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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Reis Demuth Wiltgen @ The Recital Room. October 15

 Michel Reis (piano), Marc Demuth (double bass) & Paul Wiltgen (drums) + Taube: Jamie Stockbridge (alto saxophone), Mike Parr-Burman (guitar) & Adam Stapleford (drums)
(Review by Russell/ Photos by Ken Drew.)
A piano trio led by Michel Reis or three musicians collaborating as equals? Reis, double bassist Marc Demuth (double bass) and drummer Paul Wiltgen contribute compositions to recording projects and their in-concert performances are all about
the collective, collaborative experience. 
The Luxembourgian three are schooled musicians; early years classical training, jazz competition entrants and college graduates (variously Luxembourg, Holland and America) and a globe-trotting schedule from their American (Big Apple) and European bases. The Recital Room in the music department of Newcastle University hosted the first north east appearance of the trio. The dedicated few turned out on the night the England football team’s World Cup qualifying hopes were played out on free-to-air television. Pianist Reis had the good fortune to have one of the department’s Steinways at his disposal. He made good use of it. Technique in abundance, allied to a clear ‘conception’ as the Americans would say, Reis’ approach was that heard in many a contemporary jazz piano trio; repetition, gradual development of motif, swing invoked sparingly. Melodic and percussive, the trio’s telepathic understanding clearly evident, a cinematic feel swept through several new compositions – No Stone Left Unturned to Marc Demuth’s Straight Circle – offering space for group improvisation. Bassist Demuth stood between Reis and Wiltgen regulating the pulse, to his left, Wiltgen’s drumming was of the highest order – tight, compact, blistering left hand no more than an inch above the snare all night. CD sales were many, the trio deserving of a higher profile in Britain. A festival appearance would do the trick – Sage Gateshead perhaps?

Earlier, three Newcastle University music students played for thirty five minutes (one through-composed piece) holding the attention of Jazz North East regulars. The opening salvo thrilled (Chris Sharkey would have approved!). Guitarist Mike Parr-Burman, playing a beautiful Gibson, went on the attack, for all of a couple of bars before settling into a groove, churning-out big chords, loud chords. Altoist Jamie Stockbridge bided his time, seeking an opening. He blew hard, he blew short phrases, battling to be heard. His Zorn-like brevity could, perhaps, have been adopted by the trio. Several shorter, varied pieces could have further showcased their undoubted talents. Drummer Adam Stapleford, a listening drummer, worked well with his fellow students and they are sure to be seen - and heard - on the scene in future. Watch out for the name – Taupe (not Taube!).      
Photos by Ken Drew.           
Russell

3 comments :

Anonymous said...

Great review of a really interesting night - but weren't they called Taupe, not Taube?

Russell said...

I've just picked up on the typo. You're right Taupe. I'll ask the BSH editor to amend the text.

Lance said...

It will be done!

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