Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 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

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

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

October.

Tue 27: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest Julija Jacenaite.
Tue 27: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. Free (donations).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Alice Grace and Pete Gilligan @ the Jazz Café - July 11

Alice Grace (vcl); Pete Gilligan (pno).
(Review by Lance).
I knew little about Ms Grace save that Russell had mentioned her in despatches after hearing her singing at an apres GIJF jam session. Russell raved about her on that occasion and now it's my turn!
A tried and tested program - fortunately Summertime missed the cut - and a couple of ringers such as Chick Corea's Crystal Silence and a Kenny Wheeler number that begun just as I had to leave, told us that the lady could sing!
A way with a lyric that took many angular twists and turns, converting the illogical to the logical, and the varied tonal nuances - all the attributes that are the hallmark of a true jazz singer - were there in abundance.  Amazingly, and thankfully, the Saturday Night Fever (crowd noises) that sometimes proves distracting to performer and serious listener alike were, if not totally absent, at least restrained.
On keys, Pete Gilligan provided the essential support - the perfect foil - as well as dazzling the room with his awe inspiring technique and meaningful solos. This was a duo meeting on equal terms and one deserving of repetition. On the subject of repetition, the duo will become a quintet on Sept. 18 for a session in the upper room of "The Caff". Put it in your diary now! Even if Diana Krall is on at The Arena on that night (unlikely!) it will be a heads or tails situation.
Program: Days of Wine and Roses; Just in Time; It Could Happen to You; Angel Eyes; No More Blues; Beautiful Love; Good Morning Heartache; Devil May Care; I Didn't Know What Time it Was; Lush Life; I Thought About You; God Bless the Child; Crystal Silence; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; Night in Tunisia and the Kenny Wheeler tune I mentioned earlier that began as I left for the 23:12 Metro - Yes, I too took a trip on a train...
Lance.
PS: Above photo taken by myself but more from Mike Tilley here.
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1 comment :

Patti D. said...

The closing number sent me home on a high - a swoon inducing cover of More Than You Know. Gorgeous. September 18 will be unmissable.

Sunday, July 12, 2015 9:44:00 am

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