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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

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: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
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.
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.

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

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Jazz Café Jam - May 19.

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Wight (dms) + Joel Brown (pno); Tom Lapworth (gtr); Thomas Dixon (alt); Dan Foote (dms); Paul Gowland (alt); Rob Bates (dms); David Gray (tmb); Johnny "Blue Hat" Davis (ten); Mark Williams (gtr); Matt Mullen (bs); Ian Forbes (dms); Richard Herdman (gtr); James Robson (bs).
(Review by Lance).
I've probably missed or mispelt some names but the above roll of honour comprises the bulk of the musicians who contributed to the Tuesday jam at the Jazz Café.
There were the inevitable highs and lows associated with any impromptu performance but, suffice to say, there were more highs than lows. Too many in fact to list them all!
As ever, the house quartet provided the openers and later the springboard for those diving in at the deep end. 
I Fall in Love Too Easily included an immaculate bass solo by Paul Grainger whilst There Will Never be Another You had Gilligan and Johnston unveiling the licks kicked nicely along by Wight.
Young Joel whose playing displays a maturity beyond his tender years (15? 16?) took over on piano for Nature Boy. A conflict of keys caused the starter to bring the runners and riders back to the gate before finally setting off on the Theme from Black Orpheus. This tune has at least three titles and I think they played all three of them.
Sonora by Hampton Hawes is always a delight to hear and the back four never fail to do it justice.
At this point in the evening the musicians came and went with such rapidity keeping track was difficult. Tom Lapworth on guitar was superseded by Richard Herdman who in turn bequeathed the throne to Mark Williams. It's Mark's birthday today so it's many happy returns to Mark (He's at The Globe on Saturday.)
With Dan Foote on drums, Thomas Dixon blew alto on Autumn Leaves and Doxy - tentatively feeling his way. Nothing tentative about David Gray. Along with Paul Gowland, Herdman and Ian Forbes they took Ornithology to Birdland and beyond.
Johnny "Blue Hat Black Saxophone" Davis joined the party for Moanin' with Matt Mullen on bass.
(Blue Hat plays a duo gig with Pete Gilligan here on Saturday night).
Wayne Shorter's Footprints had super solos all round and it was with much reluctance that I left to catch the 10.57 Metro.
Take That had been playing the Arena which meant it was standing room only on the train and, hopefully, some pre-concert spin-off at The Globe.
Next Jam is June 2.
Lance.

4 comments :

Tom Lapworth said...

Almost!

Lance said...

Apologies Tom - name now corrected!

Dan Foote said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dan Foote said...

A great night with friendly people and great musicians. A nice surprise to my visit to Newcastle.

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