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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, 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

17945 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 266 of them this year alone and, so far, 22 this month (April 8).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Thu 10: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.CANCELLED!
Thu 10: Magpies of Swing @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. A Globe fundraiser (all proceeds to the venue).
Thu 10: Exhaust: Camila Nebbia/Kit Downes/Andrew Lisle @ Jesmond URC, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. JNE.
Thu 10: Jeremy McMurray & the Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Feat. guests Ray Dales & Jackie Summers.

Fri 11: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 11: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 11: John Rowland Trio: The Music of Ben Webster @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Rowland (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass).
Fri 11: Imelda May @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 11: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ Cullercoats Watch House. 7:30-9:00pm. Free (donations).

Sat 12: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 12: Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra + House of the Black Gardenia + King Bees @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 6:30pm (doors). £18.00.
Sat 12: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Event includes swing dance taster session, DJ dance session. Bright Street Big Band on stage 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 12: Imelda May @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. £42.20. SOLD OUT!
Sat 12: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 13: Daniel John Martin with Swing Manouche @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 13: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 13: Hejira: A Celebration of Joni Mitchell @ Wylam Brewery, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £22.50.
Sun 13: Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + Chojnacki @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20., £11.00. JNE.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: 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, 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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