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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

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

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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