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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

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Jazz Coop @ The Globe: Steve Glendinning Quartet: Sat Jan 10

Steve Glendinning (guitar); Chris Jelly (vibes); Mike Clarke (bass); Mark Robertson (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex)
The Jazz Coop gigs are definitely on the up if last night was anything to go by, both musically and in the size of the audiences.  Thirty two paying customers on a cold January night isn’t half bad, and a quartet playing jazz/fusion music, with the sound of the vibes to add something a bit unusual and interesting. In fact on seeing the bass player I thought for a moment that I was listening to French jazz  – Mike Clarke was bearded, bespectacled and wearing a black beret, looking every inch as if he should be playing on the left bank of the Seine.
As many readers will know, fusion was what happened to jazz in the 1960’s, when jazz gained influences from rock, pop and funk, with tunes from the likes of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock added to the mix.  In fact Steve began with a beautiful guitar solo September 15th, as a tribute to the great Bill Evans, and also in remembrance of Keith Crombie of the original Jazz Cafe.  Then came les tout ensemble with Question and Answer, the sound of the vibes coming into its own, sweet, flowing, and precise.  The whole set was very accessible yet the music is complex and interesting, with solos well integrated.  Other tunes played were Imagination, not the song but an original composition from Steve and Chris; the wonderfully-named Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers with solos from bass and guitar.  The first half was rounded off with Big Schlepp, which was a big tune with strong rocky guitar.
The longer 2nd half began with an original from Chris, a piece full of tuneful echoes on the vibes, ending with a whoooo from guitar. Chic Corea’s La Fiesta followed, then came a complete change with a serene G Minor Blues; then a ballad Hermitage; a tune called Red Clay; Emile Richards Yo Yaz; and another Steve and Chris original. Beautiful Love gave us some skilled light brushwork on the drums: the final tune was supposed to be the theme from Black Opheus, with lively Latin improvisation from Steve, but then an encore was demanded, which turned out to be a boppy version of Mr PC, which included solos all round and 4’s with the drums. 
Well done lads!   
Ann Alex

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