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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.

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.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

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, November 24, 2013

Pink Lane Jazz Coop: The Henchmen and Burundanga @ World Headquarters, Newcastle, Nov 23

The Henchmen: Belinda Voshtina (vocals); Tim Bloomer (guitar); James Carmichael (drums); A N Other (bass guitar)
(Review by Ann Alex).
Sorry about not knowing the line-up properly, but I could see that the personnel were different from an incarnation reviewed previously in BSH and I hadn’t seen this band before. Katie Trigger was not on bass - presumably saving herself for her part in Burundanga later.
And when the band kicked off I wasn't’ disappointed, no way. Belinda sings in an expressive strong voice, backed by truly competent musicians, playing in an interesting style which bears the influence of rock as well as jazz, with plenty of solos for the band.  Out spun the numbers such as: Route 66; with the guitars portraying a journey, a sexy swirling Fever; Ray Charles’ Unchain My Heart; Georgia; Besame Mucho; and finally The Thrill Is Gone.
If I describe the venue, readers may be able to pick up on the atmosphere of the evening. It’s situated near the old Worswick Street bus station and has obviously had a previous life as a warehouse.This nightclub is an independent organisation based on the idea of being affordable and based on enjoyment of music rather than drinking.  Multiculturalism is emphasised and the young clientèle were really friendly.So these were very suitable surroundings for:
Burundanga - Alan Law (Keys); Katie Trigger (double bass) and 6 others on hand drums, kit, percussion; guitars, vocals.
I love the way this type of band begins, by a sort of calling on process, rumbles of drums, whistles, cymbals shaking, the odd shout, great tension-building stuff. You know this is to be a wonderful mixture of Afro, Caribbean, funk, and tonight there were lots of Latin rhythms, duets, songs with question and answer, short bursts from band sections in turn, how do they know when it’s their turn? Can’t name the songs as I recognised only one and the singing was in Spanish and other languages. I can’t say much more either because I spent most of the set dancing as did many others – I found it impossible to stay sitting. One of the later numbers was especially great stuff, beginning with the girl singer and fast drums at the back, then a build up as others joined in, lots of us dancing, then a sudden end, just like that.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Ann Alex    

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