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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

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Jazz Café Jam January 6, 2015

Mark Williams, Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms). + Damien Cook (ten); Graham Justin (tpt); Jordan Alonzo (alt); Chris Tate (pno); John Pope (bs); Ray Truscott (bs gtr);  Yuha Honami, Matthew MacKellar, Rob Bates (dms); Vocalists - nil!
(Review by Lance).
Even in the absence of piano supremo Gilligan this was a jumping jam - Hartley's couldn't have done better!
Mark Williams set the ball rolling before fellow guitarist Johnston joined him. Williams, who'd recently done 15 rounds with Steve Glendinning found a worthy opponent in young Bradley who's spent much time sparring with James Birkett. The two guitarists went for it on Things Ain't What they Used to be. Solos all round then the inevitable slugfest of fours as they traded, counter-punched and took it to the bell for a split decision in favour of ?
Chris Tate, a young man from Portsmouth, played Lady Be Good - he played it good and stayed on for most of the evening. Young Matthew once again reneged on his homework to sit in on drums - no easy task following Mr Wight - but, as ever, the boy also did good. Veteran 6 stringer Truscott replaced Grainger in the engine room for Miss Jones and Wave. Another young man - Jordan Alonzo (Newcastle Uni Jazz Orch) - stepped up along with Yuha, the rising star from the land of the rising sun, now behind the kit. 
Was it Anthropology or Scrapple? Can't remember now but what's in a name?
In a Mellow Tone (Ab) could have been mellower but Coltrane's Impressions hit the jackpot as did My Favourite Things. I was losing track of the comings and goings but John Pope was on bass and Rob Bates on drums, Tate retired to Portsmouth (let's hope he returns) and Mark was back for No More Blues and Chill Out a smooth Basie-like number that had some gorgeous velvety alto.
It couldn't get any better than this - oh yes it could!
I'd heard rave reports about the guys from the Theatre Royal Panto who blew the roof off The Globe a couple of weeks back - well two of them did the same here and this was from the ground floor!
Damien Cook had a Webster/Gonsalves blast on Cottontail ably assisted by Jordan who hung on in there without backpedalling. 8s and 4s - that were sometimes 7s and 5s - brought the number to a triumphant, not too chaotic, conclusion.
It couldn't get any better than this - oh yes it could!
Next up, one Graham Justin (or was it Justin Graham?) Another one of the pantomime pitmen, who claimed he could only play in the key of Bb so, naturally, the tune called was C Jam Blues!
Suddenly, all other keys were made redundant as he soared off over the rainbow to a land where only the chosen few are allowed in - Cat Anderson and Maynard Ferguson being two of the more prominent inhabitants.  
This must be some pantomime!
Lance.

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