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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. Free.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Marilyn Crispell & Raymond MacDonald + John Pope & Greta Buitkute @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. December 4

Marilyn Crispell (piano) & Raymond MacDonald (alto & soprano saxophones), Andy Champion (double bass)
(Review by Russell/Photos by Ken Drew.)
There was a huge turn out in Armstrong Building, Newcastle University. The Congregation exited King’s Hall – academics, graduates and guests – following an awards ceremony. Photographs taken, bouquets discarded, within minutes the building stood deserted. The scheduled gig in the Recital Room proved problematic as the space functioned as a cloak room for the duration, coats racks everywhere, the Steinway in there somewhere. Only one thing to do, hold the gig in the King’s Hall. Rows of empty chairs from the earlier assembly would surely fill up. Of course they didn't. Platform with ceremonial chairs and throne made for a surreal backdrop. Steinway in position, bar set up, the audience started to arrive. 
The usual faces, first name terms, the state of the music in these difficult times for the small scale promoter. Small promoter, big gig. American pianist Marilyn Crispell joined forces once more with reeds virtuoso Raymond Macdonald. A relationship born of their meeting at Jazz North East’s On the Outside Festival, the duo have gone on to play concerts and document their music making on CD.
The ‘product’ sold like hot cakes (mince pies?) on the night, testament to the exceptional performance heard by the lucky few. Crispell appeared in Newcastle way back with Anthony Braxton and years later in the King’s Hall the self effacing American reaffirmed her rare talent. Head bowed, hunched over the keyboard, Crispell’s two handed note clusters inspired Raymond MacDonald to ever greater heights. Alto or soprano, the amiable Scot gave the performance of a lifetime. Notes reached up into the cloistered rafters ringing crystal clear to the echo. MacDonald’s keen ear responded to the acoustic, incorporating the delay of cathedral like proportions into his playing. Possessing imperious technique, the jazz – and it was ‘real’ jazz – took some believing. The rapport between the musicians telepathic, the playing stonkingly good. One piece recalled In a Sentimental Mood, another infused with gospel sounds, the truth. 
At the close the duo invited double bassist Andy Champion to join them for an encore. Three string Champion (one string broke!) slotted in comfortably, as one has come to expect.
Earlier John Pope (double bass|) & Greta Buitkute (voice) played a short opening set. Pope’s recent improv outings have seen him take giant strides, looking and sounding increasingly at home in the genre. Buitkute chooses to explore the possibilities of the human voice, pushing boundaries, as they say. Working acoustically on this gig, her quiet excursions required concentrated listening, lower register guttural sounds projected without the aid of a mic. An interesting set, a wonderful evening, a contender for Gig of the Year! 
Russell.

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