Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 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

18361 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 215 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 8 ), 25

From This Moment On ...

March

Thu 12: Boomslang @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 13: Paul Skerritt Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00.
Fri 13: The SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Soothsayers + Rookie Numbers @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.51., £14.33., £11.16.

Sat 14: The Too Bad Jims @ Claypath Deli, Durham. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £13.20., £11.00. R&B.
Sat 14: NUJO @ Venue, Newcastle University Students’ Union. Time TBC. £15.00. supporter; £10.00. standard; £5.00. student. Seated event.

Sun 15: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 15: The Too Bad Jims @ The Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. £12.00. R&B.
Sun 15: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 15: Rebecca Poole @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00. Poole w. Dean Stockdale & Ken Marley. CANCELLED!

Mon 16: Milne Glendinning Band @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 16: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 16: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 17: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Scotty Adair (drums).

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

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Jo Harrop w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond. June 3.










Jo Harrop (vcl); Paul Edis (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms). 
(Review by Lance/ photos courtesy of Kath Harrop).
It had been a while since I visited the Cherry Tree and even longer since I listened to Jo Harrop. During that interim period Jo's had 2 children - Ellington, now 4, and Valentine, 2.  Sadly, she also lost her father, Tony, last year which was remembered with Over the Rainbow tonight. An emotive rendition that got to me too as I recalled the times, often with Jim McDowell - also no longer with us - that we shared our love of jazz. RIP Tony and Jim.
There was a good turn out and Jo, superbly backed by Edis and Co, didn't disappoint although there were some volume problems early on. Not helped by a couple of tables that were less than attentive.
Jo, needless to say, rose above such distractions and her version of Fine and Mellow was as fine and mellow as my Lamb, burnt Aubergine puree, Pomegranate and Mint starter.
Jo's vocal starter was Cheek to Cheek followed by My Baby Just Cares For me; My Romance; Lullaby of Birdland; Moon River; Night and Day (drum solo by Adam); These Foolish Things (complete with 'tinkling piano') and Love me or Leave me - well we certainly weren't going to leave her and nor was I going to leave my 6oz Rump Steak, traditional garnish, Garlic and Herb Butter!
The second set moved up a gear it had to to compete with my Strawberry, Raspberry and Mint Pavlova!
East of the Sun; This Can't be Love (perhaps the second line should have been 'because it Tastes so good'!) a sensitive My Funny Valentine (ah so that's where the baby's name came from!); Bye Bye Blackbird (voice/bass intro and a block chord solo from Edis the icing on this cake) Autumn in New York; All the Things You Are; the emotive Over the Rainbow (bass solo !!!) and, finally, I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free.
I note that two of my three courses included Mint - a fitting description of the whole evening. Mint!
Lance.

1 comment :

Liz said...

sounds like a great night for music & food. I know what you mean about inattentive table folk, where I was last night, a group next to us were playing cards!!...their loss

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