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

18897 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 761 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Sept. 11.) 40.

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.

Thu 17: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 17: Front Porch Blues @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 17: Amphitrio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £7.00. Andrei Petrache (piano); Mike Alex (double bass); Philip Goron (drums).
Thu 17: Miles 100 @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00. Jack Courtney (trumpet); Sue Ferris (tenor sax); Tom Atkinson (guitar); Alan Law (piano); Deon Krishnan (bass); Jeff Armstrong (drums). A night of Miles Davis.
Thu 24: 58 Jazz Collective @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Stranton, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Free. .

Fri 18: Danny Lownes’ Hot Club @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
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: Mark Williams Trio @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.
Fri 18: Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook. 7:30pm. £10.00., £5.00. student.
Fri 18: Rivkala + Beccy Sloan @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £10.00.

Sat 19: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal. All welcome.
Sat 19: Sing Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00-5:00pm. £27.50. Tutor: Alexia Gardner: Nina Simone. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 19: Ray Stubbs’ R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

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.

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.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Jason Isaacs and the Ambassadors of Swing @ The Biscuit Room - May 9

Jason Isaacs (vcl/ten) w. Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (tpts); Don Fairley (tmb); Ray Dales (alt/fl); Lew Watson (ten); Stu Collingwood (pno); Keith Peberdy (bs gtr); Simon Ferry (dms) + Zita Frith (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
There's always a buzz of excitement in the room prior to a Jason Isaacs gig. The men - a minority group - have the cool clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth (as the night enfolds the eyes become less clear) and the ladies, coiffured and killer-heeled, add to the sense of 'occasion'.
And it is an occasion! An ace crooner and an 8 piece band that sounds like 16 men swinging - what's not to like?
This is the Rat Pack packaged in a cool dude suit (from a tailor on Pilgrim Street) with a dash of Elvis thrown in for good measure. Who cares that you've heard it all before? What counts is the verve and vitality of the delivery, the enthusiasm for his work that is conveyed to and picked up by the crowd who respond by filling the dance floor.
Jay boy also blows good tenor - with the calibre of guys in the band behind him he'd fall flat on his face if he didn't!
Then there was Zita Frith who is a top performer in her own right.
All combined to make this a memorable evening at The Sands - sorry, I mean the Biscuit Room - but if you'd been there you'd realise it was a natural mistake for me to make.
Lance.
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3 comments :

Sharon (on F/b) said...

You can always rely on Lance to perfectly sum up a Jason Isaacs happening...

Monday, May 11, 2015 9:44:00 pm
Debra Topping (on F/b) said...

Very well said! I have a black ankle to prove that there were mostly killer heels on the dancefloor ! Amazing entertainer!

Monday, May 11, 2015 9:46:00 pm
Deborah Foster (on F/b) said...

Spot on! Review! Ouch I hope your ankle is ok Deborah Topping

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 8:37:00 am

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