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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

1803759 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 480 of them this year alone and, so far, 58 this month (June 18).

From This Moment On ...

JUNE 2025

Sat 21: Jason Holcomb Jazz Ensemble @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 5:30-7:30pm. Free. A 'Sunderland Year of Music' event.
Sat 21: Milne Glendinning Band @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Red Kites Jazz @ Staithes Café, Dunston. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Sat 21: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 22: Phoenix 4 @ Wallington, Northumberland. 12 noon-1:00pm & 2:00-3:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: Lapwing Trio @ Wallington, Northumberland. 1:00-2:00pm. Tel: 01670 773606. National Trust admission prices apply. ‘Tunes in the Blooms’.
Sun 22: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 22: Jason Isaacs Trio @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 4:00pm. £18.00. + £1.08 bf.
Sun 22: JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 23: MSK Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 23: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.

Tues 24: ???

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’.

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

Sunday, September 06, 2015

Jazz Machine @ The Globe - Gilligan/Glendinning @ The Jazz Café

Pepe Greenaway (alt); Adam Sams (gtr); Dave Parker (bs); Peter Ninnim (dms).
(Review by Lance).
"A work in progress" continues to be the motto of the Jazz Machine. The 'progress' is in the form of the addition to their ranks  of young guitarist Adam Sams. These days, guitarists seem to be rolling off the conveyer belt almost as frequently as girl jazz singers and, in the case of Sams, a most welcome addition. Technically accomplished, he soloed inventively and, thankfully, used the array of pedals at his feet sparingly.
The repertoire included a lot of boppy themes (Oleo; Impressions; Pent-up House; Ron Carter's Little Waltz; Tenor/Alto Madness) originals (How's That?; Black Cloud Chantelle) and standards (You've Changed; Norwegian Wood.)
The bebop lines played in unison by alto and guitar sounded good and gave the impression of a larger ensemble. Greenaway can certainly get around the horn although sometimes sounding a bit fragmentary when exploring the altissimo register.
Parker's baby bass made up in volume for what it lacked in size and his solos, an integral part of the band's format. Ninnim, as expected, drove things along nicely.
A good gig that was worthy of more support. Photos.
As the strains of Tenor (alto) Madness faded the 32 bus loomed on the horizon enabling those who were so inclined to jump on it then, two stops later, jump off it at the Jazz Café where Peter Gilligan and Steve Glendinning were reprising last Saturday at the Globe.
Nica's Dream was the number that heralded our arrival and it sounded good - this had certainly been a night for guitar enthusiasts with Steve on form and, of course, Pete on piano his ever swinging self.
A good evening all round and a well travelled one - 27 bus/Metro/22 bus/32 bus/Metro/27 bus.
Lance.

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