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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: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: 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: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
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, January 27, 2014

Jazz North East All-Day Jazz Extravaganza @ Bridge Hotel and Jazz Café











(Review/Photos -l/r - by Lance)
A day of many highs and only one low. Set in two venues within walking distance of each other Jazz North East presented 16 different line-ups in an attempt to fill the coffers left bare by the lamentable decision of the "Arts Council" to withdraw funding. The artists gave their services free and it is to be hoped the event was a financial success as well as an artistic one.
Both venues were never less than near full with audiences moving back and forth between the two according to their stylistic preferences. Split evenly between straight ahead jazz and the current improv scene - several artists such as Jason Yarde, Corey Mwamba, Andy Champion and John Pope were at home in both genres - the programming avoided clashes between the two.
Too much to review in detail save to say all acquitted themselves admirably. Zoe Gilby (with Andy Champion, bass, Mark Williams, guitar and Adrian Tilbrook, drums), gave an impressive opening set. Matt Anderson (tenor) in the company of Graham Hardy (trumpet), Lloyd Wright (guitar), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Adam Sinclair (drums) excelled before it was time to trek over to the Jazz Café for the Alex Hutton Trio. Hutton played a blinder! Ably supported by John Pope (bass) and, first Tilbrook and then David Carnegie on drums, the pianist entertained - not just with his dazzling technique but also his easy microphone manner as he related humourous tales re each piece.
Next up was to be a highlight - Simon Spillett and Matt Anderson in a two tenor front line - possibly recreating the legendary Jazz Couriers of yore. It was not to be. Simon, didn't make it. Fortunately Matt did and, having warmed up earlier at the Bridge he now laid down a solid set of standards with the Paul Edis Trio (Edis (piano); Shoulder (bass); Sinclair (drums).) Even without Simon it was still a highlight!
A break for tiffin or rather a Haggis Scotch Egg and Chutney (leftover from Burns Night?) at the Bridge followed by the Graeme Wilson Quintet which became a septet with the addition of Corey Mwamba on vibes and Alan Law on keys alongside Wilson (tenor); Dennis (trumpet); Williams (guitar); Champion (bass) and Tilbrook (drums.) A cracking set that occasionally verged on the free.
Back over to the Jazz Café for Jason Yarde and the Northern Express - as he retitled the band for the evening. Hardy, Wright, Shoulder and Carnegie gelled with Yarde who blew scintillating alto and curved soprano.
Up from Birmingham, the Jonathan Silk Quintet did give us a two tenor front-line with John Fleming and Nick Rundle. A good choice of original material by drummer Silk drew much applause from the now crowded room. Andy Bunting on piano and Chris Mapp on bass completed the ensemble. Five of Birmingham's finest.
The final set was by Paul Edis and Friends but, by this time - 8 hours of sitting, listening, walking, sitting, listening, walking was taking it's toll so I reluctantly bid adieu to what had been a day to go down in the annuls of north east jazz history.
Lance.
PS: As I didn't make it to the improv. sessions I look forward to hearing from those who did.
PPS: Link to Photos by Ken Drew.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Apologies from Simon Spillett for his no show. Suffering from a bad back. He did email his apologies to the organisers which unfortunately weren't passed on to me.
Get well soon Simon.

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