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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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, June 07, 2014

Johnny Deps in Crook - Paul Edis Sextet @ St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook, Friday June 6.

Paul Edis (Piano), Mick Shoulder (Bass), Adam Sinclair (Drums), Graeme Wilson (Tenor/Baritone Sax), Chris Hibbard (Trombone) and Johnny Dunn (Trumpet and Flugelhorn).
(Review/photo by Jerry)
“7.30 p.m., summer sun (about time) streams through the high window, nibbles are on the tables, bottled ales are flowing and a chattering Crook crowd thinks they are in for a great evening. Adam’s drums rip into Administrate This, the chattering stops and the crowd KNOW they are in for a great evening! “
 I wrote the above exactly one year ago but I make no apology for recycling it. Johnny Dunn again graced the front line, so it all still applies.
As then, the mix for the evening was: originals from the group’s first CD, There Will Be Time; originals featured on the second CD, Mr Hipster, (to be launched at Sage Gateshead on September 25) and a couple of standards for good measure. Thus the first set included: The Timothy’s (aka “I’m in with the in-laws”), Eastern, Missing You (Aaaaaah!), Black Orpheus, and Blues for Dad (aka “Keep Pops onside, too”).
New to Crook was the forthcoming CD’s title-track, Mr Hipster – a gem of Pink Panther-ish drumming and slinky attitude. There were no “hipsters” in the audience (apparently even those of us with beards lacked the inventive topiary required) but it went down well anyway! As did the half-time pizza.
The second set opened brightly with Mick Shoulder’s bold and brassy arrangement of My Heart Belongs to Daddy and continued with Better Than a Punch in the Face. Next up (again, I think, new to Crook) was the serendipitously Scouse-inspired Lost in Translation – a “bass-heavy” piece featuring Graeme Wilson’s growling baritone sax and a great “snap” ending.
It was interesting to compare the sextet’s Vignette with the piano version from the recently reviewed (Jazz Journal – FOUR STARS!) solo album, Not Like Me. I prefer the solo version whereas the opposite applies with Eastern.
Paul then played, solo, a short, recently-written piece entitled Vince – appropriately more classical than jazzy, as dedicated to friend whose idea of heaven was any place inhabited by the Vienna Philharmonic!
Knight Errant, another instantly lovable original, featured muted brass, GraemeWilson on flute, infectious Spanish rhythms and a Flamenco-clapping finish. Olé! Angular, with solos for all and audience-participation during a drum solo (whatever next?), brought a thoroughly enjoyable evening to a close.
There are more gigs coming up at this thriving venue (Customs’ House Big Band next) - get there if you can!
My birthday happens to be on September 25 and I know where I will be – at The Sage for the CD launch! Get there too, if you can.
Jerry.       

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