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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

Sun 16: MOBO Song @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 12 noon. Free, performances on the concourse. Line-up inc. Jazz Attack (on stage time TBC) & Jambone (12:20pm).
Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt 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. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Jazz Milestones - 1975.
Thu 20: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 20: Orange Claw Hammer + Peony @ The Globe, Newcastle.7:30pm. Orange Claw Hammer play Captain Beefheart.
Thu 20: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Featuring special guest Zoë Gilby.

Fri 21: JazzMain @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. TBC.
Fri 21: Emma Rawicz w. Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

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, September 10, 2014

CD Review: Paul Edis Sextet – Mr Hipster

Paul Edis (piano), Graham Hardy (trumpet & flugelhorn), Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones), Chris Hibbard (trombone), Mick Shoulder (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)
(Review by Russell).
Mr Hipster is the second CD release from the Paul Edis Sextet. Recorded in October 2013, the album comprises eleven tracks composed and arranged by pianist Paul Edis. The bandleader’s pen ranges from township jazz to the modern jazz of a small combo, hinting at the prospect of a future larger ensemble project.
The Timothys opens the recording with a graceful brass band statement concealing the township jazz groove to follow, on which trumpeter Graham Hardy lays down the first    of several top flight solos from a band replete with soloists. Chris Hibbard (trombone) proves the point with his own solo opportunity and Edis serves to reinforce it.
Mr Hipster, the title track, attempts to gain entry to the local juke joint. A playful intro suggests Mr Hipster doesn’t take himself too seriously (more Inspector Clouseau than Philip Marlowe). Once inside the joint the music does the talking; Hibbard’s trombone, the band’s casually ferocious swing, Adam Sinclair’s Clouseau hi-hat.
Eastern features Graeme Wilson’s haunting tenor solo framed by Edis’ voicings of the horns and Wilson again delivers a mature contribution on Serial for Breakfast as does Hibbard backed by a swinging rhythm section. The baroque Knight Errant is, perhaps, the atypical contribution to the CD. Edis’ piano arranges a trip to the local fleapit for a   low-budget, no name, popcorn treat with Hardy sweeping across the silver screen.
Ah Um tells you all you need to know – superb small group jazz, the man Mingus the guiding light with Hibbard reaching for the stars. Dorian Grey confirms the sextet as a match for any contemporary outfit doing the rounds; Wilson’s tenor, Mick Shoulder’s bass playing, two-handed piano playing. Edis’ personal ballad Missing You opens with the trio – piano, bass and drums – in late-night mode, inviting Hardy’s flugelhorn to say something sensitive. From ballad to swing time with the wonderfully titled Better Than a Punch in the Face. Hardy switches to trumpet, has a blow, then steps aside for the boss to play some, then Shoulder, the ensemble playing exemplary. The penultimate track – Lost in Translation – hits a groove with the versatile Wilson flying on baritone, propelled by Shoulder and Sinclair. Mr Hipster winds down with the familiar sounding Vignette. Who wrote it? Paul Edis, that’s who. Mr Hipster is sure to feature in 2014’s ‘best of’ lists. It may well take no.1 spot.
Mr Hipster by the Paul Edis Sextet is available on Edis Music.(www.pauledis.co.uk).
Produced by Adam Sinclair and Paul Edis. Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Adam Sinclair. Artwork by Alastair Graham. Photography by Ian West.
Catch the band on tour at: Richmond Jazz Festival, Yorkshire (Sat 13 September), Lancaster Jazz Festival (Sat 20), Sage Gateshead - Album Launch (Thurs 25), Seven Arts Leeds (Sun 28), The Vortex, London (Mon 6 October), Gala Theatre, Durham (Mon 13) & Queen’s Hall, Hexham (Sat 18).          
Russell.                                         

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