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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

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, March 18, 2015

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Directed by Tommy Smith present KURT ELLING SWINGS SINATRA


The spring of 2015 is set to burst into wonderful life as the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO), now in its twentieth year, and their very special guest Kurt Elling celebrate the birth centenary of a truly household name in popular music, Frank Sinatra
Sinatra has been called many things, from “The Voice of the Century” to “An Act You Can’t Follow”. That has not stopped imitators and emulators from trying, and for the most part failing. It takes a great voice to sing remotely like Sinatra, but it takes a great jazz voice to know Sinatra. Kurt Elling, perhaps the foremost jazz vocalist of his generation, is that voice. 
Kurt Elling is a Grammy Award winner, a major force in vocal jazz and an international star. More than that, he is a warm communicator who uses his four-octave skills to ensure that a lyric is more than a mere companion to melody. In his care, words are expressed as notes, and notes are expressed as words. And every word counts.
Sinatra once explained, “I take a sheet with just the lyrics. No music. At that point I’m looking at a poem. I’m trying to understand the point of view of the person behind the words. I want to understand that person’s emotions”. Kurt Elling shares this sentiment and this is how and why he really knows Sinatra.
This potent combination of strong intellect married to powerhouse, big band jazz makes for a heady mix. Frank Sinatra and dynamic, sophisticated jazz served each other well in the course of his long, era-defining career. Together they provided the soundtrack for a century; a complete musical experience that remains as passionate, seductive and persuasive as it did when “The Voice” was at the peak of his powers.
Sinatra’s songbook is full of the most striking musical imagery ever created by revered arrangers like Quincy Jones, Billy May, Neil Hefti and Nelson Riddle. Moreover, titles like Come Fly With Me, I've Got You Under My Skin, My Kind Of Town, You Make Me Feel So Young and The Lady Is A Tramp literally bookmarked life events for a generation. 
Kurt Elling and the SNJO add to its pages with flair, bravura and invention, but they’ve also been inspired by a quintessential chapter in Sinatra’s story. Sinatra at the Sands was the extraordinary live album that Sinatra made with the Count Basie Orchestra led by Quincy Jones, and it stands today as a high point in the singer’s amazing career. Nevertheless, Sinatra always strived for more, and it’s in that spirit we say, “the best is yet to come”. 

Wednesday 20th May 2015 at 19:30 Sage Gateshead 0191 443 4661
Thursday 21st May 2015 at 19:30 Caird Hall, Dundee 01382 434 940
Friday 22nd May 2015 at 19:30 Music Hall, Aberdeen 01224 641 122
Saturday 23rd May 2015 at 19:30 Usher Hall, Edinburgh 0131 228 1155
Sunday 24th May 2015 at 19:30 City Halls, Glasgow 0141 353 8000


3 comments :

Lance said...

The ball's in your court Mister Dylan...

Liz said...

Touché

JC said...

Bob says he'd be happy to meet Kurt in a cutting contest down on Highway 61......

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