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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17655 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 929 of them this year alone and, so far, 74 this month (Dec. 31).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Mon 06: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 07: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:00pm. Free.

Wed 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: The Tannery Jam Session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 08: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 08: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 09: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: John H Hammond.
Thu 09: FILM: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 2:35pm. Documentary (dir. Johan Grimonprez) ‘about jazz, (de)colonial history and activism featuring Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie’.
Thu 09: Happy Tuesdays @ Ye Olde Cross, Ryton. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 09: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. Ragtime piano. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Thu 09: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. A Tees Hot Club promotion. The session now monthly, next one Thursday 2nd Feb, then first Thursday in the month thereafter.

Fri 10: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 10: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 10: Joe Steels Trio @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free.

Sat 11: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 11: Under the Wellie @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 12: The New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 12: King Bees @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.
Sun 12: Dave Bottomley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.
Sun 12: Jack Pearce Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

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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