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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

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.
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.

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

Monday, November 11, 2013

Splinter Jam Session @ The Bridge

Alan Law (pno); John Pope (bs); Andy Champion (dms) + sitters in.
The house trio got the ball rolling with a couple of numbers including a swinging There is no Greater Love. Bass player Andy Champion was on drums, Bass player John Pope was on bass and occasional alto player Alan Law was on piano. A good combination.
Alan Law remained at the keyboard as Jim Crinson took over on bass, Eric Stutt got behind the kit, the Findens - Stuart and Fiona brandished tenors and three of the five sported trendy headgear - who says jazz is old hat?! Sartorially speaking, Alan Law's highly polished brown shoes got the verdict.
Fiona sang In a Sentimental Mood and sang it well whilst Stuart set the benchmark for tenor playing.
Kath Jobes raved over a new singer who turned up at Salsa last night and sang Smile - Christine Ben-Ameh. Well Christine turned up at the Bridge and once again sang Smile.
Kath's enthusiasm was totally justified and I've got a feeling we're going to hear a lot more about this young lady. Her soulful interpretation drew a mountain of applause.
Next up another tenor saxman whose name I didn't catch. He too wore a hat and blew up such a storm we should have all been wearing hats! Coltrane Lives! His version of Georgia on my Mind had the intensity and earthiness of a Ray Charles vocal coupled with an instrumental technique that extended the range of the tenor to a harmonic land that even piccolo players could only dream about - must be the magic hat!
By now Jonathan Marriott had taken over on drums and it was left to John Rowland to carry on the tenor odyssey with a nicely paced Ornithology followed by Over the Rainbow
Throughout, Alan Law had worked diligently and quite brilliantly behind all and sundry and was due a well-earned break. Likewise John Pope who relinquished the double bass to bassist turned drummer turned bassist Andy Champion, joined on stage by Mrs Champion - Zoe Gilby.
The bass/vocal duo did, I think, Baghdad? and Way Down in the Hole. They just get better and better.
The evening rounded off with Stu and Fiona returning for On Green Dolphin St. and God Bless the Child. There may have been more but the number 27 was on the horizon...
Splendid evening.
Photos.
Lance.

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