Total Pageviews

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

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.

January 2025

Wed 01: ???

Thu 02: ???

Fri 03: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 03: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 03: John Gregory @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar.

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

Monday, April 27, 2015

Darlington Jazz Festival. April 25: From Clervaux to the Quakerhouse

(Review by Russell)
Saturday morning. A pastry? A coffee? The Coniscliffe Road Clervaux Bakery with its sunlit covered courtyard provided the perfect platform to serve up an all-day jazz menu. Early birds (ten o’clock) enjoyed the piano playing of Steve McGarvie. On the hour, an ever changing roster of soloists or duos played for twenty minutes or so. The pairing of Dean Stockdale and Jonny Dunn worked well; piano dovetailing nicely with trumpet. A relaxed Misty encapsulating the day’s laidback approach. A rustle of a broadsheet, food orders brisk, quiet chatter, well-behaved tots. Chill. 
Voice and guitar; Zoe Gilby and the singer’s accompanist of choice – Mark Williams. Ms Gilby dedicated an original tune to celebrate her mother’s birthday. It was all about a redheaded girl from the ‘north east of nowhere’ (nice lyric). The Baker siblings (Amy, bass and Alex, tenor), more McGarvie with tenor/baritone Jazz Tones band mate Alan Thompson and to close the afternoon an opportunity for Durham County Youth Big Band pianist Max Goodall to show what he could do on his own. He did just fine.
On to the afternoon session at the Quakerhouse in Mechanics’ Yard. The compact room, all beams, brick and beer (the new home to Darlington Jazz Club) featured three sets. A major incident across town (a restored former cinema was going up in smoke) delayed the arrival of bassist Neil Harland (roads closed off, diversions in place). A reshuffle of the programme saw Gilby and Williams back in action sooner than anticipated. Brubeck, Monk, Juan Tizol and Gilby material captivated the audience in the snug upstairs room. Mr Harland duly arrived and set-up in double quick time to work in a trio with the busy pianist Dean Stockdale and drummer Stephen Fletcher. This I Dig of You (Hank Mobley), On the Sunnyside of the Street, Nostalgia in Times Square. Top quality material and top quality playing. Then, a surprise guest appearance. The BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Alexander Bone joined the trio for a couple of numbers. Altoist Bone comes from the Darlington area. It was quite something to hear him in a town centre pub. Brilliant, that’s the word. Those who watched the BBC’s televised competition will have an idea of just what he’s capable of. This small group, small venue appearance, heard him at close quarters. Cherokee (Bone was all over it!) and On Green Dolphin Street, no mistake, this young man can play. How he does it is beyond mere mortals. An ‘I was there’ moment.
To close the afternoon’s entertainment another County Durham-raised star brought in an exceptionally talented quartet. Tenor saxophonist Will Howard (he came up through the ranks of the renowned Durham County Youth Big Band) is typically self-effacing of the younger generation of musicians. A quartet of equals (all of whom have been heard on the north east scene), this set hit the heights. A pad of classic material (with one Howard composition) given a contemporary treatment. Jim Hall’s Slam (featuring guitarist John Brown, a distinctive talent), Jobim, Star-Crossed Lovers, a couple from the pen of Joe Henderson. The bass and drums pairing of the exceptionally good Tom Riviere and Steve Hanley made for an integrated group performance. Howard’s timing, sound, everything about him marks him out as a generous talent. Abundant technique, yet subservient to the sound he was pursuing, Howard must be heard. A fabulous afternoon at the Quakerhouse.
Russell.              


    

No comments :

Blog Archive