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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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 Day Two: Double Bill: Zoe Gilby and Alice Zawadzki













Zoe Gilby (vocals); Paul Edis (keys); Andy Champion (bass); Adrian Tilbrook (drums). 
(Review by Ann Alex/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
This was Zoe’s Pannonica set, interpretations of Thelonious Monk tunes, with words by such as Carmen McRae.  Pannonica was a baroness who was rumoured to be Monk’s lover, and could be considered to be the muse of bebop. Intriguing stuff so far, and the whole set was full of catchy, witty singing, interesting chat about the music, and well matched skilled musicianship. A suitable tribute to Monk, beginning with Rhythm-a-ning  and including Monk’s Dream (from 1963) with great piano and bass solos; Little Rooty Tooty (Zoe ended this on a fine high note which would have done an opera singer proud); Think Of One (lots of scat); and the well known Blue Monk, which sounded like a manifesto from Monk ‘trial and error, keeping on from year to year’, sung to a slow slinkyish tune.  Other tunes included were a piece with lyrics by Hendricks, and Reflections. All delivered impeccably, and it’s difficult to say something which hasn’t been said before about these fine musicians.
Alice Zawadzki
Alice Zawadzki (vocals, violin); Alex Roth (guitar); Pete Lee (keys); Tom McCredie (bass guitar); Jon Scott (drums)
This was something quite different, opening with a song about a teenager on a night out, sung in a sweet husky voice accompanied by a plucked violin, cheeky words, including one unrepeatable, with an Eastern European feel to the tune, very exciting stuff.  This was apparently an original from this songwriter, but she told us she couldn’t think of a fresh title, so she called it Ring Of Fire. The second song was equally unusual, a Sephardic song about a lady travelling to Marseilles, sung in a foreign language, with ringing guitar tones, driving and passionate ensemble playing.  Not sure that I’d call this jazz, closer to folk, but mighty good. Next the fiddle became steady, low, legato, then a jazz-like guitar for the next song. ‘You as a man, I as a woman’ she sang, using a talking tone to tell us of a love affair gone wrong, accompanied by a highish drone, followed by a rocky guitar break then a jazzy bass, ‘selling your feet, for money for shoes’.  This singer is a gifted lyricist, no doubt about it, and I think we’ll hear o lot more of her in the future.  The last song, In The Heart, a danceable rhythm with jazzy feel, then the encore, which was an amusing yet sad song about a woman who acquired the soul of a cat, with slinky, creepy accompaniment, then with drums leading.  A very unusual and enjoyable set.
Yes, Zoe and Alice have shown just what women can do with music!
Ann Alex

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