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

17985(and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 306 of them this year alone and, so far, 62 this month (April 26).

From This Moment On ...

MAY 2025

Tue 06: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Victoria & Albert Inn, Seaton Delaval. 12:30pm. £14.00. Tel: 0191 237 3697. ‘Victory in Europe Afternoon Tea’ (VE Day 80th anniversary).
Tue 06: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.
Tue 06: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 06: FILM: Whiplash @ Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle. 8:15pm.

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.b Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 08: Final Recital: Jay Straughan (drums) @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 10:00am. Free.
Thu 08: Final Recital: Olly Styles (saxophone) @ The Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 3:00pm. Free.
Thu 08: Jason Holcomb @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:00pm (6:30pm doors). £5.00. (unreserved seating). VE Day 80th Anniversary Concert. Multi-bill inc. Jason Holcomb ensemble.
Thu 08: Curtis Stigers @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Fri 09: Bridget Metcalfe Trio @ Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland. 1:00pm. £8.00.
Fri 09: Milne Glendinning Band @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Funk Soul Sista @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Crooners @ The Maltings, Berwick. 7:30pm.

Sat 10: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 10: Paul Edis & Friends @ Musicwonders, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street. 7:00pm (6:30pm). £15.00. All proceeds to Musicwonders’ community projects. Bar available. SOLD OUT!
Sat 10: Jeff Hewer Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 10: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 10: David Newton @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 10: Robben Ford @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. Ex-Miles Davis, blues rock.
Sat 10: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Darling Dollies @ St Martin’s Church, Byker, Newcastle NE6 2JR. 4:00pm. £8.00.; £4.00. 10 years & under. ‘A Concert for VE Day’ (80th anniversary commemorative concert). Vocal harmonies + St Martin’s Choir + solo performances.
Sun 11: Sekoya @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 11: Bill Laurance Trio @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Gregory Porter + Jo Harrop @ Newcastle City Hall. 7:30pm. Support act: Jo Harrop!

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, January 31, 2016

Lindsay Hannon/ Mark Williams @ The Jazz Cafe – January 30.

Lindsay Hannon (vocal); Mark Williams (guitar)
(Review/photo by Steve H.) 
Standing room only at the Caff on Saturday night for the pairing of Hannon on vocals and Williams on guitar, although this was a very different guitar player to the one I saw with The Mark Williams trio on Thursday night at the Jazz Coop (review here). The Thursday night Williams really exploits the full range of what can be done with the Jazz guitar whereas the Saturday night one played as a very sympathetic accompanist to the great vocal talent of Lindsay Hannon.
Looking at photographs of both nights I can confirm that it is one and the same person. Luckily unlike his trio’s drummer Russ Morgan whose barnet has undergone major surgery Mark looked almost identical from two days before. His partner in crime on Saturday has had a spectacular hair transformation going from blonde to what can only be described as tutti fruitti. Aside from this digression on the art of coiffure, the music on offer was superb. My only grumble was with the trio next to me who made more noise than those poor folks who frequent St James’ Park nowadays. I know it is free to get in and that it is nice to see a large audience but if you ask me it is darn right rude, not only to those wanting to listen, but also to the musicians.
The duo performed a selection of standards old and new such as The Spy, Bye Bye Blackbird and my own personal favourite Anais Mitchell’s Old Fashioned Hat. Lindsay’s voice and phrasing really does lend itself to this type of material. As a special bonus James Harrison, the pianist from The Lindsay Hannon Plus, was in the hood and the evening was rounded off perfectly as he played a duet with Lindsay on I Only Have Eyes For You. The final piece of the evening saw all 3 musicians come together to perform Tom Waits’ Romeo is Bleeding.
Steve.

2 comments :

Patti D (on F/b) said...

Should have gone, should have gone, should have gone ........

Unknown said...

Yup. I should have been there too.

Blog Archive