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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 17: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. 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: Joe Steels Trio w. Graham Hardy @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00pm. £10.00. (inc. a welcome drink & table reservation). Book at: www.drinks@thepele.co.uk. A ‘Jazz at the Pele’ promotion.
Fri 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

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

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Newcastle University Postgraduate Recitals @ The Jazz Café. September 2

(Review by Russell)
Following the resounding success of staging several undergraduate final recitals earlier this year at the Jazz Café, two postgraduate students chose the Pink Lane venue to give their recitals in the presence of examiners, fellow students and supporters. Drinking tea, coffee or something a little stronger in a real jazz venue beats the cloistered campus set-up every time.
Stelios Arodites (alto saxophone) with Stuart Collingwood (piano)
Alto saxophonist Stelios Arodites walked onto the stage with a supportive pat on the back from accompanist Stuart Collingwood. The duo ready, Arodites embarked upon a journey of twenty minutes or so interpreting Phil Woods’ Sonata for alto saxophone and piano. A challenging work, composed for Victor Morosco’s 1962 solo recital at Carnegie Hall, the piece was originally named Four Moods, although thereafter it became known as Woods’ Sonata.
The composition presented four movements to negotiate with frequent changes in time signature (in places every two or four bars). In addition, some sections were marked free improvisation. Arodites played acoustically; tone rich and unwavering. Bespectacled Collingwood, the assured accompanist, the anchor, the buoy, Arodites’ reassurance. Each movement challenged the examinee, variously playing ‘tonic minor’, ‘modal’ – Arodites’ programme notes were most useful! The audience listened intently, a tension in the air. A ferocious section – alto traversing into gritty, grinding tenor territory – lifted the duo onto a higher plain. Mr Arodites is some player. His postgraduate studies continue into 2016, a further recital is to be scheduled.
-----            
Richard Hammond (vibraphone) MMus Major Creative Project Recital
A familiar figure in and around the music department in Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, a youthful Richard Hammond, with carefully cultivated unruly mop-top, took to the stage in front of a full house. The folk glitterati were out in force (a superstar of the scene took her seat), Hammond was about to play a folk set. The improvised element did materialise, due in no small part to the virtuosic skills of his band mates. Vibraphone, not your regular folk instrument, took centre stage. To Hammond’s left, Callum Younger sat with bohdrán, a bearded rhythm master. The examinee’s presentation Room to grow: An exploration of improvisation and ‘free’ music within folk styles embraced the five string fiddler Robbie Sherratt (improvising for the Gaelic Isles), Alasdair Paul (bouzouki) and a couple of familiar faces – Jessica Bates (piano) and Mercedes Phillips (soprano sax). Ten or so tunes in three quarters of an hour, some of them Hammond compositions, others an eclectic mix including Michael ‘Snarky Puppy’ League’s Shofukan. Hammond referred to jazz players’ abilities to improvise and reharmonise and this has informed his studies. Using four mallets, Hammond’s writing skills opened-up tunes enabling the collective to improvise chorus upon chorus. The audience showed its appreciation. Another success at the Jazz Café.
Hammond’s band: Jessica Bates (piano), Alasdair Paul (bouzouki),  
Mercedes Phillips (soprano sax), Robbie Sherratt (fiddle), Callum Younger (bohdrán).
Russell.

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