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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

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Buck Clayton Legacy Band @ Sage Gateshead – October 30

Ian Smith (trumpet), Alan Barnes (alto saxophone & clarinet), Matthias Seuffert (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Karen Sharp (tenor & baritone saxophones, clarinet), Adrian Fry (trombone), Martin Litton (piano), Alyn Shipton (double bass) & Bobby Worth (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Some gigs are a ‘no brainer’. This was one of them. A top class line-up, first rate material and a world class venue. The Buck Clayton Legacy Band returned to Sage Gateshead and they brought with them a new show – A Celebration of Duke Ellington. Edward Kennedy Ellington maintained a close friendship with trumpeter Buck Clayton and, as co-leader of the Legacy band Alyn Shipton explained, the focus of the evening would be on Ellington and his musical associates, particularly Duke’s small group oeuvre.
Stomp, Look and Listen, then Globetrotter. Quite a start with Alan Barnes’ alto playing in overdrive from the off. Alan Barnes/Johnny Hodges or Johnny Hodges/Alan Barnes…the striking thing was just how good Barnes was (and is). A world class talent, Barnes would have made it in America had he been around in the 40s or 50s. He would have been in the Ellington band!
Tonight I Shall Sleep with a Smile on My Face, a feature for Tommy Dorsey, featured the immaculate trombone playing of Adrian Fry. The ‘bone man’s contributions didn’t invite comparison with anyone, he was his own man. The five brass and reeds front line worked wonders throughout the evening yet knew when to stand aside – indeed the band departed the stage – leaving pianist Martin Litton to play Washington Wabble.
A highlight of highlights came in the form of Johnny Hodges’ Sweet as Bear Meat: Fry’s plunger work, Matthias Seuffer’s tenor and a round of ace solos. Snibor (Ellington’s music publisher backwards!), Take the A Train, they just kept on a comin’ down the line. Billy Strayhorn’s master work was heard with an interesting (band?) arrangement featuring an excellent baritone sax solo from the excellent Karen Sharp. The three clarinet feature on The Mooche – Barnes, Seuffert and Sharp – illustrated the multi-talented line-up in Sage Two. The audience loved every minute of it and one got the distinct impression that the musicians were having a ball. Time and again trumpeter Ian Smith and Barnesy showed their appreciation for Bobby Worth’s playing, turning around, smiling – a  concert-length drum master class, no less.

Johnny Hodges’ Three and Six (Shipton mischievously suggesting Alan Barnes moaned about receiving the princely sum of three shillings and sixpence for his arrangement!), an evocative Harlem Air Shaft and the Paul Gonsalves’ inspired Happy Reunion (the encore) were just great to listen to. An appreciative audience would willingly have stayed on, but all good things do come to an end. Another cracking night at Sage Gateshead.    
Russell.           

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