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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 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

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Sun 23: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 23: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Mark Williams Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 23: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 23: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 23: Mississippi MacDonald @ Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 3:00pm. Blues.
Sun 23: Mu Quintet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. CANCELLED!
Sun 23: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

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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