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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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

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: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

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: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde 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: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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, December 23, 2013

Gig/CD of the Year reminder.

As the year draws to a close and the gigs with them it seems that now is the time to reflect and make your choices of Gig of the Year or CD of the Year. I've made my choices known - let us know yours. I'm sure you've all listened to at least one CD and been to a gig or three so don't hang about.
Lance.

8 comments :

cptfinch said...

Trilok Gurtu, Paolo Fresu, Omar Sosa at the Sage was by far my favourite of the year Lance

Anonymous said...

The CD that I'm enjoying most isn't a new one but its new to me. Ed Bickert & Don Thompson 'At the Garden Party'. Its a gem and has some of the nicest lyrical/harmonic guitar playing I've ever heard. Amazing - he's like two guitar players at once. He has the ability to play nimbly yet drop off a chord (complete with inner voice movements) from any single note he happens to be on, yet sustaining the legato melody note on top. Jim Hall could do that too. Fantastic!
Been to a few very nice gigs and one I particularly enjoyed was Graeme Wilson's Quartet at L&P about 3 months back.
Roly

Kath Jobes said...

Hi Lance,

My gig of the year has to be the Lindsay Hannon Plus at the Sage Jazz Cafe... Just Superb, and my CD of the year has to be Zoe Gilby's Twelve Stories... again a really good compilation and a great addition to my collection. Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year xx

Hugh Cochrane said...

Slightly expanding the territory - gig of the year: The Impossible Gentlemen at Zeffirelli's, Ambleside.
CD of the year: Internationally Recognised Aliens, by the same band.
(Hugh, the territory has no bounds - Lance)

John Taylor said...

My CD of the year (which I have really enjoyed over the festive period) is Clare Teals "Jing-jing-a-ling"
So stylistic & featuring many "Great American Xmas" tracks:-
http://www.jazzandjazz.com/2013/11/clare-teal-releases-jing-jing-a-ling/
Gig of the year has to be Martin Taylor & Martin Simpson at the Portland Ashington as part of Ashington Town Councils Music festival. Many thanks to Mick Slaughter & Stephen Humphrey from the Town Council for all the work organising it all. Initially they asked me for ideas for a national artist who would be suitable for the jazz element of the festival. My three suggestions were a choice between Stacey Kent, Clare Teal or Martin Taylor. I think they ended up with an ideal gig which cleverly crossed the jazz and folk genres

Ken Drew said...

Gigs of the Year
1. Marilyn Crispell & Raymond Mcdonald
2. Arun Ghosh
3_ Paul Dunmall
3_ Laura Jurd

stevebfc said...

Gigs of the Years
1. Arun Ghosh (The Sage)
2. Ollie Howell Quintet (The Bridge)
3. Courtney Pine (Hoochie Coochie)

Albums of the year
1.John Escreet - Sabotage and Celebration
2 World Service Project - Fire in the Pet Shop
3. Foreign Motion -In Flight

Steve H

Tony Eales said...

Hi Lance

Been on my travels again this year, here's my choices.

Gigs of the year

1. Igor Butman - Moscow Jazz Orchestra at Wigan Jazz Festival.

2. Bobby Shew & The La Big Band at the LA jazz festival.

3. Tommy Smith & The SNJO play Kenton at the Queens Hall Edinburgh

CD's

1. Igor Butman - Sheherazade Tales

2. Tommy Smith & The SNJO - In The Spirit of The Duke

3. Zoe Gilby - Twelve Stories

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