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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

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: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ 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: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

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: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ 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: 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.
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.

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

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Jamil Sheriff Trio with Josh Kemp @ The Lit & Phil. February 6

Jamil Sheriff (piano), Pete Turner (double bass), Dave Walsh (drums) + Josh Kemp (tenor and alto saxophones) + Archie
(Review by Russell/Photos by Ken Drew.)
Jazz North East’s first promotion since their marathon fundraiser drew a decent crowd. Presented in association with the Lit and Phil, pianist Jamil Sheriff and Dave Walsh (drums) drove up from Leeds and bassist Pete Turner, with Archie in tow, made the journey across the Pennines from the north west. Sheriff has recently been writing reams of material and some of it got a work out during this Newcastle engagement.
Trio Piece No.1 set the tone; a swinging piano trio composition, all three musicians into a groove from the off. Applause woke Archie from his slumbers. Our four-legged friend leapt to his feet, tail wagging as he ran around the room  Master Turner commanded he return to his dog basket and good as gold did just that receiving a pat on the back on the way.
A blues undercurrent is omnipresent in Sheriff’s two handed style and Bluish brought it to the surface. The pianist’s academic colleague, Les Chisnall, inspired an as yet untitled ballad. It required the trio’s total concentration as they negotiated the complexities of the charts before them.
Crazy Happy, incorporated multiple changes in tempi, ostensibly determined by the ever-impressive Dave Walsh. All three musicians appeared to be all too aware of where they were going (excellent solo from Turner), no matter, it worked a treat! To close the first set Sheriff introduced a new name to Tyneside – Josh Kemp. Suited and booted, the amiable tenor man blew impressively; big sound, warm tone, secure technique. Loud applause greeted Kemp’s extended opening solo. The Lit and Phil crowd clearly liked what they heard. What would the second set bring? During the interval Kemp’s CD sold to more than one punter sufficiently impressed on hearing one number.
The second set heard some alto, indeed much alto, ranging from near smooth jazz excursions to convincing statements (Kemp’s true voice?) on numbers such as So Long, Dave. Kemp returned to the tenor (briefly deploying Roland Kirk’s two horns party piece) and the quartet swung out to the delight of an impressed Lit and Phil audience. Jamil Sheriff thanked all concerned for arranging the gig and providing hospitality on the night. He added his name to a growing list of pianists in praising the Lit and Phil’s fine piano and the good acoustic of the Loftus Room. Archie and co are welcome to return any time.    
Ken Drew Photos.                          
Russell.

1 comment :

Pete said...

Thank for the review. I had a great time and so did Archie! Hopefully see you again soon.

Pete

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