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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Durham Jazz Fest @ Dunelm House, Durham Students' Union, Durham. 1:00pm ('til late). £10.00. Line-up inc. Durham University Big Band; Durham University Jazz Society; Northern Lights A Cappella; Durham University Jazz Orchestra; Cache Out; Flo & Co; Holy Grale Sessions.
Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

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, October 03, 2014

Djangologie @ King’s Hall. October 2

Mick Shoulder (double bass), Emma Fisk (violin), James Birkett (guitar) & Giles Strong (guitar).
(Review by Russell).
The first lunchtime concert performance of the new academic year in King’s Hall. It couldn’t have got off to a better start. The place was packed to the rafters (that’s real   Old School rafters) and fresh-faced first year students in attendance were blown way listening to Djangologie. Wow! These guys are so cool  they said to themselves.

A female guitar student sat two rows from the front. I love Gypsy jazz she said. Bebop Spoken Here wondered if she had previously heard Djangologie. She said she hadn’t. Well, our guitar student was in for a treat. Blues for DR, Swing 39, who could ask for anything more?
Monsieur Mick Shoulder cheekily dismissed ‘70’s housewife favourite’ Sacha Distel, suggesting the Frenchman crooned ‘quite tunelessly’. Monsieur Shoulder was quick to acknowledge him as a fine jazz guitarist. Indeed he was. Check out Monsieur Distel’s jazz chops with John Lewis on the recent vinyl reissue Afternoon in Paris. So, Distel’s Ma Premiere Guitare proved a point; the man could compose (and play), if  not sing!
Cigano Bolero (comp. M.Shoulder) has rightly become a fixture in the set, featuring, as it does, rhythm king Giles Strong taking the lead. James Birkett played a blinder – what’s new? Emma Fisk – is there anyone finer? Nope! You will not hear better.
After the opening number a group of young (primary school) students filed-in, sat on the floor and were transfixed by the music and, quite possibly, perplexed as to how an adult could have such poor command of the French language (Monsieur Shoulder!). Joking aside, the kids from Moorside Community Primary School in Arthur’s Hill loved it!
As a finale, Mire Pral segued into Le Yeux Noir. It works every time – thunderous applause, encore won. Trés bon!   

Russell.

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