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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Jason Isaacs @ Seaburn STACK, Seaburn. 3:30pm-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 22: Mississippi MacDonald @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm. Blues.
Sat 22: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm. £16.50. SOLD OUT!
Sat 22: Michael Woods @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Country blues guitar & vocals.

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ 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

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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