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Bebop Spoken There

John McLaughlin: '' A Love Supreme coincided with my search for meaning in life". (DownBeat, March 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

17873 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 194 of them this year alone and, so far, 41 this month (March 14).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Laurence Harrison, Paul Grainger, Tim Johnston.
Tue 18: Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £13.20 & £11.00.. A JNE-Gem Arts co-promotion.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Nicknames.
Thu 20: Terri Green Experience @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £15.90.
Thu 20: Lindsay Hannon Trio @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Hannon’s ‘Tom Waits for No Man’ set.
Thu 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:30pm. Free.

Fri 21: Paul Skerritt @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 21: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 21: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 21: Giles Strong Quartet @ 1719, Hendon, Sunderland. 7:30pm. CANCELLED!
Fri 21: New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Featuring special guest Martin Litton (piano).

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Swamp Stomp String Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Sat 22: Rivkala @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: The Great Deceivers @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Tom Atkinson & co play King Crimson (1969-1974). Atkinson (guitar); Josh Bentham (alto sax); Stu Dawson (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums).

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

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

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Alter Ego @ The Globe - Dec. 19

Dave Hignett (tpt/flug); Keith Robinson (alt); Niall Armstrong (ten/fl); Andy Hawking (pno); Tony Abell (bs); David Francis (dms).
(Review by Peter Ninnim/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
What a night at the Globe!
Visiting the Globe is like struggling through the jungle of the Congo; you fight your way between creepers, avoid dangerous animals, duck low hanging branches and then finally arrive at a clearing in the forest to see sparkling in a shaft of sunlight a priceless jewel! OK, so that’s a bit over the top but the Globe is really a jewel in the Newcastle music field.
Last night the Globe featured a band providing a cornucopia of delights! It was like a beautiful Christmas present, wrapped in silver paper and tied with red ribbons! And when the box was opened out popped Alter Ego!
I count myself fortunate to have been there.
The first set kicked off with Roll Call a perfect up tempo opening closely followed by J. J. Johnson's In walked Horace. The New York Jazz Giants' Beatitudes was next; this is a driving Latin jazz tune and featured Dave Hignett playing his socks off on trumpet . The energetic first set included a fine swinging version of Benny Golson’s Blues March. This overrated number can be boring but certainly not in these hands. Solos from Keith Robinson on Alto and Niall Armstrong on tenor were beautifully crafted and the alternate march and swing sections were well handled by Dave Francis on drums. It’s not possible to mention the entire first set but it ended with Bobby Watson's Wheel Within a Wheel written for the Jazz Messengers.
After a short interval the band was even better; perhaps the fact that the club had filled up with an enthusiastic and vociferous audience had something to do with that. The set opened with an outstanding version of Hit and Run and I see that I have just written “wow!” next to it on the set list. Dave Hignett's trumpet playing was reaching for the stars and with great attack and Niall Armstrong’s tenor playing sparkled. In fact the whole band played like they had stuffed fire crackers down their trousers in the whole of the second set. Andy Hawking on piano featured in a lovely version of Monk’s Budini. I thought that he really did the tune justice. Two of Niall Armstrong’s compositions followed, Undertone featuring Niall himself and Dave Hignett on Flugel , and Mustard Marsh which included fine Bass playing by Tony Abell. Nice to hear an electric bass played with great taste; not always the case. The set concluded with a tune in 3/4 Coastal Breeze. Nice drumming throughout and Niall on Flute and the outstanding alto playing of Keith Robinson. Keith was all over the instrument and at times seemed to have an extra hand there was so much great jazz going on. The encore was another great Bobby Watson piece A Bittadose featuring the whole band in great ensemble playing with this shuffle style hit.
This was a great gig, substantially better than the Clark Tracey performance earlier this year. Compared with that it was a tonic. Best gig I’ve been to since Jazz Machine’s gig at Number 28 in August; and I was playing in that!
One last word. The sound throughout was really well balanced and this makes such a difference. Thank you to the Globe and the Band.
Peter N.

4 comments :

Roly said...

This excellent band played a great gig at Blaydon in April.

Lance said...

Must have been quite a gig as I thought the Clark Tracey band were plenty good!

Ken Drew (on f/b) said...

What a great review !! although I wouldn't go so far to say it was 'substantially better than the Clark Tracey performance earlier this year' - maybe they equalled them in many respects - fine musicians playing tremendously well as One, the overall energy and the impact they had on the audience (and vice-versa). But what a great Gig !!!

Ashington Jazz Club said...

Next gig for Alter Ego

8pm Wednesday 7th January @ Ashington Jazz Club

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