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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

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: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
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. .

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Matt Forster Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

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, November 19, 2015

DVD Review: Frank Sinatra at The Royal Festival Hall - June 1, 1962

Frank Sinatra (vocals); Bill Miller (piano); Emile Richards (vibes); Harry Klee (saxes, flute); Al Viola (guitar); Ralph Pena (bass); Irv Cottler (drums).
(Review by Ann Alex)
They say ‘better late than never’ but 53 years is a bit much!  I’d better explain, otherwise I’ll be sacked from BSH and replaced by Daphne. I found out about this concert when I was on a Frank Sinatra themed holiday recently.  It seems it was broadcast on television, then the tape was lost because of changes among various television companies.  The tape was rediscovered in 2014 after some clever research done by a friend of the tutor who led the holiday, and it is now on general release as a DVD.
We saw the video as part of the holiday, so I thought a review would be in order, since many people will never have had the chance to see the film. This was one of a number of concerts given in aid of children’s charities, with all expenses underwritten by Sinatra himself.  Princess Margaret was in the audience. There are more details of all this via Google.
This was Frank at his glorious best.  It’s open to debate, but I prefer Frank singing with a jazz combo rather than an orchestra with strings. I don’t think he had the best voice around, but he impresses every time because of his acting skill which makes him able to get the full meaning of the lyrics across. His communication with the audience was something else as he chatted whilst drinking a cup of lemon tea and smoking a cigarette.  There was no real interval as such, so Frank gave good measure, singing for about 2 hours, hard work indeed, but he made it all look so easy, very relaxed listening, it seemed as if he was singing to each listener individually. 
All the Frank classics were delivered: At Long Last Love; Imagination; Moonlight In Vermont: I’ve Got You Under My Skin; My Funny Valentine; April In Paris; Night And Day (not many solos as such, but this number was varied with a sax solo); Autumn Leaves (as a ballad rather than swing); a swinging I Could Have Danced All Night: And many others which readers will be able to list from their own knowledge of Frank’s work.
I especially liked One For my Baby, which was performed movingly with just piano and voice; Chicago made me want to hop on a plane and go there.  The encore featured Old Man River; You Make Me Feel So Young; Nancy With The Laughing Face (written for his daughter, of course) and Come Fly With Me. And all accompanied immaculately by this skilled band.
Definitely the highlight of the holiday!
Song listing.
Ann Alex 

1 comment :

Liz said...

A Frank Sinatra themed holiday sounds like Heaven to me Ann, good review, thank you

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