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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

17641 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 915 of them this year alone and, so far, 60 this month (Dec. 26).

From This Moment On ...

December

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

Sunday, February 09, 2014

Elkie Brooks @ Sage Gateshead February 9

Elkie Brooks (vcl); Stevie Jones (ten); Andrew Murray (keys); Brian Badham (bs gtr); Rufus Ruffell (gtr); Michael Richardson (dms); Lee Noble (various).
(Review by Lance).
After Natalie Williams had sent us on our way rejoicing from Hoochie on Friday night, the feeling was that it would be many a moon before a star shone so brightly again. Then, lo and behold, less than 24 hours later we were once again bedazzled, this time at Sage Gateshead and by a woman almost twice Natalie's age!
Elkie Brooks.
Elkie, by her own admission, is pushing 69 but, unless you were sitting in Row A and with 20-20 vision, you'd swear she was still the young jazz chick that used to appear with Humph from time to time.
Hall One, two levels full, erupted as the band played the intro to He Could Have Been an Army, vamping till ready as Elkie strutted her stuff welcoming the welcoming fans before taking up the song. Has she still got it?
Elkie's still got it!
All the old faves were given a fresh airing. Gasoline Alley, Fool if You Think it's Over, Nights in White Satin, and of course Pearl's a Singer, Sunshine After the Rain, Why?, Don't Cry Out Loud and Lilac Wine - just some of the tried and tested numbers we've never forgotten. There were also songs from her more recent album Powerless (2009). Purple Rain the one that sticks in my mind.
Some voices deteriorate with the passage of time.
Some don't.
Elkie's voice, despite her at times raucous delivery, hasn't! In fact I'd swear she's sounding better than ever (if that is possible!) Only minor criticism is that she does tend to overdo the repeat/delay effect at the end of a chorus. Stunning in small doses but not in overkill. However, this is a small price to pay for the magical moments that held us spellbound Till the End of Time to quote the Perry Como number that was a hit the year she was born (1945). The Chopin based piece is still a hit when Elkie sings it.
Once again Stevie Jones on tenor gave a man of the match performance which is praise indeed given the quality of musicianship on stage. Stevie ranks with the best - look out for a review of his own album Brother Strut soon.
Yes this was quite a night - not in white satin, but in a slinky black gown for the first set and a black and white outfit for the second.
Lance.

6 comments :

Unknown said...

Elkie is an amazing singer , her concerts a great.

Derek Richardson said...

I was there!
Elkie gets better and better, fabulous voice and still going strong after all the years she has had as a singer.
Looking forward to the next time.

Anonymous said...

I was there in Row A and she looked and sounded fab!

Anonymous said...

Am waiting for her to get a Brit Award for lifetime achievement (probably never happed though as she's not 'popular')

Unknown said...

We were there, we have seen her every time she has been in the North East. She never fails to deliver.

Anonymous said...

Agree 100% with you here! Pure enduring British talent!

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