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Bebop Spoken There

Kurt Elling: ''There's something to learn from every musician you play with''. (DownBeat, December 2024).

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

17630 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 16 years ago. 904 of them this year alone and, so far, 49 this month (Dec. 20).

From This Moment On ...

December

Wed 25: Wot? No jazz!

Thu 26: The Boneshakers @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. The 17th annual Boneshakers’ Shindig.

Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free. Business as usual!.
Fri 27: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 27: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sat 28: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 11:30am. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 28: Fri 20: Castillo Nuevo @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy, Rich Herdman & Giles Strong @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sat 28: Ray Stubbs R & B All-Stars @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Stepney Bank, Newcastle. 9:00pm. Free.

Sun 29: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 29: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Wheatsheaf, Benton Sq., Whitley Road, Palmersville NE12 9SU. Tel: 0191 266 8137. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 30: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 12 noon-2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington (National Trust), Cambo, Morpeth NE61 4AR. 12 noon & 2:00pm. Admission to site £19.00.
Tue 31: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Tue 31: Archie Brown & Friends @ Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00-8:00pm. 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, January 31, 2015

Dead Hedge Trio @ The Jazz Café. January 30


Nick Branton (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Rory Ballantyne (guitar) & Michael Metcalfe (drums) 
(Review by Russell/photos by Kath Jobes - left - and Mike Tilley - Right.)
All seats were taken before the eight o’clock start. The Dead Hedge Trio started on time. Liverpool based, a gig in Leeds the previous evening, the trio were, for the first time, on the road in earnest. Saxophone, guitar and drums and, of course, a few pedals. Tenor man Nick Branton the (visual) focus, the trio kicked-off with North West and Lonely Woman. The Jazz Café, essentially a standards jazz venue, took a little while adjusting to the sound of Dead Hedge.
Layered, hard-blowing composed to free jazz pieces, Branton, Ballantyne and Metcalfe embodied the spirit of the 1960s American avant garde (Ayler, Coleman, Taylor). Branton rocked and rolled (physically), tenor raised to the sky, then swooping to the floor, raging. Rory Ballantyne played a black Gretsch for most of the evening; rhythmic, hammered, inventive, different; Frisell to Americana to the blues. Michael Metcalfe (an erstwhile Tyne Valley resident) is the equal of any of the new crop of brilliant British drummers. A busy hi-hat, sticks and mallets, Metcalfe breezed through complex rhythmic patterns. Eel Song, an original number impressed, and the fist set closed on Ornette’s Broadway Blues. Very, very impressive.
Second set: The confines of the Jazz Café imposed an eye-contact intimacy between the musicians and the within-touching-distance audience. Branton’s guttural exhortations maintained the momentum on Antibiotic. Metcalfe, endlessly inventive, Ballantyne knew it was going well, a contented smile amidst the intensity of it all. Monster Munch hinted at the demonic fury of other, established trios on the scene – no names, the name Dead Hedge is the name to check-out. The true tale of five in a Nissan Sunny over the AlpsDriving with John – closed the set. The Spirit of Albert Ayler was with the Dead Hedge Trio – Rejoice! From time to time a gig earns a Bebop Spoken Here nomination for Gig of the Year. It will take something special to better this Jazz Café performance by the Dead Hedge Trio.
Russell.

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