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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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Ruth Lambert & Dean Stockdale @ The Jazz Café. November 15

Ruth Lambert (vcl); Dean Stockdale (pno).
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
‘Have you met Ms Lambert? Mr Stockdale let me introduce you to Ruth Lambert. Ruth, this is Dean. Pleased to meet you’ Saturday night at the Jazz Café, Ruth Lambert, well established on the scene, met up with pianist Dean Stockdale for the first time to play a set of standards. Vocalist Lambert’s pad numbers a couple of hundred songs or so. The newly formed duo talked through a few tunes, scribbled down some favourites and they were ready to go to work.
Like Someone in Love, My Funny Valentine, What is This Thing Called Love? The duo worked well together from the off. Lambert’s distinctive phrasing demands the best of any accompanist and Stockdale was learning on the stand, quickly getting to grips with the vocalist’s magical timing and innate sense of swing. Ms Lambert sings the blues as well as anyone and would you believe it, Stockdale plays a mean piano blues? Lambert, Stockdale and Ms Bonnie Raitt’s Love Me Like a Man. It was good, real good. The Jazz Café attracts its share of chatter boxes and they were in the mood for some serious chat, chat, chat. Somewhere Over the Rainbow didn’t stop them. Oblivious they were. Perhaps a bottle of Geordie Jazz, the Jazz Café’s exclusive house beer, would miraculously make them stop and listen. No matter, other more discerning folk listened, knowing they were being treated to a GASbook masterclass.
Almost Like Being in Love, Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You? (Stockdale went to town on the blues) and Taking a Chance on Love (excellent stride piano) heard the duo at their best, albeit the latter number fell apart at the end. Who cares? For a first meeting this was a fantastic gig,  Autumn Leaves came as a request; Lambert poignantly referred to her friend, the late Paul Gamblin. The tune will, for Ms Lambert, forever be associated with the guitarist. An up tempo number – Come Fly with Me – floated us down to Peru where the air is rarefied (paraphrased!). Has Nelson Riddle’s arrangement ever been bettered?
Teach Me Tonight – the realisation that Lambert can sing this one in a duo and in front of a big band. Class. A dark rendition of Round Midnight (at about eleven) and to close, the upbeat ‘S Wonderful.  ‘S Wonderful indeed.    
If Lambert and Stockdale don’t do it again then I’m Frank Sinatra... Come fly with me, fly me to the…      
Russell.

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