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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

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. 1:00-2:00pm. £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: Fiona Finden’s Jazz Express @ Flash House Brewing Co., North Shields. 8:00pm.
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: 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: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
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. .

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.

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

Monday, September 15, 2014

Djangologie @ The Lit & Phil. September 12

Mick Shoulder (contrabasse), Emma Fisk (violon), James Birkett (guitare) & Giles Strong (guitare rythmique)
(Review by Russell).
Monsieur M.Shoulder ‘Sur contrabasse et les announces inutiles.’ So said the programme notes written by the man himself. Francophile Djangologist Mick Shoulder is getting into all things Django in a big way. Impenetrable notes, incomprehensible announcements (in pigeon French), whatever next…berets? Come to think of it, a beret-wearing fan took his seat in a packed-out Lit and Phil, no doubt leaving his bicycle outside, onions drying out under a strong September sun.
The man Django kick-started the one hour set in the salon-setting of the Loftus Room as Minor Swing proved a major hit. James Birkett took the opening solo to huge applause and at the tune’s conclusion the decibel count went off the scale. So much so it prompted Shoulder to advise everyone to calm down as there was one hour’s worth of this stuff! An original Shoulder composition – Blues for DR – began with a lazy swing feel (a vocalist could have stepped-up) until the quartet switched gear with yet more dazzling playing. A second Django number (one of only two in the programme) , the classic Swing 39, made this a gig to die for. Ma Premiere Guitare (comp. Brousolle and Distel) followed, as did the old warhorse China Boy. Monsieur Shoulder’s Cigano Bolero heard master rhythm maker Giles Strong at his best and a new one from the bandleader – Silapa Swing – is sure to take its place as a regular in the pad.
Is Mademoiselle Emma Fisk the best Hot Club violinist on the planet? You bet she is! If there is anyone better I’ll give you a fiver of LL’s money. Dark Eyes is one helluva way to end a gig and Djangologie know how to go out on a high. They flew so high – soloists and ensemble. Monsieur Birkett played the impossible and Mademoiselle Fisk kept LL’s fiver safe. Grab your beret and head down to the Globe on Railway Street in Newcastle’s West End on Saturday 4th October to hear the band again. £9.00. admission and as a bonus you get a Lindy jazz dance set from those who can dance (as opposed to those who think they can but can’t). Très bon!          
AND THEY’RE AT THE CHERRY TREE TONIGHT! (Monday Sept. 15) Allez Vite! 
Russell.

1 comment :

Alan Smith (on F/b) said...

Great comments and a great band.

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