Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sat 12: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 12: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26 (inc. bf).

Sun 13: 58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00-3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 13: King Bees @ Shape Patisserie, Darlington. 3:00pm. Free. Duo (Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor). A Rhythm & Blues Fringe event. Blues excellence.
Sun 13: Alligator Gumbo @ The Cluny. 5:00pm. £17.15.; £11.43; £5.72.
Sun 13: Eternal Triangle + Andy Champion @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 14: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Ben Lawrence, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ 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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

James Harrison Trio with Caroline Bagley @ Cherry Tree. October 15

Caroline Bagley (vcl/alt); James Harrison (pno); James Robson (bs gtr); Tom Chapman (dms).
(Review by Lance).
It was maybe 5/6 weeks back that Caroline Bagley made her Cherry Tree début with the James [Harrison] Gang. She impressed then but tonight was even better - particularly after the mic had been given an extra crank.
This was the 50th anniversary of Cole Porter's death and, although his music didn't feature in the set list, I'm sure he'd have appreciated the music and the food that was served up.
The trio played their CT signature tune - Food, Glorious Food and whilst I was enjoying the Home made black pudding, egg and brown sauce, Caroline was demanding the Frim Fram Sauce - I hope she got it!
My main course was Chargrilled bistro rump steak, café de Paris butter with traditional steak garnish and French fries.
This coincided with La Bagley chanting Autumn Leaves in French - la belle dame also blew some multi-lingual alto.
Merci (or should that be Mercer, as in Johnny?)
More alto on a spellbinding God Bless the Child followed by some scatting on Lullaby of Birdland and an up-tempo Summertime - it must be carved in stone somewhere that if you sing jazz you sing Summertime irrespective of the season.
Caroline sat the next one out - Blue Monk - and young Harrison gave as fine a rendition as you're likely to hear this side of Hackensack. Bravura flourishes a-plenty reminded us that not only is James an outgoing player but one who absolutely loves what he's doing - and so he should, he does it so well!
The set finished with Would You Be My Love?
My answer was yes!.
I usually leave around about this time but I was enjoying it so much I delayed ordering dessert. Instead chatted with John T from Ashington, proprietor Peter, the lovely couple who sit in the corner and Charles and Jackie who were new to me but Chas certainly knows his jazz.
It was game on again with Tom Chapman calling the children home with an impressive hand-drumming blast that eventually took the form of One Note Samba. Caroline, on alto, decided It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't got That Swing - she proved the point - it swung!
The trio said Let's Fly Down, Let's Fly Down, to New Orleans prompting Caroline to sing Why Don't You Do Right? Well they did right with a fine solo from Mr Bassman Robson.
And so the night unfurled.
Apple Madeleine Cake with Sunny, Apple Jelly and Street Life, Toffee Pieces and I'd Rather Go Blind rounded off my evening
They're back here in two weeks - book your table now!
Lance.

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