Club, bop to contemporary hero Pat Metheny. This would have been a solo master class but we had Bradley Johnston sitting alongside him so we got twice the brilliance for our money. Worth every penny.
Birkett took the time to introduce Johnston’s new guitar prior to the Lagrene number. Made by South Korean luthier Jeongwoo Cho, the Maccaferri-style instrument sounded great, as did Birkett’s. The applause said it all. The hour long survey of jazz guitar included a terrific take on Anthropology, so-sensitive lead from Johnston on Farmer’s Trust (P.Metheny) and the finale – Chick Corea’s Spain. It works every time – huge applause.
An after thought…at the Newcastle International Jazz Festival (yes, there was such a thing) and at gigs in the bar of the University Theatre (now Northern Stage) a then young guitarist made a great impression. He went on to play with Ian Carr. His name? Mark Wood. I’d be willing to bet that Bradley Johnston goes on to make a name for himself. For up to date news of Birkett and Johnston gigs check out www.jamesbirkettmusic.com
Russell.
          


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