Bebop Spoken There

Gary Bartz: ''Music is nature's gift to man. It's the only religion. We're living in a terrible era, but what a beautiful thing music is. Look how it brings us together like religion is supposed to; and with no language barriers.'' (Jazzwise September, 2026)

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

18918 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 782 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 18.) 61.

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

From This Moment On

September.

Sun 20: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 20: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:00pm. Free.

Mon 21: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 21: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. Coltrane centenary.

Tue 22: ???

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. A John Coltrane Centenary Concert (b. 23. 09. 1926). SOLD OUT!
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 24: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 24: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 24: Arun Ghosh @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:30pm doors). £21.05. (£22.00. on the door). A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Thu 24: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00.

Fri 25: Mark Williams Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Get the Blessing + Dilettante @ The Cluny (Cluny 2), Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £18.00. + bf. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Fri 25: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 26: Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter: Play Mary Lou Williams @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 6:00pm. Free. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.
Sat 26: John Pope Quintet + Urvashi @ The Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £15.40. A Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music event.

Monday, April 13, 2015

GIJF: Day Three - Davina & the Vagabonds

Davina Sowers (vcl/pno/uke); Dan Eikmeier (tpt/vcl); Ben Link (tmb/vcl); Greg Beyers (bs); Connor McRae Hammergren (dms).
(Review by Lance).
After the afternoon concert by The Cookers I thought nothing could match that session.
I was wrong!
Enter Davina and her Vagabonds.
Tiers two and three were full and the audience seated. However, at sea level it was standing room only to make space for those inclined to dance of which there were many.
The dress code was Retro so I blended in without trying - my old demob suit never lets me down on these occasions.
I'd never heard this band prior to tonight although I'd heard glowing reports of their sensational appearance at last year's Summertyne Americana Festival so it was with eager anticipation that I listened to Sage Gateshead's Performance Program Director Ros Rigby say she wanted this year's festival to end with a party.
The lady got her wish!
I Found a New Baby lit the blue touchpaper and we were off! Trumpet flying big round tone. He sings, Davina sings, plays piano, drums pound, bass slaps and trombone slides. I'm convinced I've gone to heaven and this is only the first number! Black Cloud - trombone featured - Bourbon St. Parade, trumpet quite amazing, Ain't That a Shame with barrelhouse piano and vocal from Davina
Drummer takes the vocal on Louisiana Fairy Tale, everyone sings on Shake That Thing and every one in the audience shakes a thing or two. Davina leaves the piano and strums a ukelele.
After a funereal start to St. James Infirmary it gets cranked up to the fastest ever version of that mournful song.
And so it went on, jazz and soul and rock 'n roll - and a lot more besides including the Lovin' Spoonful's What a Day for a Daydream. The memories that song brings back for me - the saying goes that if you can remember the sixties you weren't there! well I remembered it well enough to whistle along at the end. A classic re-immortalized!.
You wanted a party Ros? You certainly got one!
You want more?
Well tune into Jools Holland tomorrow night (April 14) on BBC2 at 10pm and Friday at 11.35 pm.
Lance.
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