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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

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. CANCELLED!
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. CANCELLED!
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.
Tue 31: Jan Spencelayh Quartet @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 5:00-9:00pm. A NYE ‘Dinner-Dance’ event. £42.99. Featuring special guest Mick Donnelly.
Tue 31: Jack Logan @ The Robin Hood Inn, East Wallhouses NE18 0LL. Tel: 01434 672549. 7:00pm. £59.95. ‘New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner’. Rat Pack etc.

January 2025

Wed 01: Revolutionaires @ The Old Barrel (Flatties), Boldon Colliery. 3:30pm. Free. Excellent rhythm & blues.

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.

Sat 04: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 04: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £5.00. Xmas party (rescheduled from early December).

Sun 05: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 05: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, jazz & blues.
Sun 05: Papa G’s Troves @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free (donations).

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

Friday, April 25, 2014

Vasilis Xenopoulos - The Wind Machine @ Bridge Hotel Newcastle. April 24


Vasilis Xenopoulos (ten); Martin Shaw  (tpt/flg); Paul Edis (pno); Andy Champion (bs); Matt Home (dms). (Review by Lance/Photos  courtesy of Ken Drew).
It may not have been the line-up in the Jazz North East brochure but, after hearing the opening bars of Four Brothers, I said, "This will do for me!"
A blind person could be excused for thinking he was hearing the Woody Herman saxes whilst sighted persons were marvelling at how 5 could sound like 16! Honestly, if they'd packed up and gone home after that storming opener I would have still felt I'd got my money's worth! 12 hours later the tune is still running through my head!
Such is Vasy's technique both harmonically and melodically he'd have slotted perfectly into any Herman sax section. Martin Shaw, equally classy, - big sound, modern phrasing. Matt Home, no slacking when he's driving the bus. Great as the visitors were, without the home town heroes Edis and Champion the end result would have been so much lesser.
As it was, everyone kicked in. Splanky  and Kenny Dorham's Short Story kept the temperature high before relaxing with  Shaw's version of Loverman and Vasy's Polka Dots and Moonbeams - soft and sensuous.
Groove Merchant from the Jones-Lewis pad was the typical go out on a high, end of first set, number with the chase choruses by the two horns real edge of your seat stuff.
A quick pint then back into the arena for Tadd Dameron's Our Delight - was ever a tune more appropriately named? - Prelude to a Kiss, The Fan Club (Mel Lewis), Corner Pocket and the title track of the latest CD The Wind Machine (CD review to follow soon).
If Gregory Porter was the Vocal Gig of the Year (so far) this is the Small Band GOTY and, despite numerical contradictions, also in the running for the Big Band gong!
Fot those readers who are kicking themselves for missing the gig, the good news is that the Wind Machine can be heard at St. Cuthbert's Centre, Crook, DL15 9DN tonight (April 25, 7pm.)
Jim would have loved it...
Lance.
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