Bebop Spoken There

Art Blakey (to Terence Blanchard): ''You ain't Miles find your own shit to do!'' (DownBeat May, 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

18548 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 412 of them this year alone and, so far this month (May 19) 66

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

May

Mon 25: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 26: Noel Dennis Sextet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £12.00. A Miles Davis centenary concert (Davis b. 26. 5. 1926). Noel Dennis (trumpet); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums). SOLD OUT!
Tue 26: Lagos to Longbenton @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 27: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 27: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 27: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 27: Neighbourhood Watch + Rivkala @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £5.00. Rivkala (solo).

Thu 28: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 28: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Miles Davis & His Favourite Musicians.
Thu 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 28: Bobby Rush @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. + bf. Veteran USA bluesman.
Thu 28: Squabble @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 28: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Fri 29: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 29: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 29: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.

Sat 30: Giles Strong Quartet @ Langley Tracks, Langley on Tyne NE47 5LA. 5:30pm (doors). £15.00 + £1.50 bf.

Sun 31: Musicians Unlimited: Big Band Blast @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00-3:00pm . Free.
Sun 31: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Table reservations (0191 261 8000). Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 31: Sinfonia of London: Tea Dance @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. Free. John Wilson ensemble performing on the concourse. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin & more.
Sun 31: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 31: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £3.76.
Sun 31: Joe Steels @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. Free (donations direct to the musicians). Joe Steels & Friends.
Sun 31: Ben Haskins Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £14.00., £12.00., £7.00.

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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