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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 09: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 09: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Forum, Billingham. 3:00pm.
Sun 09: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 09: Tom Remon & Mark Williams @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 09: Rod Oughton’s Tomorrow’s New Quartet with Ben van Helder @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Line-up inc. Deschanel Gordon.
Sun 09: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 10: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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

Friday, September 12, 2014

Lyndsay Hannon Plus @ The Cherry Tree, September 8

Lyndsay Hannon (vocals), John Pope (bass), James Harrison (piano), Dave McKeague (drums).
(Review by JC)
'Life is a bowl of cherries' as someone once said but at the Cherry Tree it's even more than that - delicious cheese souffle, thinly sliced rare fillet of beef, and seasonal sea trout - and, on this occasion, Lyndsay Hannon Plus as well. Hannon and the band opened with Joni Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns, which is one of my favourites, but some loud residual chatter from a large table interfered with the sound a little bit. However, as the band got into it's stride this diminished and then some delightful versions of Why Try to Change Me Now with it's slowed down middle section and I Can't Escape from You with a elegant bass solo and delicate piano ornamentation had everybody paying attention. The band upped the tempo with a swinging I Can't Give You Anything But Love that showcased James Harrison's piano playing.
Lyndsay Hannon then sang a lovely version of Old Fashioned Hat (which, like some of the other pieces, is on the band's recent album The Spy) at the end of which she leaned louchely against the piano drawing comment from John Pope, to which she responded languidly 'If it wasn't for the olives in my martinis, I'd starve to death'. A quote from Mae West, according to my dining companion, and we hadn't expected her. This was turning into an exciting show!
A rocking version of Bye, Bye Blackbird followed, with lots of fine vocal improvisation from Hannon. Nature Boy began with a strikingly spare drums and voice combination before the piano and bass joined in with some tasty bossa nova licks.
The second half began with just the trio playing and they demonstrated their fine musical abilities on C Jam Blues and Take the 'A' Train.Lyndsay Hannon then returned to the stage to sing I Only Have Eyes For You, Skylark and Moonlight in Vermont. And John Pope got in one of his expert bass solos. A request from the audience for Blue Motel Room resulted in an exquisite rendition of the beautiful Joni Mitchell song (but can someone explain what 'boom boom pachyderms' are and what are they doing in the room?).
The set finished off with the band rocking out on So Nice to Come Home To with everyone getting a solo spot. A very good night with a fine band and we returned home with a copy of The Spy album to keep us well entertained.
JC

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

JC The dictionary says that a pachyderm is a hoofed animal which doesn't chew the cud, eg a horse. But it can also mean a thick-skinned person, so that meaning might help (or not).
Ann Alex

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