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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 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

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

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

Friday, December 11, 2015

Pilgrim St. Set in Party Mood @ Hoochie coochie - Dec. 10

Richard Burns (tpt); Gary Turner (ten); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Susans (bs); Rob Walker (dms) + Graham Hardy (tpt); David Gray (tmb).
(Review by Lance).
The party season is upon us. A time for much bonhomie and plenty of wassailing. With cocktails at 2 for the price of 1 the wassailers were out in force, as were the younger jazz element. On stage, the Christmas tree glowed yet paled into insignificance compared to the flames being fanned by the musicians.
As ever, the band were on fire, each solo played as if, rather than being Christmas, it was the eve of Armageddon! Mark Williams, depping for Paul Edis, slotted in seamlessly. His solos building from tentative probes to volcanic eruptions that relegated Mount Etna to the Europa League. 
Equally awesome was Gary Turner - he blows with forked tongue, achieving on tenor what Roland Kirk needed three horns to do. The Turner Prize takes on a whole new meaning when Gary blows.
Richard Burns also burned, albeit slightly more sedately. However, with two other brassmen waiting in the wings, he knew this wasn't a night for coasting. Paul Susans didn't rest on his laurels either but gave a masterclass in bass guitar playing much appreciated and applauded by the music students at the front row tables.
Rob Walker - what a driver! With the storm he kicks up you either put up or shut up.
They put up!
Still there is more. Being Christmas, something extra was needed.
Something extra arrived in the form of guest musicians Graham Hardy and David Gray.
Trumpet ace Hardy had an extended blast in the first set, trombonist Gray in the second with both combining for a finale that sounded like an avant garde band playing Dixieland (or vice versa) - it was exciting to say the least.
This was one great start to the festive season - not a "Bah Humbug" to be heard!
Photos.
Lance.

1 comment :

Patti D. said...

Sounds like a fab gig, Lance! I'd have been there, for sure - had I not been wallowing in another glorious Motown fantasy night!

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