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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 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

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Wed 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 23: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 23: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 24: Mary Coughlan @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £33.80. Blues, jazz etc.
Thu 24: Darlington Big Band @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT! Duo performance.
Fri 25: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
Fri 25: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Land of Oak & Iron, Winlaton Mill. 6:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 25: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Fri 25: Struggle Buggy @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 25: Paul Skerritt Big Band @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £20.30., £18.00. All-star big band.
Fri 25: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums). An Opus 4 Jazz Club event.

Sat 26: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 26: Vasilis Xenopoulos & Paul Edis @ Elvet Methodist Church, Durham. 7:30pm. Tickets: £12.00. + bf. Duo performance.
Sat 26: Neil Cowley Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm. £22.50.
Sat 26: Pete Tanton & the Cuban Heels @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 27: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: Andrea Vicari Trio @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Vicari (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums).
Sun 27: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Paul Susans, Russ Morgan.
Sun 27: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 27: JustKing Jones @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £17.50. JustKing Jones (alto sax, soprano sax); Jordan Williams (piano); Jason Clotter (bass); Malcolm Charles (drums). Ace NYC outfit!
Sun 27: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 27: Swing Manouche @ Warkworth Memorial Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00. Tickets from 01665 711388.
Sun 27: Vasilis Xenopoulos-Paul Edis Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Xenopoulos, Edis, Ken Marley, Russ Morgan.

Mon 28: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 29: ???

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

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

SHIVER/D'Silva, Pope & Alderson @ Bridge Hotel, Newcastle

SHIVER
Chris Sharkey (guitar); Andy Champion (electric bass); Joost Hendrickx (drums). 
(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew)
What can I say?  We’ve seen Shiver in various locations so we know their style, we know what to expect. Or rather, we thought we knew what to expect - would anything be different for a ‘Splinter’ session?
Overall, it began with what appeared to be a slow-burning fuse which gave time for the audience to witness and relish the construction of the multi-layered soundscape which was slowly unfolding in complexity and power.  Bass loops, guitar loops, with adjustments to both yet fully supported throughout by Hendrickx’s own rhythms perfectly complementing the guitar and bass riffs and rhythms.
 Then onto a meandering bass line from Champion, with Sharkey playing a simple melody on a small keyboard nicely enhanced by various effects yet still with the drums evident and constantly busy.  No effects for Hendrickx – mallets, sticks and manual dexterity were used to great effect.  A relatively quiet passage, quite peaceful – but consistent with the evolving soundscape throughout. This was a well disguised segue which took us through the more familiar Shiver territory through further development of the multi-layered sounds they had laid out before us, building to an almighty crescendo resulting from the furious energy which the trio had been holding in reserve.   
We knew what to expect – and they delivered!!  The two segued pieces were expertly delivered in a familiar style, but still a unique performance nonetheless.  We had witnessed and thoroughly enjoyed an awesome sonic powerhouse in action – and loved every second!! 
D’Silva,  Pope  & Alderson
 Karl D’Silva (alto sax); John Pope (bass); Christian Alderson (drums)

The double bill opened with a band who are fresh on the scene. D’Silva’s first performance for Jazz North East on Tyneside, and meeting Alderson for the first time during the sound check. That’s a NEW band playing Improv at its freshest.   Expectations were based on their individual talents – so how would the ensemble gel in just one set?  The first piece was generally quiet with occasional outbursts. The next, extended piece, took time to explore various rhythms & interplay among the band. A final shorter piece was loud and expressive i.e. dynamic! Full of statements with the band members playing as if they had all been here and played before.  Overall, very energetic with melodic and thoughtful passages from D’Silva.  Often driven by the bass, usually rhythmic yet sometimes percussive (not exactly bass-slap) but always supporting and often pushing to explore new areas – quite a driving force!  Alderson’s contribution was consistently evident, again thoughtful passages demonstrated the close interplay within the trio.  Overall a varied 3 pieces, nicely contrasting, and cohesive throughout.  A line-up that works, and works really well!
Photos.
Ken Drew

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