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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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, April 22, 2014

Alter Ego @ Blaydon Jazz Club. April 20

Keith Robinson (alto saxophone), Niall Armstrong (tenor saxophone & flute), Dave Hignett (trumpet & flugelhorn), Andy Hawking (keyboards), Tony Abell (double bass) & David Francis (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Jazz Messengers were to be heard across the Tyne on Easter Day. Down river at the Bridge Hotel, Messenger Pete Gilligan preached the Gospel of Silver (H.Silver), up river Alter Ego the torch bearers for Blakey (A.Blakey). Two cracking bop outfits a matter of three or four miles apart on the same night - an impossible choice. Why Blaydon? No reason, one was sure to be as good as the other.
Numbers by Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Johnny Griffin, Horace Silver (that man Silver!) and Bobby Watson peppered the first set. Cheese Cake featured beefy alto from Keith Robinson, In Walked Horace (that man Silver!) lean tenor from Niall Armstrong, tempered trumpet from Dave Hignett, authoritative bass playing from Tony Abell and on Nice and Easy Armstrong dispensed a full measure of mid-tempo bluesy tenor. Bobby Watson, one of Alter Ego’s favourite composers, is a fixture in the set list (this Black Bull date heard three or four of the ex-Messenger’s tunes) and before the interval a Latin piece doubled up with Moon Rise (the latter featuring some proper, line-the-bar-and-listen trumpet playing from Hignett). The set closer – The Soulful Mr Timmons – featured Robinson’s alto and the soulful Mr Andy Hawking (piano).
Hit and Run began the second set, Robinson prominent, so too, Hignett. Bobby Watson’s Wheel Within a Wheel showcased the immaculate dovetailing of the horns, beautiful textures (Hignett’s flugel) and Hawking’s mesmeric piano motif. Monk as Messenger. Why not? Think of One. That’ll do. A band original – Boudini – received its first public airing (a world premiere, said drummer David Francis) with tenor, flugel and piano in the spotlight. Gate-crashing dancers ‘entertained’ the room on Get Back In until they got bored and went back out. Bitter Dose brought the house down before the house lights went up – superb piano playing (Play on!), killer muted trumpet playing, all preaching the gospel of Alter Ego.           
Russell.                

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