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Bebop Spoken There

Van Morrison: ''Basically, I'm coming from jazz. Not pop, not rock, not what's commercial. That's where I started, and that's still where I am. I feel the same as I did when I was listening to Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton''. (The Northern Echo, 12 June 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

17,533 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 497 of them this year alone and, so far, 75 this month (June 23).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Wed 25: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 25: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 25: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 25: The Magpies of Swing @ The Roxy, Leadgate, Co. Durham. 7:30pm. A Ginger Jitterbugs swing dance event, all welcome.

Thu 26: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Brass Instruments & the use of mutes.

Fri 27: Lewis Watson Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 27: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 27: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 27: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 8:00pm. ‘Time After Time’.

Sat 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Linskill Centre, North Shields. 4:00-10:30pm. Free, but ticketed (over 18s only). A multi-bill, multi-genre ‘Canny Shiels - North Shields 800’ event. Three Kings Brewery on site.
Sat 28: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 28: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 29: Jude Murphy & Dan Stanley @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 29: Bal Bruch Social Dance @ As You Like It, Sandyford, Newcastle. 12:30pm. Free. Dance event with Hot Club de Heaton performing live (2:00-3:00pm). A ‘Jar on the Bar’ event.
Sun 29: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 3:00pm. Ray McVay & co.
Sun 29: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 29: Zoë Gilby w. Ryton Choral Society @ Corbridge Middle School NE45 5HX. 5:30pm. £15.00. Gilby w jazz trio & choir. ‘An evening of jazz song for choir’.
Sun 29: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 29: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Greatest Hits’.
Sun 29: Out Front @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. JNE.

Mon 30: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

JULY 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

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

Monday, September 21, 2015

Bradley Johnston Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. September 20

Bradley Johnston (guitar), Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Tim Johnston (drums)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly Veitch - click for more)
Blaydon Jazz Club’s thirty two year history has hosted m
any of the best jazz musicians around – regional, national and international. Working on a shoe string budget, hoping audiences will materialise from one gig to the next, it’s largely a thankless task. On an occasion such as last night at the Black Bull there was a feeling that it was worthwhile, more than worthwhile.
Bradley Johnston, twenty-teen, or thereabouts, led his own band on an engagement at a club venue he has got to know well, a place where the regulars have got to know him. A quiet, shy young man, Johnston plays jazz guitar. He’s had a guest spot or two playing a full part in his guitar duo partnership with mentor James Birkett. Now he’s out there, his own man, calling the tunes. 
Johnston opened each set with a solo acoustic guitar piece. A Norah Jones’ number – Don’t Know Why – held the audience rapt. Johnston invited Peter Gilligan to join him on Bill Evans’ Time Remembered. Double bassist Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston (drums) stepped onto the dimly lit stage to form the quartet in time to play Johnston’s Pat’s Waltz. A varied programme included Steve Swallow and Ellington. In a Sentimental Mood was a first set highlight; fine, sensitive playing, Tim Johnston working the gig almost exclusively with brushes, Gilligan commendably restrained, Grainger the imperturbable figure at the back. Michel Petrucciani’s Looking Up brought the first set to a close with the (no relation) Johnstons in the spotlight – Bradley with a marvelous solo, Tim taking it out in spirited fashion.
Blaydon Jazz Club’s tireless promoter Roly Veitch made the usual parish announcements and took time to think out loud, with no little wonderment, at Bradley’s meteoric rise. An old friend of Veitch, Dr James Birkett, similarly took time to address the audience. Tutor, fellow musician, friend to Bradley, Birkett spoke warmly of his young charge. It kind of makes it all worthwhile.
Second set. A guitar/double bass feature for Johnston and Paul Grainger. Charlie Haden’s Our Spanish Love Song made connections. The recently deceased acclaimed bassist could surely count Grainger as an admirer. Haden’s enduring working relationship with revered guitarist Pat Metheny certainly didn’t get past Johnston, the American superstar a major influence. A varied pad included All the Things You Are. Great stuff, as simple as that.
An indication of Johnston’s maturity followed; having addressed the audience throughout the evening, introducing each tune, looking around the room as he did so, he took time to talk about his development as a young guitarist and the life changing experience of being introduced to jazz by Dr Birkett, then embracing it. A wonderful moment. Johnston then did the only thing he could do – he played James’ Waltz!
There Will Never be Another You, brisk, a round of fours, excellent. A Metheny groover had Pete Gilligan firing on all cylinders and Mr Dependable, Paul Grainger, didn’t blink.
A killer Scrapple from the Apple closed the night; Johnston tore it up, Gilligan too with dynamic rhythmic support from Main Man Johnston. Thirty two years at Blaydon, eh? Here’s to the next thirty two!
Next month, one week later than usual – Sunday October 25 – features the man Vasi X. Mr Xenopoulos is simply one of the great tenor players of his generation. If you’re yet to hear him, this is your chance. Bus (convenient buses to/from Gateshead and Newcastle), car, walk, private helicopter – whatever your mode of transport, be there. Vasilis will be working with a dream team; long time friend Paul Edis, playing piano, the incomparable Andy Champion will frighten every bass player for miles around and brilliant drummer Russ Morgan is the man to hear. If you require more information about how to get to the Black Bull contact Bebop Spoken Here. Prediction: Gig of the Year.      
Russell.        

1 comment :

Jazz Coop (on F/b) said...

If you missed Bradley's fantastic quartet at Blaydon - or you want to see them again - come & see them play for the Jazz.Coop at The Globe this Saturday!!

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