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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: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: 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: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
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

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Jazz Café Jam Session Nov. 17

(Review by Lance).
At first it looked like no one was there then, suddenly, everyone was there! The usual suspects and a few not so usual. As usual the house trio got things moving with, I think, A Weaver of Dreams and they were kicking ass from the first bar and this was just the start of another memorable evening!
Time Remembered and Senor Blues followed before 'Bradders' joined the mix for A Foggy Day and a Michel Petrucciani number the title of which escapes me. The young guitarist's resolution of the closing bars on the former was masterly whilst the latter, a brisk Latin piece, saw all four take it round the block a few times.

Time for a change with Paul Edis taking over on piano and Matt MacKellar on drums. Edis, wearing a top that made the lights on the Christmas tree look dim by comparison, opened with  What is This Thing Called Love? (or was it What is This Thing He's Wearing?) it was very enjoyable every man jack digging deep culminating in a round of 4s, 2's and 0's. MacKellar brought in Stomping at the Savoy, and stomp they did whilst Someday My Prince Will Come displayed expert balladry. To hear Gilligan and Edis in the one night is akin to Peterson and Tatum turning up. Now here's a thought for a Jazz Café duo set - Gilligan and Edis on two pianos over 15 rounds!
Edis, incidentally, launches his solo double album at the Lit and Phil tomorrow (Thursday Nov. 19)
Dawn Furness offered Love For Sale in a jazzy operatic style, Luke Stewart-Smith played bass with Paul Gowland on soprano sax for Dolphin Dance. First time I'd heard PG on sop. Waltz For Debbie and I'll Remember April did no harm at all. 
Jordan Alfonso with George Anyantis on piano played Skylark, Nature Boy and Softly as in a Morning Sunrise before Gilligan returned with Duncan Walker on soprano - 3 sopranos in one evening (Gowland, Furness and now Walker). In a Mellow Tone, and Tenor Madness (I think) with Kalenak on drums. 
Quite a night and it wasn't over yet although it was for me - 27 bus beckoned...
Lance.
Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms); Bradley Johnston (gtr) + Paul Edis (pno); Matt MacKellar (dms); Dawn Furness (vcl); Paul Gowland (sop); Jordan Alfonso (alt); George Anyantis (pno); Luke Stewart-Smith (bs); Duncan Walker (sop); Nick Kalenak (dms).

2 comments :

John Hallam (on F/b) said...

3 Sopranos? I think it was Frank Skinner, a great arranger from the 20s until he progressed to writing film scores for 30 years, said it was impossible to find 3 soprano players who were in tune with each other! Nowadays improved instruments and, I suspect, musical sensibility has allowed the renaissance of the "fish horn".

Lance said...

Ah John, but here we had 2 soprano saxes and a soprano jazz singer who, up to my point of departure, hadn't formed an alliance although it may have happened after I left.

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