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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.

Mon 14: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 15: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Michael Young, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

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.

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 13, 2015

GIJF DayThree: Loose Tubes + Andy Sheppard & Rita Marcotulli

(Review by Russell)
The last day of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival, the final concert in Hall One at Sage Gateshead, featured the reformed twenty one piece big band Loose Tubes. Festival Director Ros Rigby introduced the band and in so doing asked of the audience: Who had heard the band previously? Many in the hall had indeed heard the band first time around – some thirty years ago. Those who hadn't were in for a new experience.
Some things never change – Django Bates (hat firmly on head), flautist Eddie Parker (an ‘eccentric’ pair of striped trousers – possibly the same pair from thirty years ago!) and an infectious enthusiasm. MC Ashley Slater cracked the jokes (band mates the butt of them) and, tellingly, frequently acknowledged the ‘boys’ in the band were no longer that. Paul Taylor, standing alongside Slater, was the band’s ‘resident northern git’ and others didn't escape his ire.
Yellow Hill (comp. Django Bates) opened the show. It was as if they’d never been away. The same instantly recognisable anarchic/chaotic ensemble sound. The Chris Batchelor composition Would I Were sounded fresh yet familiar. Batchelor soloed, so too guitarist John Parricelli. Newer material festured such as Batchelor’s Creeper and Django Bates’ Like Life (heard on Dancing in Frith Street from 2010). Loose Tubes prospered on being out of left field, now, 2015, where do they stand? Eddie Parker couldn't resist a sideways swipe at the state of the global village. Was it rage or weary acceptance? The music is, or should be central to any performance and Loose Tubes certainly let the music do (most) of their talking. The multi-layered ensemble textures, the solo spots observing big band convention, the spotlighted one standing out front.
One extended set seemed to satisfy the adoring Gateshead audience. Earlier saxophonist Andy Sheppard played for three quarters of an hour in the company of his accomplished Italian partner Rita Marcotulli. The duo clearly delighted in working together. 
Russell.         
Django Bates (keyboards & tenor horn), John Parricelli (guitar),Julian Arguelles (baritone saxophone), Mark Lockheart (tenor saxophone), Julian Nicholas (tenor saxophone), Steve Buckley (alto & soprano saxophones), Iain Ballamy (soprano saxophone), Eddie Parker (flute), Dai Pritchard (clarinet, bass clarinet, flute), Dave DeFries (trumpet), Noel Langley (trumpet), Chris Batchelor (trumpet), John Eacott (trumpet), Ashley Slater (trombone), Paul Taylor (trombone), Richard Pywell (trombone), Richard Henry (bass trombone), Dave Powell (tuba), Steve Watts (double bass), Louise Peterson Matjeka (percussion) & Martin France (drums)
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Andy Sheppard (tenor & soprano saxophones) & Rita Marcotulli (piano). 

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