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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.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

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.

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

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra directed by Tommy Smith presents­ An Evening with Kurt Elling: SYNTOPICON

Perth, Concert Hall 21st February 2014 at 7.30pm
 Mill Street, Perth PH1 5HZ  01738 621031  Online Box Office
Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall 22nd February 2014  at 7.30 pm   
89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JG  0131 668 2019  Online Box Office       
Glasgow, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 23rd February 2014  at 7.30pm
100 Renfrew Street Glasgow G2 3DB  0141 332 5057  Online Box Office       
2014 begins in bold style for The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) with yet another adventurous collaboration – this time with the world’s foremost jazz vocalist, Kurt Elling  Together they present Syntopicon, a concert exploring life’s philosophies through music.
Kurt Elling is an international star, whose rich baritone voice spans four octaves and features both astonishing technical mastery and emotional depth.  Using his extraordinary skills in vocalese, scat and the spoken word, Kurt warmly communicates with his audience while self-penned lyrics are more than a companion to the melody.  They are words expressed as notes, and notes expressed as words…. and every word counts.
Syntopicon” - a portmanteau, a grab-bag of ideas, or group of topics - is music to embrace and deliver universal ideas through intelligent words, wonderful music and breathtaking song extoling in equal measures the vicissitudes of Love, Life, Joy, Beauty, Knowledge, Language and Courage.
Fresh arrangements specially commissioned by the SNJO will give free reign to Elling’s highly cultivated use of vocalese – the creation of new song based on improvised melody.  From Bernstein’s euphoric and youthful West Side Story to Paul Simon’s mid-west, mid life crisis, American Tune or taking a spin in John Scofield’s Jeep on 35, audiences will love the diversity of material. There’s a place too for the internationalism of Vince Mendoza’s Esperanto; a chance to Go on one of Wayne Shorter’s stellar excursions; and time to enjoy the quietness of still waters in a “boat song” very much closer to home.
The vision is as celebratory as it is revelatory. Some of the most admired works of Mingus, Monk, Ellington, Pastorius and Shorterare on offer having been arranged by some of the foremost jazz arrangers worldwide at present. Geoffrey Keezer, Michael Abene, Bob Mintzer. Tommy Smith and Jim McNeely have all contributed to this great evening of wonderful music, breath-taking song and shared experience – surely to be a jazz highlight of 2014!
 “Elling is the standout male vocalist of our time.”  The New York Times,
“Since the mid-1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling. With his soaring vocal flights, his edgy lyrics and sense of being on a musical mission, he has come to embody the creative spirit in jazz.”  Washington Post,
NB: All Concerts start at 7.30 pm. There is a free pre concert talk with Kurt and Tommy at 6.45pm.

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