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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

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.              


    

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