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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.

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. CANCELLED! 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.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

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

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Brass: Durham International Festival - Jon Faddis w. Andy Champion Quintet

Jon Faddis (tpt); Chris Hibbard (tmb); Graeme Wilson (ten); Paul Edis (pno); Andy Champion (bs); Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
(Review by Lance/photo by Zoe Gilby).
It had been many years since I'd heard the late Dizzy Gillespie - until tonight that is! In the form of Jon Faddis Dizzy was alive. The falsetto singing, the corny jokes and, most of all, the fantastic trumpet playing! Faddis starts his solos where mere mortals aim to finish i.e. those rarely explored notes that dwell above and beyond top C!
However, the visiting American has more than one metaphorical string to his bow. An impressive West End Blues revealed a sound that was big, bold, and brassy, filling every corner of the hall. In a sense Faddis is a throwback to that golden age when jazz musicians weren't just that - they were also entertainers and tonight our man entertained.
As befits a Brass Festival, there was no shortage of trumpet players in the audience and I spoke to several who were understandably awestruck!
I'm sure the trombonists present also allowed their jaws to drop too for this was no one man show but six men swinging and Chris Hibbard, less flamboyant than many, proved that laid back can be cool too. A slide sound to die for!
On tenor, Graeme Wilson slotted in nicely 'twixt the two brass men. His feature on My One and Only Love alongside Hibbard's My Foolish Heart was outstanding as was our star's duet with Edis on 'Round Midnight.
Paul Edis!
The pianist never fails to delight. The north east has currently hit a purple patch for jazz piano playing and in Paul the shade is positively magenta plus!
Adrian Tilbrook kept things swinging and his Caravan reminded us just how good a drummer he is.
On bass, Andy Champion (aka Zoe's husband) played an amazing intro to All Blues (don't all bass players do just that? Yes but this was something else! Chapeau to the still undefeated Champion.)
Tunes? Apart from those already mentioned, others included Oleo, Black Orpheus, Night in Tunisia (Interlude) and Confirmation all played to perfection.
One could say this was the Durham Major's Gala!(groans all round!)
Lance.

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