Total Pageviews

Bebop Spoken There

George Porter Jr.: ''To me, syncopation is like jazz. It wasn't meant for the masses. It was meant just for a hip few". (DownBeat, May 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

18069 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 390 of them this year alone and, so far, 68 this month (May 222).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 12:30-2:15pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Tyne Valley Big Band @ Bywell Hall, Stocksfield. 1:30pm. Northumberland County Show.
Sat 24: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 24: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm.
Sat 24: Dean Stockdale Quartet + Mingus Sings @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Stockdale (piano); Tim Williams (guitar); Gavin Barras (double bass); Gaz Hughes (drums) + Mingus Sings: Sara Oschlag (vocals); Alan Barnes (reeds); Tim Lapthorn (piano); Arnie Somogyi (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sat 24: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 24: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £12.00.
Sat 24: NUJO Jazz Jam @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £3.00. + bf.
Sat 24: Papa G’s Troves @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 25: Northern Monkey Brass Band @ Spanish City Plaza (outdoor stage). 11:30am & 1:00pm. Free. A Whitley Bay Carnival event.
Sun 25: Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion: Bandstand Sessions @ The Sele, Hexham. 12 noon. Free. A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, North Shields. 1:30pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Catriona Bourne Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Bourne (harp), Francis Tulip (guitar), James Owston (double bass), Joe Bainbridge (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Struggle Buggy @ The Tyne Bar, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free. Blues.
Sun 25: Joe Steels Group + Norma Winstone (vocals); Nikki Iles (piano); Mike Walker (guitar); Steve Watts (double bass). 7:00pm. Admission: see website: www.queenshall.co.uk. Steels (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Paul Susans (double bass); John Hirst (drums). A Northumberland Jazz Festival event.
Sun 25: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 25: Xhosa Cole/Neil Charles/Mark Sanders @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A JNE promotion. Note: Xhosa Cole replaces Nicole Mitchell.

Mon 26: Catriona Bourne Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm. £9.00. at the door; £8.20. (inc £0.20 bf) online, in advance.
Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Bold Big Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £12.00. & £10.00.
Tue 27: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Front St., Rothbury NE65 7UT.7:30pm. £12.00.; £10.00. adv. from Tully’s (opp. venue).

Wed 28: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 28: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 28: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: That’s the Blues, Dad.
Thu 29: Nova.sol + Mikoudi @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 29: Front Porch Three @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig. Americana, blues etc.

p>Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Rivkala @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer @ Middleton & Tonbridge Village Hall. 7:30pm.

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

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Will Todd's Mass in Blue @ Newcastle Civic Centre

Newcastle Choral Society Conductor and Musical Director Mark Anyan
The Will Todd Trio (Will Todd – piano; Geth Griffith – bass; Jim Fleeman – drums. With:  Lorna James – soprano (vocal) and Sue Ferris – alto saxophone.
(Review by Hugh C).
My attendance at this performance was a triumph of the power of advertising – having seen the flyer which has been at the top right of Bebop Spoken Here for the past couple of weeks. 
The event was held in the mock baronial splendour of the banqueting suite at Newcastle Civic Centre (Asian weddings a speciality according to the publicity).  This venue proved to have a reasonable acoustic.  The Choral Society sang without amplification; the instrumentalists and the soprano being gently helped by modest electronic enhancement.  The choir seating was tiered and the soprano soloist and MD were raised on a platform, the audience and instrumentalists were all on the level.
I personally was unfamiliar with the work of, Will Todd (despite him being a County Durham lad).  My interest was sparked by the concept of a choral concert with a jazz twist.
Will Todd started to play piano as a child and soon became interested in the chromatic palette offered by twelve bar blues – much to the dismay of his piano teacher!  This, combined with his love of, and participation in, choirs and choral music came to together in Mass in Blue.  Originally written in 2003 as a commission by Hertfordshire Chorus (named Jazz Mass at that initial stage) the Mass has been performed on many occasions both in the UK, Europe and the US – often with the Will Todd Trio.  This success was apparently much to the surprise (and delight) of the composer, who as with many artists, suffered from self-doubt.
Mass in Blue is in the standard liturgical format:  Kyrie – Gloria – Credo – Sanctus – Benedictus – Agnus Dei.  The text is in Latin throughout, but was helpfully printed in full in the programme with an English translation adjacent. 
Each of these involved the Newcastle Choral Society – who appeared to be greatly enjoying themselves.  There was apparently initially some concern among some of the singers that it was too difficult and they had never sung anything in the jazz oeuvre before.  Conscientious practice under the direction of MD, Mark Anyan seemed to have dispelled any of this! 
The trio were on fine form (very familiar territory for them, obviously!) with subtle melodic interplay between the piano in particular and the soprano soloist,  who also often weaved  a virtuoso vocal line around the choral parts – this being beautifully delivered by the very capable Lorna James.
The saxophone part is optional.  I am glad this option was chosen!  Sue Ferris (well known locally as a jazz saxophonist and flautist, but also an orchestral flautist according to the programme notes) delivered a flawless account on alto sax (I must admit I initially thought it was tenor until I saw Sue walking out clutching an alto!).
The Mass contained elements of jazz, blues, gospel, and spiritual (and, I’m sure, others I did not discern).  All in all this was a very interesting and rewarding experience for all present, both choir and audience. 
After the interval we were treated to “Songs for Christmas” – a combination of both sacred and secular items including the old favourites and two audience participation numbers, both delivered with gusto.  There were even a few brave car-key jinglers during Jingle Bells!  The accompaniment (piano mainly, with organ for the audience singing) was ably provided by Mike Dutton  - well known as an accompanist on the local choral and classical vocal scene.
Hugh.

No comments :

Blog Archive