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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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, April 07, 2014

GIJF: Day Three: Youth Jazz Afternoon: Stretch Trio; Jambone with Rick Taylor

Stretch Trio: Calvin Travers (guitar) Simon ? (drums), ? (tenor sax, Ewi). (Andy French? Tom Higham?)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo from band's F/b page)).
Sorry about the names I didn’t catch, but this whole concert was an absolute joy, with free tickets as well, and I would willingly have paid.  Stretch Trio, from Yorkshire, were handpicked by ‘Jazz North Introduces’ which gives young Northern jazz artists their first high profile performance. The trio were straight in with sax leading, a pleasing ethereal sound, then riffs and chops, a fresh modern approach to jazz, sax and guitar duetting, alternating, music speeding up towards the end of the piece.  
Next came Solstice, a tune with a more spaced out feel, using some sort of looped electronics, but as appropriate.  The Ewi made an appearance, the Electronic Wind Instrument, to give it its full title. This looks like a shiny melodica and sounds as you’d expect from the title. It reflected the coloured stage lights as it was played, so looked attractive as well.  Next, something a bit more traditional, a standard start with a drum solo, and references to the song Softly As In A Morning Sunrise.  The set ended with Hectic Metric, a full throttled sound and lots of chock, chock sounds from percussion.  There were murmurs of appreciation from the audience, so I think we’ll be hearing more of this young band.
Jambone; The Time Machine: led by Rick Taylor (trombone)
We were prepared for the high standards that we’ve come to expect from Jambone, Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz ensemble, but I for one wasn’t prepared for the hilarious presentation methods of Rick Taylor, a local jazz musician who has been away from the area for some time.  The Time Machine is the result of a long workshop that Rick did with the band, which is based on key jazz and swing composers and arrangers.  He explained, with down to earth honesty, that the workshop was long so they’d cut down the performance to the minimum, then proceeded to vigorously conduct  what sounded, for all the world, like a chaotic drunken version of New Orleans jazz.  Then we were straight into danceable swing, led by Rick’s wonderful trombone, encouraging the many soloists in the band, saxes, trumpet, drums.  The piece was in sections to illustrate trends, such as West Coast Style with a skilled baritone sax solo, then a lively mid 50’s tune counterbalanced by smooth tones.  The third movement illustrated Duke Ellington, with a very deliberately piercing muted trumpet, which Rick assured us was authentic for the time.  Stan Kenton entered the scene, then more West Coast with a chance for guitar and piano to solo.  The final piece (sorry can’t remember the influence) reminded me of the soundtrack to many a 1950’s cowboy film. I imagine the band must have had good fun during the workshop, with much encouragement to give of their best, which they did in this performance.
Ann Alex

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