Total Pageviews

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.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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, February 17, 2016

Jam Session @ Jazz Café. February 16

Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums) + Bradley Johnston (guitar), Paul Gowland (alto), Duncan Walker (tenor), Michael Lamb (trumpet), George Anyfantis (piano) & Ian Forbes (drums)  
(Review by Russell)
It had the makings of a quiet night. The house trio opened with a few tunes, Mr Williams in for Mr Gilligan. There is no Greater Love the pick of the early numbers. Punters were thin on the ground. Things could only get better. That said, the jazz was top drawer.
Jam session regular Bradley Johnston, deserving of ‘associate’ membership of the house band, joined the trio to play Stella by Starlight. Great solo from BJ, sensitive brush work form Paul Wight. Falling Grace heard the two six-stringers complimenting one another. Mr Ian Forbes, one the great modern jazz drummers, arrived. Southpaw Wight offered to sit out and whilst Forbes turned the kit around Williams and Johnston played some jazz guitar. In a ‘don’t mind me’ quip Forbes said: Carry on duo-ing, I promise not to laugh.
The duo played All the Things You Are. Fabulous. They should play a duo gig at the Caff.
Mr Gowland, toting his alto, joined the party to play There Will Never Be Another You. A false start to Here’s That Rainy Day belied the wonderful second take. A seated BJ in Joe Pass mode made a bid for solo of the evening. In walked Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb. Beautiful Love was the call and it was Lamb who took it on. A good trumpet player on a jam session makes all the difference. BJ chipped in with another polished solo as George Anyfantis rattled a handful of the 88s. Former Durham University Big Band saxophonist Duncan Walker called in with his tenor to play All of Me and Autumn Leaves.
Audience numbers picked up. A party of first time visitors to Pink Lane knew they were listening to some seriously good stuff and, in time honoured fashion, the boys in the band left the best ‘til last. Horace Silver’s Nutville taken at a punishing pace – Messrs Grainger and Wight working like Trojans – encouraged Williams to tear it up, but that was nothing in comparison to the set closer. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy featured the usual round of solos with Mark Williams last to pick up the baton. Sco’s Piety Street groove sent the Irishman into overdrive. Audience and musicians alike could do no more than smile as the guitarist from the Emerald Isle went into orbit. Stunning. It was a good night at the Jazz Café after all.     
Russell.             

No comments :

Blog Archive