Bebop Spoken There

David Bailey (photographer): ''When I was 16 I wanted to look like Chet Baker. He was my idol - him and James Dean.'' (Talking Pictures documentary : Four beats to the bar and no cheating April, 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

18413 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 277 of them this year alone and, so far this month (April 7 ) 11,

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

April

Tue 14: Pete Tanton’s Cuban Heels @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 14: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 15: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 15: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 15: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 16: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Jewish Musicians/Composers/Vocalists.
Thu 16: Sleep Suppressor + Silk Road + So Anne So @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £10.00., £8.00., £6.00.
Thu 16: Fourpenny Rabbits @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 17: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 17: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 17: Ben Crosland Quartet @ Sunderland Minster. 7:30pm. £12.96 (inc. bf) online; £15.00 on the door. Old Black Cat Jazz Club.

Sat 18: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bishop Auckland Town Hall. 11:00am-4:00pm. A Food Festival event.
Sat 18: Bright Street Big Band @ Washington Arts Centre. 6:30pm. £12.00. Swing dance sessions + Bright Street Big Band 7:30-8:15pm & 8:45-9:30pm.
Sat 18: Glenn Miller & Big Band Spectacular @ The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm. £27.00 (inc. bf).

Sun 19: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 2:30pm. Trio + Lara Hopper.
Sun 19: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. £12.00., £10.00.
Sun 19: Straight to Tape @ The Tyne Bar, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Edd Carr, Jonathan Proud, John Hirst. Blues trio.
Sun 19: Graham Hardy’s Eclectic Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 20: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 20: Dean Stockdale Trio @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00. Stockdale, Mick Shoulder, Abbie Finn.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Peter Gilligan Trio w. Alice Grace @ The Cherry Tree.








Alice Grace (vcl); Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms).
(Review by Lance).
This was the kind of session at which the Cherry Tree excels and tonight, it even excelled itself!
But, how could it fail with this calibre of Jazz? Superb singer, Pucka piano, Beautiful bass and Dynamic drums - yes drums can be as dynamic, possibly even more so, with brushes as with sticks.
In the right hands and tonight they were in the right hands.
Mean to Me allowed those who hadn't heard Ms Grace before to discover just what she could do with a lyric and a melody - Alice, Carmen, Anita, all singing from the same, exclusive, lead sheet.
Studying the menu, trying to decide on a starter - Courgette Soup; Montgomery Cheddar and Spinach Souffle were rolled, mentally around my palate until Alice sang Devil May Care. Devil May Care indeed! I said, ordering the Pigeon Breast, Raspberries, Mint and Feta Cheese. Perhaps I was subconsciously getting back at the pigeon who had "decorated" my car yesterday. It probably wasn't the same bird but it may have been related.
The songs came fast and furious, slow and sentimental, each and all wonderful even if a degree of uncertainty sometimes showed midst les tout ensemble. Who cares? That's jazz and I wouldn't have it any other way.
By the time I'd reached my 8oz Bistro rump steak with the Traditional Garnish, Fries, Tomato and Rosemary Butter main course we'd had You Go to My Head; Invitation; Just in Time; There Will Never Be Another You; No More Blues; Taking a Chance on Love and The Nearness of You - Not a Summertime or a Valentine among them!
Time for a break, a bottle of Black Sheep and a chat with Sylvia Truscott and her friend Anne - pics are from Anne's phone (I forgot my camera!)
We all agreed that Alice was something special, Pete at the top of his game, Paul - no wonder they named a street after him and Russ, he uses his brushes better than Renoir!
Break over.
I Thought About You; One Note Samba; Joyspring - this latter number was special in an evening of specials! great piano solo and some superb scatting from (ooh) Ms Grace - More Than You Know; It Could Happen To You; Chick Corea's Windows and, finally, for me, Lush Life.
And, as if the above wasn't sufficient my Strawberry Frangipane with Vanilla Ice Cream certainly was.
Lance.
at

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree with you more. A quite special Wednesday evening.

Thursday, August 27, 2015 9:14:00 am

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive