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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

17680 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 23 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Jan. 9).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Tue 14: Zoë Gilby Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Hot Club of Heaton @ Elder Beer, Heaton, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘third Wednesday in the month’ session. TBC.

Thu 16: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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.

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

Tue 21: ???

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

Friday, May 01, 2015

International Jazz Day/Anniversary Celebration @ The Globe - Part 1: The Customs House Big Band w. Ruth Lambert - April 30










(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
Some folk say big bands should be heard in big halls.
I disagree!
There's no greater thrill (jazzwise) than that of hearing a big band within the confines of a small room. You become part of it, picking up on every nuance even down to the asides between players, the rustle of the manuscript paper as pages are turned and the occasional hesitancy as player looks to leader for guidance which, of course, is dutifully given.
International Jazz Day and the Jazz Coop's first anniversary - what was there not to celebrate?
A goodly throng agreed although there were some members of the Jazz Community prominent by their absence. Perhaps they were across town at Strictly Smokin's monthly gig at the Millstone or maybe they stayed in and listened to their records - their loss.
The shebang kicked off in rousing fashion with the Buddy Rich version of West Side Story. Gareth Weaver doing the trombone bit on Somewhere. Surprisingly, seeing as how drum legend Barry Black was behind the kit, no drum solo - perhaps it was too early!
Mick Hill had some fiery trumpet solos throughout the evening, as did Alan (the trumpet) Smith, as opposed to Alan (the bass guitar) Smith who could be heard but not seen, he may have been relegated to the cellar - it is a small bar! Yet another Smith (Jay) played lead and hit the screamers.
Chris Kurgit-Smith stood apart from the other Smith's by virtue of his hyphenated name but he was right with them when it came to soloing! Alan Marshall was superb on tenor, the extended cadenza on his feature All My Life drew the most 'woo-hoos' of the evening.
We had to wait until the end before Jill Brett had a blast on the Jazz Police. It was a good one! Jill, I dub thee Princess of Wails! Newcomer, Andrew Walker, had some tasty piano solos - a young man to look out for.
I mentioned Barry Black earlier. No extended solos but hearing him drive Curious George, played at tempo di lick you recognised a class act.
Talking of class acts, Ruth Lambert did the business as she invariably does with Fever; Over the Rainbow (am I the only one who thinks the verse of this song is better than the chorus?); Cheek to Cheek (Mick Hill!!!); The Man I Love; Lady is a Tramp; My Heart Belongs to Daddy; At Last; Almost Like Being in Love and Alright OK You Win. The voice and the smile - who could ask for anything more!
Peter Morgan conducted, played bass trombone and educated the audience in between numbers.
A good start and with a jam session to follow in the Jazz Bar upstairs the night was young...
Lance.
Peter Morgan (tmb/MD); Jay Smith, Mick Hill, Ken DeVere, Alan Smith (tpts); Gareth Weaver, Chris Kurgit-Smith, Michael Fletcher, (tmbs); Jill Brett, Kim Webb, Alan Marshall. Peter Hepplewhite, Chris Kaberry (reeds); Andrew Walker (pno); Alan Smith (bs); Roy Willis (gtr); Barry Black (dms); Ruth Lambert (vcl).

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